Natural Law
A moral order written into human nature, legible to reason without revelation
Natural law is the idea of a moral order built into human nature and knowable by reason, understood to reflect God's eternal law. Romans 2 speaks of a law written on the heart, and Aquinas developed the theme at length in the Summa Theologiae. Traditions weigh it differently: it is central to Catholic moral theology, while Orthodox and Protestant ethics receive it with varying emphasis.
How it traveled
- JamesJerusalem · 62explains
- RomansCorinth · 67explains
- 1 TimothyEphesus · 67explains
- MarkRome · 68explains
- MatthewAntioch · 80explains
- LukeRome · 84explains
- Dialogue with TryphoRome · 165explains
- The First ApologyRome · 165explains
- The Second ApologyRome · 165explains
- The Resurrection of the DeadAlexandria · 190explains
- Against Heresies: Book IVLyons · 202explains
- Exhortation to the HeathenAlexandria · 215explains
- The Instructions of Commodianus.— · 220explains
- Apology.— · 220explains
- On Idolatry.— · 220applies
- The Shows, or De Spectaculis.— · 220explains
- Address to the Greeks— · 220applies
- On Fasting.— · 220applies
- The Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes.— · 220explains
- On Monogamy.— · 220explains
- Book II. Of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons— · 220applies
- The Soul's Testimony.— · 220explains
- Book VI— · 220explains
- The Octavius of Minucius Felix.Rome · 250explains
- On the Jewish Meats.Rome · 258explains
- A Treatise on the Anger of God Addressed to Donatus— · 325explains
- Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died— · 325applies
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.)Alexandria · 373explains
Key passages(20)
A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter · Augustine of Hippo
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans · John Chrysostom
The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch · John Chrysostom
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter · Augustine of Hippo
A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter · Augustine of Hippo
Against Heresies: Book IV · Irenaeus of Lyons
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Homilies on First Corinthians · John Chrysostom
Homilies on First Corinthians · John Chrysostom
On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
Reply to Faustus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo