God is above the law by Clark and Perkins

It is interesting to read theology through history, for by doing so one can see the history of a position. This is not to say that theology depends on history. Theology depends on God's word alone the Bible.

Gordon Clark believed that God is Ex Lex. I agree as well. But Clark wasn't the first theologian to affirm this doctrine. William Perkins also believed this to be the case too.


"God is neither responsible nor sinful, even though he is the only ultimate cause of everything. He is not sinful because in the first place whatever God does is just and right. It is just and right simply by virtue of the fact that he does it. Justice or righteousness is not a standard external to God to which God is obligated to submit. Righteousness is what God does. Since God caused Judas to bestray Christ, this causal act is righteous and not sinful. By definition God cannot sin. At this point it must be particularly pointed out that God's causing a man to sin is not sin. There is no law, superior to God, which forbids him to decree sinful acts. Sin presupposes a law, for sin is lawlessness. Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God. But God is 'Ex-lex.'" - Gordon H Clark, Religion, Reason, and Revelation, pg. 175


"We must understand every commandment of the law so, as that we annex this condition: unless God command otherwise. For God being an absolute Lord, and so above the law, may command that which his law forbiddeth. So he commanded Isaac to be offered, the Egyptians to be spoiled, the brazen serpent to be erected, which was a figure of Christ." - William Perkins, A Golden Chain, pg. 55