The Law in the New Testament

The term “law” is used numerous times in Scripture It is often defined by the context. The Greek word is [nomov]. In Strong’s Concordance, [nomov] has the number 3551.

Sometimes the “law” is referring to the writings of Moses:

Joh 1:17 For the Law <3551> was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

Joh 7:19 "Did not Moses give you the Law <3551>, and yet none of you carries out the Law <3551>? Why do you seek to kill Me?"

In other examples, the law is distinguished from the prophets:
Joh 1:45 Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law <3551> and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Mt 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law <3551> or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

In one case, the law of Moses is distinguished from both the prophets and the Psalms:

Lu 24:44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law <3551> of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

The following passages are quoted from Psalms. Jesus referred to them as “law”:

Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law <3551>, ‘I SAID, YOU ARE GODS’?

Joh 15:25 "But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law <3551>, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’

The following passage, referred to as “law” is also likely a reference to Psalms:

Joh 12:34 The crowd then answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law <3551> that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?"

Note the following passage from Isaiah. Paul calls it “law”:

1Co 14:21 In the Law <3551> it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.

The following passage in Romans contains passages from Psalms and other OT books. After rehearsing them, Paul says, “Now whatever the law says…” He is calling the passages he just quoted, from various OT books, “law”:

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
19 ¶ Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

The term in "law" the NT may refer to the writings of Moses, the Psalms, or the Prophets.