Concept
Divine law
Overview
Divine law is any body of law that is perceived as deriving from a transcendent and divine source – in contrast to man-made law or to secular law. According to Angelos Chaniotis and Rudolph F. Peters, divine laws are typically perceived as superior to man-made laws, sometimes due to an assumption that their source has resources beyond human knowledge and human reason. Believers in divine laws might accord them greater authority than other laws, for example by assuming that divine law cannot be changed by human authorities. An example are the Ten Commandments.
According to Chaniotis, divine laws are noted for their apparent inflexibility. The introduction of interpretation into divine law is a controversial issue, since believers place high significance on adhering to the law precisely. Opponents to the application of divine law typically deny that it is purely divine and point out human influences in the law. These opponents characterize such laws as belonging to a particular cultural tradition. Conversely, adherents of divine law are sometimes reluctant to adapt inflexible divine laws to cultural contexts.
Medieval Christianity assumed the existence of three kinds of laws: divine law, natural law, and man-made law. Theologians have substantially debated the scope of natural law, with the Enlightenment encouraging greater use of reason and expanding the scope of natural law and marginalizing divine law in a process of secularization.
Since the authority of divine law is rooted in its source, the origins and transmission-history of divine law are important.
Conflicts frequently arise between secular understandings of justice or morality and divine law.
Religious law, such as canon law, includes both divine law and additional interpretations, logical extensions, and traditions.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Divine law is discussed.
(39) If we consider the nature of natural Divine law as we have just explained it, we shall see: (40) I.- That it is universal or common to all men, for we have deduced it from universal human nature. (41) II.
Benedictus de Spinoza, Theologico-Political Treatise — Part 1
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; opens on it
By human law I mean a plan of living which serves only to render life and the state secure. By Divine law I mean that which only regards the highest good, in other words, the true knowledge of God and love. I call this law Divine because of the nature of the highest good, which I will here shortly explain as clearly as I can.
Benedictus de Spinoza, The Philosophy of Spinoza
a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; names the idea; opens on it
A Confirmation out of Holy Scripture of the principal points mentioned in the two last Chapters concerning the Law of Nature. [Sidenote: Confirmation out of Scripture, &c.] 1. The laws mentioned in the former chapters, as they are called the laws of nature, for that they are the dictates of natural reason, and also moral laws, because they concern the manners and conversation of men, one towards another; so are they…
Thomas Hobbes, The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 04
states what it is; names the idea
And the power of each of these is again distributed into human law and divine law; one of which refers to equity and the other to religion. But the power of equity is two-fold: one part of which is upheld by considerations of what is straightforward, and true, and just, and, as it is said, equitable and virtuous; the other refers chiefly to requiting things done to one suitably,--which in the case of that which is…
Marcus Tullius Cicero, The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 4
states what it is; names the idea
He also instituted their several feasts and ceremonies; and all those things which appeared arbitrary to other nations, and subjected to positive law and custom, when commanded by God Himself, became a divine law to the Jews, in like manner as whatever Jesus Christ the Son of Mary and the Son of God has commanded us is to us a divine law. But here let us not presume to inquire wherefore it has pleased God to…
Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IV of XLIII. Romances, Vol. III of III, and A Treatise on Toleration.
names the idea; opens on it
Philosophers who discussed Divine law
Related ideas
- Justice
- Authority
- Law
- Natural law
- Ten Commandments
- Biblical canon
- Tradition
- Theology
- Age of Enlightenment
- Transcendence (religion)
- Secularization
- Secularity
- Reason
- Morality
- Canon law
- Divinity
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Atheism.