Christian Ethics

Christian Ethics – Lessons 3 & 4 Test 2

 

1.           The first reason is the light that the Old Testament can throw on Jesus as we note what he retained from his heritage and what he gained from higher insights. The second reason is the need to fully understand the Old Testament and to see it in perspective. The third reason is that we get a sense of concreteness from the social teachings of the prophets.

 

2.           Israel's faith was not fully monotheistic before the sixth century BC.

 

3.           It was a covenant of grace.

 

4.           One test was circumcision and the other was the requirement of keeping the law.

 

5.           The most primitive code in the Old Testament is the ceremonial code in Exodus 34.

 

6.           The Covenant Code illustrates the blending of moral and religious considerations, and within the religious aspect the mixture of adoration and gratitude with the ceremonial observances.

 

7.           'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath' is found in St Mark's Gospel chapter 2, verse 27

 

8.           a)  The law was not the barren interpretation that was made in Jesus' time or even in ours. It was based on the righteous and sovereign rule of God who demanded its observance.

b)  The Hebrew's moral outlook was intensive but tended to favour the Hebrews themselves or  those living within the Hebrew community. The Hebrews also believed that this was what God wanted regardless of what the prophets said.

c)  Jesus came to fulfil the law not destroy it or even change it, but to widen its scope so that the too narrow interpretation placed on it by those in authority could be looked at afresh and revitalised.

 

9        The first deduction is that the prophets proceeded from the assumptions of the covenant, never doubting that Israel was God's chosen people.

The second deduction is that the prophets were Hebrews and Hebrews only and only worked within this context.

The third deduction is that monotheism and universalism is implicit in their preaching although in itself it was a late development.

The fourth deduction is that the prophets saw sin not as a human failing but as actual sin against and they could therefore criticise kings as well as ordinary people for their sinful ways.

The fifth deduction is that they spoke to the situation prevailing at the time within the Hebrew community.

 

10.       Jesus took the following concepts from the Old Testament:

First, He shared with the Old Testament the structure of moral living which was God-centred.

Second, His ethical principles were those of Judaism, but with a different emphasis making them new in impact.

Third, He made the attainment of the kingdom of God the main point of his teaching rather than the triumph of Israel.

 

Derek Kemp

 

Christian Ethics

Christian Ethics Lessons 9 & 10 (Test 5)

 

1.           Ten assumptions are as follows:

a) Man is highest form of life in the universe.

b) Man is essentially a part of nature.

c) Man alone gives purpose to the universe.

d) Group standards provide validation of right or wrong.

e)The good life is for man's happiness and satisfaction of his desires.

f) Evil exists but sin is outmoded.

g) Improvement comes through man's own efforts socially, economically or politically.

h) Man is totally dependent on group resources.

I) Man's existence ends with his death.

j) Christ is solely an historical figure around which the church has been organised.

2.           A man may be respectable and law-abiding but is not a Christian as his primary insight is humanistic and not Bible-centred as the source of insight.

3.           Moralism is to define a person as a Christian because he possesses the required Christian virtues. Fractionalism is to take one aspect of Christian experience and treat it as the whole experience.

4.           The Christian virtues are shown in the Beatitudes:

Those who are humble in spirit.

Those comforted by God in their mourning.

Those who are unpossessive but have God's richest gifts.

Those eager in the quest for righteousness.

Those who are merciful.

Those who are pure in heart.

Those who are peacemekers.

Those faithful under persecution.

Those able to endure scorn for the Kingdom's sake.

5.           Christian virtues according to Paul are:

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

6.           These virtues are the 'fruit of the Spirit' from the indwelling presence of God; secondly, they are the fruits of a whole personality; and thirdly, there is no law against such attributes.

7.           Other portrayals of Christian virtues are in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 13.

8.           Calvin says that original sin is hereditary and a corruption of our nature in that even infants have the seed of sin within. Sin has possessed all the powers of the soul and impiety in man has seized both his mind and his very innermost heart.

9.           a) Is it ever right for a Christian to kill his fellow man?

b) Should a Christian ever lie, steal or cheat?

c) How should a Christian view or respond to the sins of the flesh?

10.       The message of Good Friday and Easter is that God has been victorious over sin because God so loved the world that he gave his Son for our redemption. This is our total Christian faith.

 

Historical Jesus and Evidence

How do we know that Jesus Christ is an historical person and what is the historical evidence

            Jesus Christ is mentioned by numerous pagan sources and Christian sources the Christian sources could at this point considered biased that is until we have looked at the pagan sources. The pagan authors consist of correspondence from emperors to senior officers in the Mediterranean and vice versa as such these would be considered very good sources in this instance the reason being despite their negativity they prove a religious group existed known as Christians and also a person known as Jesus Christ existed. Although this may sound and read as if you are following the pagans as an historian and a Christian you have know found substantial evidence this then leads us to believe the Bible is a good source of history and aspects of Jesus life and works and the persons that have followed not only him but his disciples which kept the faith developing to what it is today.

            Among the sources we have Tacitus a Roman Historian who has associated Christ with Pontius Pilate the Procurator under the Emperor Tiberius.

            Pliny who sent a letter to Emperor Trajan raising concerns about the Christians.

            Suetonius mentions that under Claudius the Jews were thrown out of Rome for rioting over Christ this shows that not only the name is known in the Mediterranean but also in Rome by the Jews Christian followers and Romans alike.

            These witnesses are of vast importance as the persons or authors and co responders that are mentioned are all educated persons and have positions in Roman life. The Bible itself then adds the final touches and gives us the links as too what the Jesus was doing and his message to his followers.

Christian History Information

            How does Christ's person and work constitute the beginning of Christianity.

 

            Jesus was an extraordinary person he was able too reason at an early age which is shown via his observation skills .it was not until after he was Baptized by his cousin John the Baptist that his skills came to the attention of the public ,the way he embraced mans laws and added his own which was to go one step forward as oppose to being negative.  His positive skills and the manner he expressed himself caused a large following he was able to speak so even the uneducated could follow his beliefs even by treating none Jews as equals in his ministry would have been a first a religion that embraced all regardless of gender and race would have been so advanced for his generation it must have scared the elders and also the Roman army.

            Despite the above Jesus was still able to teach his followers the disciples even though he had visitors who wished to hear him speak or heal them ,most religions or cults would have turned people away while the Teacher was training his followers this more so made Jesus and his teachings unique.

            When Jesus was crucified some followers would have fell by the wayside as their leader or rabbi had left them it must have seemed the end of everything dear ,but the resurrection secured Christianity because he was seen to have spoken to numerous persons complete with the wounds he was given from the crucifixion and from the spear this then caused the following to strengthen not only was this event the foundation it was the foundation stone with all men being the children of god.

            Jesus as the rock and Christianity as its foundation created the biggest religion which was global in its teachings and beliefs.