Over the centuries, strong but artificial tensions have been created between the Gospel of Paul (proclaimed especially by Augustine and many Protestants) and the “legalism” of the biblical writers James, Peter, Jude, and so on., which Catholic and Orthodox theologians have usually defended. What is at stake in these tensions is the authority of God’s commandments and thus the duty or obligation to obey God’s “commands, decrees and laws”.
Jesus, the commandments, and legalism
