christian moral principles

Question 1

what is scholarly support for the bible being the only source of authority to be helpful (comprehensive moral guide) [theonomous ethics]

Answer 1

1. RICHARD MOUW:
   - it makes sense that God would give us a true way to live
   - moral decision making is the task of finding correlations between biblical revelation and moral issues
   - we need to look at all of the bible and apply it to moral problems
2. JOHN CALVIN:
   - “the word of God is the only foundation on which true religion rests”
   - the bible is directly given to humans from God, it is the will of God and a form of revelation

Question 2

what is some scriptural support for the bible being the only source of authority to be helpful (comprehensive moral guide)?

Answer 2

1. 2 TIMOTHY:
   - “all scripture is God breathed”
2. JEREMIAH 1:
   - “then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me; I have put my words in your mouth”

Question 3

what are refutes against the bible being used/being the only form of authority and not being helpful (comprehensive moral guide)?

Answer 3

1. there are questions of which bits should be best understood metaphorically and which bits should be taken literally
2. people are bound to read the bible with their won interpretation, therefore, leaving it open

Question 4

what is some scholarly support for the bible, church and reason being needed to use together to be helpful? [heteronomous ethics]

Answer 4

1. HAYS [new testament scholar]:
   - the bible is the living word of God speaking to us daily; helping to shape the world we live in
   - the church provides collective wisdom, so gives a good framework to help understand the bible
   - our reason helps us understand the context of the text
2. SPOHN:
   - church and reason play important roles in understanding the bible
   - the church serves as a communal and historical interpreter and helps provide a framework
3. AQUINAS:
   - we are the only beings with the ability to use reason to understand God’s eternal law
   - he therefore supports the use of reason and using the church to make moral decisions

Question 5

what are some refutes (scholarly or not) against the bible, church and reason being helpful?

Answer 5

1. AUGUSTINE:
   - humans cant interpret the bible as we are flawed, so we are likely to make errors when doing so
2. the church have previously acted immoral, so surely they are unreliable as a source of authority

Question 6

what is some biblical support for the bible, church and reason being the most helpful?

Answer 6

1. 2 CHRONICLES,7
   - “ if my people pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins”

Question 7

what is some scholarly support for only love being needed/helpful? [autonomous ethics]

Answer 7

1. TILLICH:
   - love should inform our decisions
   - the individual should have the ultimate authority
   - love is the ultimate source of justice and ethics, which we should allow to guide us when following these concepts
2. FLETCHER:
   - love is better as it follows the teachings of Jesus and can be applied to any situation
   - the bible is too legalistic
   - the fundamental practice of christian ethics is the law of love

Question 8

what is some biblical support for only love being needed/helpful?

Answer 8

1. 1 JOHN, 4:
   - “whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love”
2. MATTHEW 22:
   - Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind”

Question 9

what is some scholarly refutes against just love being used/being helpful?

Answer 9

1. THE VARDY’S:
   - just following the concept of love is too individualistic and lacks clear guidance
   - situation ethics is open to abuse because it can be used to “justify doing what people feel inclined to do, rather than what may be right”
2. MOUW:
   - we need the bible, as using just love isnt enough
   - we need the bible and what it instructs us to be able to apply it to moral issues; as if love was the only command in the bible, then alot of christian ethics could be established without reference to scripture

Question 10

what is some scholarly overcoming for the bible being a comprehensive guide?

Answer 10

1. you can get help interpreting the bible through the church
2. the bible is still useful, even if it might be flawed as it contains valuable moral teachings and lessons
   - for example, the 10 commandments