Ethics and the New Testament (Understanding the Bible and Its World)
Overview
For centuries Christians have referred to the New Testament for guidance on moral conduct. But did the writers of the New Testament themselves agree on such questions as divorce, political obedience, wealth and the toleration of other religions? And have their often inconsistent views any relevance today?
In Ethics and the New Testament, the author applies strict critical standards to the Gospels, epistles and other writings, which he examines in historical perspective. His explanation of contemporary attitudes—including Gnosticism—helps to clarify the striking moral differences between Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James and Paul. He attempts to discern the ethical standards and teachings of Jesus which are sometimes hidden in the present Biblical texts. And finally, he relates the moral injunctions of Christianity’s central text to the modern age.
Top Highlights
“Against the background of Roman society, in which divorce was easy for both husband and wife, and Judaism, in which it was generally more difficult than in Roman law, but nevertheless possible3 (sometimes mandatory) for the husband, the New Testament is held to give clear, strict and almost unanimous teaching. The exceptions are Matthew, who allows divorce in one specified class of case (5:32; 19:9), and Paul who countenances it in mixed marriages (1 Cor. 7:15).” (Pages 73–74)
“For example, in 2 Thessalonians 3:7–10, Paul is replying to Christians who—unless it is simply that they are idle—feel that the nearness of Christ’s return removes the normal need and obligation to work. Paul, with commonsense logic (‘If any one will not work, let him not eat’), denies the inference.” (Page 11)
“These contradictory attitudes appear to betoken considerable uncertainty in arriving at a standpoint from which to judge practical moral questions. Such uncertainty need cause us no surprise. It is natural that when it came to giving practical counsel, now the imminence of the End, now the demands of the day-to-day life should be upper-most. The former emphasis deals a crippling blow to the ordinary processes of ethical argument, the latter makes them still necessary.” (Pages 11–12)
“Moral commands have their place as rules for living (Rom. 13:8–10), but success in keeping them is not the basis for acceptance by God. That rests solely on faith in Christ and in what God has done through him (Rom. 5:1–5; 10:4–13). John’s Gospel makes the same point in other terms, e.g. 15:1–5, 16.” (Page 15)
This book is a little gem. It is lucid and scholarly, ethically and theologically sensitive. It sets the New Testament writings in their cultural context and emphasizes and displays the diversity of outlook and judgment of the different writings.
—Peter Baelz, Journal of Theological Studies
- Title: Ethics and the New Testament
- Author: J. L. Houlden
- Publisher: Continuum International Publishing
- Publication Date: 2004
- Pages: 144
