Natural law and interior law

[Snowy]

Is there a difference between St. Paul’s interior law and natural law?

Thank you.

 

[benedictus2]

Is there a difference between St. Paul’s interior law and natural law?

Thank you.

It depends on what you are basing St. Paul’s Interior Law on and which concept of natural Natural Law you accept.

I would guess that by natural law you mean the Thomist view.

First to state St Thomas’s concept: Natural Law is nothing more than the rational creature’s participation in the eternal law. The law is written in our very nature, revealed to us by our reason and is made obligatory by Divine authority.

Do good and avoid evil is the central principle of Natural Law.

Because it is written in our very nature, it therefore applies to the entire human race and is knowable by everyone who has the actual use of reason.

If we base St Paul’s concept of the interior law on Romans 2:13-15, then there is no difference between “the law that is written in their hearts and to which their conscience bears witness" (v15) and “the law that is written in our very nature” as St Thomas puts it.

Elsewhere however, in Gal 4:6 Paul writes: As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

And again in Romans 8:15-17: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”

Here we move from a mere human knowing to a knowing that is enlightened by Divine revelation. With Christ therefore, we now have a knowledge of the Divine Positive Law which according to St Thomas is that which ordinary human reason cannot learn but can only be known by the light of supernatural revelation.

Since by definition our participation in the eternal law is limited by our human nature , Christ, by revealing to us the Divine Law has enabled us to participate in the eternal law in a higher way.

So from a simple do good/avoid evil principle we now participate in the interior law of Love.

Disclaimer: This is just my summation and I am not an expert on either Pauline or Thomistic thought.

 

[fhansen]

It depends on what you are basing St. Paul’s Interior Law on and which concept of natural Natural Law you accept.

I would guess that by natural law you mean the Thomist view.

First to state St Thomas’s concept: Natural Law is nothing more than the rational creature’s participation in the eternal law. The law is written in our very nature, revealed to us by our reason and is made obligatory by Divine authority.

Do good and avoid evil is the central principle of Natural Law.

Because it is written in our very nature, it therefore applies to the entire human race and is knowable by everyone who has the actual use of reason.

If we base St Paul’s concept of the interior law on Romans 2:13-15, then there is no difference between “the law that is written in their hearts and to which their conscience bears witness" (v15) and “the law that is written in our very nature” as St Thomas puts it.

Elsewhere however, in Gal 4:6 Paul writes: As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

And again in Romans 8:15-17: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”

Here we move from a mere human knowing to a knowing that is enlightened by Divine revelation. With Christ therefore, we now have a knowledge of the Divine Positive Law which according to St Thomas is that which ordinary human reason cannot learn but can only be known by the light of supernatural revelation.

Since by definition our participation in the eternal law is limited by our human nature , Christ, by revealing to us the Divine Law has enabled us to participate in the eternal law in a higher way.

So from a simple do good/avoid evil principle we now participate in the interior law of Love.

Disclaimer: This is just my summation and I am not an expert on either Pauline or Thomistic thought.

I’m no expert either but I think your summation is correct. The Church teaches that the natural law is inscribed deep in our hearts. However, the prophet Jeremiah in chap 31, which the writer of Hebrews quotes in Heb10, describes a different scenario-a new work of Gods’ grace to be fulfilled exclusively in the New Covenant:
** “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.” **
Here man is to be given the grace to recognize and obey the law, the demands of which he is powerless to live up to on his own due to his fallen nature.

 

[Snowy]

Thank you for your kindness and for sharing your knowledge. I realize now what was confusing me: In the *New American Bible * version, each paragraph or group of paragraphs that share a theme are headed by a title, so chapter 2 of Romans starts with the title “God’s Just Judgment”, verse 12 is preheaded by the title “Judgment by the Interior Law”, verse 17 is preheaded by the title “Judgment by the Mosaic Law”, etc. Now that I’ve checked other versions, I realize that those titles were added by the editors, and when I asked my question I assumed that you would now what I was talking about. The problem with titling verses 12-16 “Judgment by the Interior Law” is that “Interior Law” is not a concept found in any Catholic reference that I have found. If they had titled those verses “Judgment by Natural Law”, I could have looked up “natural law” in the Catholic Encyclopedia and gone from there.

You didn’t waste your time though, I now understand better the concept of natural law. I confess that when I read St. Paul’s letters, most of what comes in through one ear goes out the other undigested.

 

[benedictus2]

Thank you for your kindness and for sharing your knowledge. I realize now what was confusing me: In the *New American Bible *version, each paragraph or group of paragraphs that share a theme are headed by a title, so chapter 2 of Romans starts with the title “God’s Just Judgment”, verse 12 is preheaded by the title “Judgment by the Interior Law”, verse 17 is preheaded by the title “Judgment by the Mosaic Law”, etc. Now that I’ve checked other versions, I realize that those titles were added by the editors, and when I asked my question I assumed that you would now what I was talking about. The problem with titling verses 12-16 “Judgment by the Interior Law” is that “Interior Law” is not a concept found in any Catholic reference that I have found. If they had titled those verses “Judgment by Natural Law”, I could have looked up “natural law” in the Catholic Encyclopedia and gone from there.

You didn’t waste your time though, I now understand better the concept of natural law. I confess that when I read St. Paul’s letters, most of what comes in through one ear goes out the other undigested.

Although Romans 2:12-16 does speak more of natural law, the term interior law has also been used by the Catholic Church to refer more to Christ’s law or more precisely the indwelling of the Trinity.

The Cathechism (Par 1965) relates this to the Law of the Gospel which it calls the Interior Law of Charity as expressed in the Beattitudes. It references Hebrew 8:10 and Jer 31: 33 "But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. "

Which as per St Thomas is really Divine Positive Law rather than natural law.

 

[fhansen]

Which as per St Thomas is really Divine Positive Law rather than natural law.

So is there meant to be a difference between Divine Positive Law and eternal law-or are they the same?

 

[benedictus2]

So is there meant to be a difference between Divine Positive Law and eternal law-or are they the same?

I think, as far as St Thomas is concerned, there is a difference. Eternal law is God’s wisdom governing all movement and action and encompasses the entire created universe not just human beings.

Divine Positive Law on the other hand concerns only human beings and is only apprehended by means of divine/supernatural revelation and not by mere human reason alone.