Lecture 2 Notes - The Bible and Moral Issues

Question 1

Definition of Christian ethics

Answer 1

Christian ethics can be defined as the theory and regulation of MORAL BEHAVIOR within the context of the COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS as they seek to reflect the NATURE OF GOD in a FALLEN WORLD`.

Question 2

Moral Authority

Answer 2

B. A source (or sources) of moral authority is essential to every system of ethics.

Question 3

Thee Options for Moral Authority

Answer 3

• Prescription-based systems
• Agent-based systems
• Mixed systems

Question 4

Prescription-Based Systems

Answer 4

A system where we have laws, commands, or ideals that are given either in written or spoken within a community

Question 5

Agent-Based Systems

Answer 5

Some agent sets the standard for ethics or standards.

Can be the self, the community as a group, or God.

Question 6

Mixed Systems

Answer 6

1. Involves the agent and the prescription. This is like God giving the laws and commands to be obeyed.

This is the Christian Ethics system.

Question 7

Two choices for moral authority in Christian Ethics

Answer 7

• Self and community based on our interpretation of given law
• God Himself (The objective standard)

Question 8

Weleyan Quadrilateral (4 Sources of Authority)

Answer 8

1. Scripture - The ultimate source of Authority
2. Tradition - serves undeer scripture
3. Reason - Our rational capacity to reach a conclusion. Tradition is the collective culmination of reason
4. Experience - Can be countered by someone elses experience

Question 9

General Revelation

Answer 9

“The divine disclosure to all persons at all times and in all places by which humans come to know that God is and what he is like. While not imparting truths necessary for salvation—such as the Trinity, the incarnation, or the atonement—general revelation conveys the conviction that God exists and that he is transcendent, immanent, self-sufficient, eternal, powerful, good, and a hater of evil.” Bruce Demarest

Natural/Universal Revelation

Question 10

Modes of General Revelation:

Answer 10

• Creation/Universe
• Conscience - Defends and accuses people even if they do not have the law
• History - God’s sovreign plan and guidance can be seen

Question 11

Impact of General Revelation

Answer 11

gives us the idea that something is right or wrong without knowing why
- Known as natural law theory

Question 12

Limitations of natural law:

Answer 12

• Discerning the law can be subjective
• Requires movement from fact to obligation: What is to what ought
• Distorted ability to reason and understand natural law due to fall

Question 13

Special Revelation

Answer 13

1. “The special revelation in sacred history is crowned by the incarnation of the living Word and the inscripturation of the spoken word. The gospel of redemption is therefore not merely a series of abstract theses unrelated to specific historical events; it is the dramatic news that God has acted in saving history, climaxed by the incarnate person and work of Christ (Heb 1:2), for the salvation of lost humankind. . . . The series of sacred acts therefore includes the divine provision of an authoritative canon of writings—the sacred Scriptures—providing a trustworthy source of knowledge of God and of his plan.” Carl F. H. Henry

Question 14

Modes of Special Revelation:

Answer 14

• The Word (Christ Himself)

- Scripture (The Written Record)

Question 15

Role of scripture in ethics:

Answer 15

In a biblical ethic, scripture is the norm/standard

Question 16

4 Ways Scripture can be used:

Answer 16

• Guide: Points out the route we should take
• Guard: Warns against wrong decisions
• Compass: Helps gain orientation, how doe we relate
• Principle: Application of abstract ideas

Question 17

Calvin’s Threefold use of the Law:

Answer 17

• Mirror for man - reveals sin
• Restraint of evil - restraint of evil through threat of punishment
• Guide for Believers - encourages obedience

Question 18

Key terms of Scriptural inerrancy

Answer 18

• Divinely Inspired
• Truth, without any mixture of errror
• Totally true and trustworthy

Question 19

Doctrine of Inerrancy Definition:

Answer 19

Without error. The original manuscripts.

Does not mean scripture does not intentionally deceive but that it is without error

Question 20

Is the doctrine of inerrance biblical?

Answer 20

God is truth.

• if scripture is inspired by God it must be true
• If scripture is true in its entirety then it can have no error
• truth associated with the true triune God

Question 21

Why is inerrancy important to ethics?

Answer 21

• if the scripture is not inerrant it cannot be the norm of moral behavior
• Without inerrancy we are left to speculate about God’s design for ethics
• Speculation on God’s nature

Question 22

Sufficiency of Scripture

Answer 22

• Scripture is sufficient for faith and practice in this world
• Scripture contains the ethical norms we need to make moral decisions.

Question 23

Why did God give us laws and commandments?

Answer 23

• Protection from harm or ourselves
• To give guidance
• To show us our sin

Question 24

Context for the 10 Commandments

Answer 24

• The 10 Commandments were given in the midst of the Exodus.
• They are based upon God’s statement in Ex 20:2: 1. “I am the Lord your God…” Based in God’s self-revelation about who He is and what he has done.

Question 25

10 Commandments

Answer 25

1. You shall have no other gods before Me. (Ex 20:3) 2. You shall not make for yourself an idol. (Ex 20:4) 3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. (Ex 20:7) 4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Ex 20:8) 5. Honor your father and your mother. (Ex 20:12) 6. You shall not murder. (Ex 20:13) 7. You shall not commit adultery. (Ex 20:14) 8. You shall not steal. (Ex 20:15) 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Ex 20:16) 10. You shall not covet. (Ex 20:17)

Question 26

Euthyphro’s Dilemma (Plato, Euthyphro)

Answer 26

- Are God's commandments holy because he commanded them? (Commands are arbitrary) - Are they holy on their own and that is why God commanded them? (God is subject to external standard)

Question 27

God's Laws are a reflection of his character

Answer 27

- God’s laws are holy and true because they reflect his moral character, which is holy and true. - The power of the law comes from God’s character - We reflect God’s character by doing the law.

Question 28

Law Vs Gospel

Answer 28

- Some believe that the OT law no longer applies to Christians. - Others hold that the OT laws still apply to all believers.

Question 29

Law Vs Gospel Key Verse

Answer 29

Matthew 5:17 - i. “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” What does the verb πληρόω (“fulfill”) mean? 1. Used 86 times in NT 2. Range of meanings include to make full, to complete, to finish, to fulfill, to accomplish

Question 30

Three Views on Law application:

Answer 30

- Discontinuity Position - Hyper-Continuty Position - Continuity Position

Question 31

Discontinuity Position

Answer 31

1. Only the NT Law is normative for Christians. If it is not in the NT then it is not binding. 2. If it is not in the NT it isn’t binding 3. If you happen to do an OT command it is only because it was in the NT 4. Christ has fulfilled the obligations of the OT law thereby releasing us from that obligation

Question 32

Discontinuity Position Evidence

Answer 32

a. “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” Luke 16:16 b. “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Rom 6:14 c. “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Gal 5:18

Question 33

Discontinuity Position Problems

Answer 33

a. Has difficulty affirming that the law is a reflection of God’s character. Does his character change? b. It minimizes the fact that most of the 10 commandments are repeated in the NT c. It has difficulty seeing the unity of the Bible.

Question 34

Hyper-Continuity Position

Answer 34

1. The OT Law is still binding on Christians and should be implemented by civil governments. 2. Exceptions: Things not relevant due to changes in sanitation or architectural regulations. The laws regarding the sacrificial system are done.

Question 35

Hyper-Continuity Position Evidence

Answer 35

a. Some OT civil laws are upheld in NT (1 Cor 5:1; 1 Tim 5:18) b. The NT affirms the unity of the OT law i. “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.’” (Gal 3:10) ii. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” (James 2:10)

Question 36

Hyper-Continuity Position Problems

Answer 36

a. Inconsistent approach to the civil law and structure of society. Government should enact the OT law except for the ones that aren’t relevant. b. No longer a Hebrew theocracy in which to enact the OT civil law c. The NT appears to abrogate some of the OT civil laws (Peter’s vision of food) d. Creates real problems for contemporary church/state relations. Who has authority?

Question 37

Continuity Position

Answer 37

1. Divides OT law into three categories— Ceremonial, Civil, Moral a. Ceremonial laws relate to the sacrificial system and worship. All the laws that pointed to Christ’s redemptive work were fulfilled by Jesus. b. Civil laws relate to the governance of the Hebrew theocracy. c. Moral laws reflect and demand conformity to God’s character. These are the laws written on man’s heart (Rom 2:14–15). 2. Gives this position the ability to say there is both continuity and discontinuity. The moral law is still binding.

Question 38

Continuity Position Evidence

Answer 38

a. NT gives evidence that ceremonial law has been fulfilled. i. Tearing of the veil in the temple (Matt 27:51) ii. Purity of all food (Acts 10:9–16) iii. No need for circumcision (Acts 15:23–29) b. NT gives evidence that civil law is no longer in effect. i. Christians pay taxes to secular governments (Matt 22:21; Rom 13:6–7) ii. Christians are to pray for government leaders (1 Tim 2:1–2) iii. NT approves of secular civil governments (Rom 13:1–7; 1 Pet 2:13–17) c. NT gives evidence that moral law is still valid. i. The law is good (Rom 7:12) ii. Repetition of 10 Commandments (Matt 5; Rom 7:7)

Question 39

Continuity Position Problems

Answer 39

a. The three divisions are artificial divisions. They are not stipulated in the scripture itself. b. How do we know which category the various laws fit in?