The fundamental shape of Old Testament ethics

1971 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verne H. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Difficult Problem ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Biblical Studies ◽  
Concrete Situation ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Ethical Thinking ◽  
Biblical Perspective ◽  
The Church

One of the more promising recent developments in Christian ethics is the attempt to re-think its starting point and its basis in the light of the advances in biblical studies which are recovering for the church the specificity of the biblical perspective. It is true that this concern to take the biblical perspective seriously must go hand in hand with another of the central themes of current ethical thinking, namely, the concern to pay close attention to the data of the concrete situation. Unfortunately, ‘situation ethics’, while commendable in its refusal of legalism and its openness to the givenness of the situation, is frequently lacking in any specifically Christian content, that is, content to which the biblical perspective has made at least some formative contribution. In this regard, the difficult problem is this: how do we appropriate the biblical perspective in such a way that it may illumine the present concrete situation and give shape to ethical decision? Not much progress has been made on the solution of this problem. Although in this article we are only working at one end of the spectrum, namely, one aspect of the biblical basis of Christian ethics, nevertheless we see this as part of the total problem of bridging the gap, for in fact this cannot be accomplished without the re-conceptualisation of ‘biblical ethics’ now taking place.

Interpreting the Hannah narrative (1 Sm 1:1–20) in light of the attitude of the church in Nigeria towards childlessness

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon O. Ademiluka
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Contextual Analysis ◽  
African Women ◽  
Samuel 1 ◽  
Child Adoption ◽  
African Context ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Church

The Hannah narrative bears close affinities to the African context with respect to the problem of barrenness. Hence, employing the exegetical approach and contextual analysis, this article examines the narrative in relation to the attitude of the church in Nigeria towards the problem of barrenness among its members. The suffering of Hannah resonates with the travails of childless African women; yet, beyond the weekly or monthly prayer services for them, the church has not exploited these similarities enough to assist its barren members. This article states that the church can organise regular programmes to address issues such as causes of barrenness as well as the role of male and female cells in the conception process. It also needs to teach the right attitude of friends and relatives towards childless couples so as to reduce the psychological effects of childlessness particularly on the women. The church can also identify with childless couples by introducing them to the practices of child adoption and surrogacy when all efforts to have children by the natural process fail. As there will always be childless persons in spite of all efforts to have children, the church has the responsibility to make its members accept the fact that children are a gift from God, and that matrimony must not necessarily end in parenthood. Finally, the church in Nigeria needs to assure childless members that they can live happy and fulfilled lives despite their situation of childlessness.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This research involves the disciplines of the Old Testament and Christian Ethics. It examines 1 Samuel 1:1–20 in relation to the attitude of the church in Nigeria towards its childless members, stressing that the church can do more in identifying with them.

Justice and peace - a survey of issues

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-64
Author(s):  
Klaus Nürnberger
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Contemporary Debate ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
Biblical History ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
History Of ◽  
Social Critical ◽  
The Church

AbstractThis article offers a condensed survey of justice and peace issues in Christian ethics. It was originally written for an evangelical encyclopedia but was not accepted by the editors, possibly because of its historical critical and social critical stance. It begins with the historical origins of the concepts of law in the Old Testament, namely covenant law and cosmic order, their profound transformations in biblical history and their final form in the New Testament. Then we mention a few important developments in the history of the church from the Constantinian reversal, over the Reformation and the Enlightenment to the modern revolutionary spirit. Then we highlight a few aspects of the modern discussion, such as the accelerating development of science and technology, the emergence of a global, highly imbalanced economy, the rise and fall of Marxist socialism, a renewed upsurge of ethnic sentiments, and so on. Finally we offer a few directives for the contemporary debate, focusing on the relation between justice and peace.

scholarly journals On the origin of death: Paul and Augustine meet Charles Darwin

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Izak J.J. Spangenberg
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Biblical Studies ◽  
Original Sin ◽  
Eternal Life ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Adam And Eve ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
The Church

Ever since the 4th century, Christian theologians have linked Romans 5:12–21 with Genesis 2–3. Augustine (354–430), one of the Latin fathers of the Church, propagated the idea of ‘original sin’ according to his reading of these chapters. This idea eventually became a fixed doctrine in Western Christianity and a large number of Christians still believe and proclaim that humans would have lived for ever but for the misconduct of Adam and Eve. They also proclaim that Jesus, through his obedience, death and resurrection, re-established God’s original creation plan. Death was conquered and eternal life can be inherited by all who believe in Jesus as saviour and second Adam. However, since both the introduction of the theory of evolution into biology and the paradigm shift in biblical studies (at the end of the 19th century), the view that death was to be linked to ‘original sin’ came under severe criticism. This article argues that Romans 5:12–21 and Genesis 2–3 do not support the idea of ‘original sin’ and that death is a normal part of life on earth, as argued by evolutionary biologists and proclaimed by many Old Testament texts.

scholarly journals ‘Be fruitful and multiply’: Examining Genesis 1:28 as a basis for the adoption of polygamy as a solution to childlessness amongst Nigerian Christians

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon O. Ademiluka
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Divine Command ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Genesis 1 ◽  
Western Civilisation ◽  
Christian Men ◽  
The Church

In spite of Christianity and western civilisation, polygamy remains a major issue in Christian marriage in Africa. In Nigeria, most of the mainline churches officially adopt monogamy, whilst many of the African Initiated Churches (AICs) practise polygamy. Because Africans consider procreation as the primary purpose of marriage, some childless Nigerian Christians engage in polygamy in order to have children. But apart from the factor of traditional passion for children, some engage in polygamy to have children because they take the phrase ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ in Genesis 1:28 as a divine command to everyone to produce children. Therefore, this article examines the text with a view to ascertain whether it is appropriate to exploit the passage as a basis for the adoption of polygamy as a solution to infertility. The target population is those Nigerian Christian men and women who engage in this practice. The article employs descriptive and exegetical methods. It found that, although couched as an imperative, the phrase ‘Be fruitful and multiply’, rather than being a command to procreate, should be simply understood as a saying that God blessed the humankind with offspring, just as he did the fish that are not expected to obey or disobey (Gn 1:22). It therefore does not provide a basis for adoption of polygamy as a solution to infertility. The article recommends that apart from assisting childless Nigerian Christians to realise their dream of childbearing, the church should make them understand the biblical position that every individual and couple need not have children.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This research involves the disciplines of the Old Testament and Christian Ethics. It examines Genesis 1:28 with regard to the adoption of polygamy as a solution to infertility amongst Nigerian Christians. The article postulates that the passage is not a command for procreation but is simply a saying that God blessed the humankind with offspring; hence, it does not provide a basis for the adoption of polygamy to solve the problem of infertility.

scholarly journals Teologi Ekologi: Suatu Isu Etika Menuju Eskatologi Kristen

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-85
Author(s):  
Jefri Hina Remikatu
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Ethical Behavior ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Great Commission ◽  
Mission Of God ◽  
God's Mission ◽  
Book Of Genesis ◽  
The Church

Abstract. The issues of Christian ethics and eschatology are two important parts that being discussed in this paper regarding the ecological crisis that is happening recently.  These two issues invite the the church to rethink the missiological and soteriogical concept so that it can influence the activity of the church in carrying out the mission of God.  The church become the agen of God in voicing out the renewal of the broken relationship become harmony.  Therefore, the mission mandate that carried out by the church should be understood as participation of the church in the dynamic fellowship harmony with God and with all creations. The church as a community of the believers that has a dynamic fellowship with God will actively participate in God’s mission.  As the agen of God, the church must carry out her role in manifesting the divine mission through the proclamation of the salvation from God, trying to create and bring peace and harmony through the ethical behavior and bring the message of hope that everything must be turned to the glory of God as the soteriological hope for all creations in union with Him.  So, this paper challenges the church to reevaluate the Great Commission that contained in the Old Testament especially in the book of Genesis and New Testamen in the book of Matthew.Abstrak. Isu etika dan eskatologi Kristen merupakan dua bagian penting yang dipercakapkan makalah ini terkait krisis ekologi yang sedang terjadi. Kedua isu tersebut mengajak gereja untuk memikirkan ulang konsep misi dan konsep keselamatan sehingga dapat mempengaruhi aktivitas gereja dalam menjalankan misi Allah. Gereja menjadi agen Allah dalam menyuarakan pembaharuan relasi yang rusak menjadi harmonis.  Karena itu mandat misi yang dijalankan oleh gereja dipahami sebagai partisipasi gereja dalam persekutuan harmonis yang dinamis dengan Allah. Gereja sebagai komunitas orang-orang percaya yang memiliki hubungan yang dinamis dengan Allah akan secara aktif berpartisip dalam misi Allah.  Sebagai Agen Allah, gereja harus menjalankan perannya dalam mengejawantahkan misi ilahi melalui proklamasi keselamatan dari Allah, berusaha membawa damai maupun keharmonisan melalui prilaku etis, serta menyampaikan berita pengharapan bahwa segala sesuatu harus dikembalikan kepada kemuliaan Allah sebagai pengharapan soteriologis dalam penyatuan dengan Dia. Makalah ini memberikan tantangan kepada gereja untuk mengevaluasi Amanat Agung yang terdapat dalam Perjanjian Lama terkhusus dalam kitab Kejadian dan Perjanjian Baru dalam Injil Matius.  

scholarly journals Trosopplæring for Guds små prinsesser? Teologi, kjønn og læring i bibelbøker for barn

Prismet ◽  
1970 ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Birgitte Lerheim
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
Christian Education ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Learning Plan ◽  
Norwegian Version ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Bible Stories ◽  
The Church

This article presents and discusses recent Norwegian research on Bible Didactics, using the Jarle and Karina Waldemars’ Norwegian version of Carolyn Larsen’s book Princess Stories. Real Bible Stories of God’s Princesses as a starting point and case. The emphasis of the discussion is on theology, gender and learning discourses, and is being done in relation to a certain field of practice, namely the Christian Education Reform of the Church of Norway. The author shows how the curriculum/learning plan of Chrisitian Eduation seems to carry a bricolaged and accidental understanding of Bible Didactics. Recent Norwegian research on Bible Didactic, mostly done by Old Testament scholars, is being discus-sed. The research in question shows how a moral, instrumental didactisism often dominates bible mediation for children. Our case is an excellent example of how this is gendered differently for girls and boys. The methodology of the book used as a case also relies upon an understanding as learning as acquisition less than participation and knowledge creation.Keywords: Bible, didactics, gender, theology, learning, childrenNøkkelord: Bibel, didaktikk, kjønn, teologi, læring, barn 

scholarly journals Karabo ya kereke mabapi le dit�hiwana le bana bao ba lego kotsing ka lebaka la HIV AIDS: Maikutlo a sedumedi sa ka pebeleng

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Mahlangu
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Early Years ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
The World ◽  
Biblical Perspective ◽  
The Church ◽  
Hiv Aids

The church�s response towards orphans and vulnerable children as a result of HIV AIDS: A theological biblical perspective By its very nature the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) should invoke response and challenge from all sectors of society, including the church and the academia (theological practitioners). However, in the early years of HIV and AIDS, more or less 30 years ago, the church has been apathetic in its response and engagement with issues relating to HIV and AIDS. Due to the fact that the HIvirus and the AIDS disease raises moral, ethical, gender, cultural, sexual and spiritual matters, it took a considerable long time for the church to become involved. In theological practice the response and involvement in HIV and AIDS matters was also initially characterised by theological impotency.This article therefore, provides a philosophical, theological and biblical basis and reflection to the church especially, in Africa, to effectively respond to the plight, crisis and scourge of HIV and AIDS and its impact to orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC). The effects and repercussions of this pandemic are everywhere glaring, especially in developing nations. This worldwide epidemiology of HIV and AIDS has evoked resources from many national governments (particularly in developing countries), the United Nations bodies, Non-Profit Organisations, etcetra. Indeed, the bone-chilling statistics emanate from the World Health Organisation, AIDS conferences and newspaper articles The latest statistics on people infected with HIV and people living with AIDS, including the OVC, sends shock waves throughout the world. The apathetic and largely disengagement by the church towards the OVC, paucity and dearth of theological publications in current times on this subject and topic indicate that the church in Africa needs to come to terms with her theological and biblical mandate to care for the OVC. This article therefore provides a synopsis and survey of how God�s people (Israel in the Old Testament and the Church in the New Testament) were commanded by God to care for OVC. Based on the biblical text, the contemporary church in Africa should break the vicious and dangerous cycle of silence, apathy and disengagement and start alleviating the plight of OVC.

scholarly journals William (Wil) Vosloo - 'n Bybel-wetensakplike wat die Ou Testament vir die volk wou oopbreek

2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Human
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Biblical Studies ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
The Bible ◽  
University Level ◽  
Biblical Scholar ◽  
The Church

William (WiJ) Vosloo - A Biblical scholar who exposes the Old Testament for ordinary people W Vosloo (1934- ) is one of the fine Old Testament scholars in South Africa. His work on the exposition and understanding of the Bible in general, and on the Old Testament in particular, counts to the core contributions of Biblical Studies in South Africa the last two decades. This short portrait sketches Vosloo as a man of mature character and life experience. With his exposition of biblical texts, his aim was to serve the church. At university level he was a dedicated academician and lecturer. He will also be remembered as a theologian and author of stature. William Vosloo was in his professional career really a human being for fellow humans.

Setting the Scene: a Response to John Rogerson

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
KEITH W. WHITELAM
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Biblical Studies ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Biblical Scholarship ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Biblical History ◽  
Ancient Israel ◽  
History Of

John Rogerson's review of works on the history of ancient Israel from Humphrey Prideaux to Martin Noth is a fine illustration of Ecclesiastes' observation (1.9): ‘What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun’. The current debates on the history of Israel are often presented as part of some paradigm shift or, at the very least, a new and savage phase in the study of Israelite history. The publication of recent works such as A Biblical History of Israel by Provan et al. and Kenneth Kitchen's On the Reliability of the Old Testament take us back to the starting point of Rogerson's paper and the work of Prideaux before the development of biblical studies as a critical discipline in the nineteenth century. Norman Cantor's observations on the invention of the Middle Ages by twentieth-century scholarship are just as applicable to biblical scholarship and its pursuit of ancient Israel.

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