An Exegetical Definition of Natural Law

a fledgeling oak tree

Andrew Fulford at The Calvinist International is attempting to make “an exegetical case for natural law”.

In his first installment here, he is actually quite short of actual exegesis and relies more heavily on Aristotle, Aquinas, C.S. Lewis and Dr. Edward Feser.

A couple of quick points he develops: First, what “Natural Law” is not:

1. Natural law is not mechanistic and exceptionless.

2. Natural law is not autonomous or independent in relation to God.

3. Natural law is not the ius gentium.

Second, what “Natural Law” is:

1. It is a divinely imposed order intrinsic in the beings that exist.

2. This divinely imposed order has “value” built in; “is” and “ought” are identical in it.

His point:

Given this conception of natural law, the main purpose of this series will be to show that Scripture assumes this concept reflects reality. To be more specific, I will attempt to prove the following proposition are supported by the Bible:

(N1) there is an objective order to the universe of the kind described above.

(N2) this order is objectively visible; it is there to be seen, whether one is wearing the spectacles of scripture or not.

(N3) at least some unregenerate people perceive see this order.

One might like to see more actual exegesis within an “exegetical case for Natural Law”. The fact that he is defining the term with sources outside of Scripture gives some cause to be wary, but they’ve been doing excellent work at The Calvinist International and I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt at this point.