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Davenant Discussion: “Between Legalism and Antinomianism: the Law-Gospel Debate in Modern Protestant Theology” with Rev. Dr. Jady Koch
December 10, 2021 @ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
In the 500+ years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, few aspects of his subsequent theological reformation remain as contentious and debated as the distinction between law and Gospel. Indeed, to this day the discussion divides not only Roman Catholics from Protestants, but is hotly debated within Protestantism itself; there is an agreement on the importance of the distinction, but a decided lack of consensus about how it should be understood and implemented. Far from a merely academic dispute, how one understands this important theological concept will largely determine his or her reading of scripture, the purpose and nature of the church, and—according to Luther—the Gospel itself. “I lacked nothing before this [revelation]” . . . he wrote, “. . . except that I made no distinction between the law and the gospel. I regarded both as the same thing and held that there was no difference between Christ and Moses except the times in which they lived and their degrees of perfection. But when I discovered the proper distinction – namely, that the law is one thing and the gospel is another – I made myself free.”
A graduate of Washington & Lee University (2000) and Trinity School for Ministry (2007), The Rev. Dr. John D. “Jady” Koch earned his Doctorate in Systematic Theology at the University of Humboldt in Berlin, Germany in 2014. In addition to various articles and lectures, he is the author of The Distinction Between Law and Gospel as the Basis and Boundary of Theological Reflection, which was published in 2016 (Mohr/Siebeck) and explores the interrelationship between the doctrine of justification by faith alone and the preaching and teaching ministry of the church. Having served churches in Berlin, Vienna, and Louisville, KY, Jady is excited to have been called to Christ Church and is looking forward to continuing his work in bringing the truths of the Gospel to bear on the everyday realities of life in our modern world. He and his wife, Liza, have three children (Tucker, John, and Carrington) and about a thousand house plants. Dr. Jady Koch is Associate Rector at Christ Church Anglican in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Join us on December 10th, 2021. Light refreshments and fellowship will begin at 6:30pm with the lecture beginning around 7pm.
Suggested Donation: $10-$15