Love as Law—Obedience and Identity Formation
A Comparative Study of Romans 13:8–14 and Matthew 22:34–40
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
What is the relationship between love and the law in the life of the early church? While many studies emphasize love as the ultimate principle that supersedes the Torah, this book offers a compelling reevaluation. In Love as Law—Obedience and the Formation of Identity, Endale S. Mekonnen argues that for both Paul and Matthew, love is not an abstract ideal but the very mode of law-obedience—the practical framework for fulfilling its commands. Rather than replacing the Torah, love gives it practical expression, defining the perceptible identity of the first followers of Jesus. By closely examining pivotal texts in Romans and Matthew, Mekonnen demonstrates how the supposed tension between the two authors dissolves, revealing a shared vision for identity formation grounded in the law. This work challenges long-held assumptions and provides a vital new perspective on the enduring role of the Torah in shaping Christian life and ethics.
Endorsements (2)
“Endale Mekonnen’s Love as Law provides a detailed comparative study of the summaries of the Law in Romans 13:8–14 and Matthew 22:34–40. Using socio-rhetorical criticism, its analysis of the key concepts of nomos and agape redefines our understanding of the Law’s role in the New Testament. Its engagement with obedience and identity furthermore has important implications for understanding Christian identity formation in multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual contexts today.”
“Grounding his work in rigorous historical and philological exegesis, Mekonnen unpacks with scholarly acumen and convictional commitment the summaries of the Law in Romans and Matthew. He shows how the Law serves as a cornerstone for identity formation among Jesus’ followers, illustrating a vital synergy: If love is the ‘language’ of the kingdom, fostering the environment for connection, the Law is its ‘grammar,’ defining the specific boundaries of a devoted life. A spirited contribution on the Law in Matthew and Paul, eschewing either simplistic oppositions or opportunistic equations between them.”
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