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1. Introduction to Biblical Ethics

Ethics analyses systematically the moral life of persons. The analysing is based upon the
standard of right and wrong. This is based upon the ethical assumption that human beings are
both free and responsible. If human being is not free then he cannot be held responsible for
his or her action. Ethics looks into the practical moral choices which human being makes and
the result of those choices.
Ethics investigates the meaning and purpose of life. It deals with the ideal human character,
actions and motives. Ethics has to do with thinking (cognitive), feeling (affective) and willing.
Thus Christian ethics must promote and practice this three-fold reality in human beings.
The Bible was written to reveal the will of God for His people. It lays the foundation for our
ethical values, convictions and practices by understanding the Bible and its teachings on
moral issues helps the individual to make important ethical decisions. According to Professor
Niebuhr, he believes that Bible is the chief source book for the Christian ethics. It is the
central to the study of Biblical ethics. Literally ethics means the science of customs or habits
of persons. Ethics evaluates the habits, action, character and conduct of persons in terms of
right or wrong. The source of Bible ethics is the Bible. God is the one central unifying person
in the Bible therefore the ethical content of the Bible comes from the nature of God that is
why theology (Christian faith) and daily living (ethics) are very closely related in the Bible.
The Bible gives us guidance and authority for our daily Christian life.
2. History of the term ‘Christian ethics’
The title ‘Christian ethics’ was introduced during the reformation time. It was a name of a
book in French written by protestant theologian living in Geneva named Danaeous.
3. Nature of Bible Ethics
Bible is not a text book on ethics. We are trying to look at ethics from the Biblical
perspective. But Christian ethics must begin with the Bible because in the Bible we find
examples, promises, revelations and warnings and etc,. Bible ethics is not a legal system or
moral philosophy but a loyalty and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Bible ethics is
concerned with judgement of the conduct (right or wrong) and Christian in the light of
Biblical understanding. Bible ethics is related to other disciplines such as theology, religion,
sociology and economics.
4. Three centre of ethical thought
a). Location and nature of good:
Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone” (Luke. 18:19).
God has created human beings with an inclination towards good and an inclination to be away
from evil. To be created by God is good and to be good one needs to be in Christ (2 nd
Corinthians 5:17). God is Love: love is good. The Christian life seeks to realize love in every
possible situation. According to Professor H. R. Niebuhr the location of good is thus
sometimes defined to be within self-satisfaction of some desire, or interest, sometimes as
objectives.
b). Nature of Human beings
Genesis 1:27 says God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God
human beings are created. In Christ human beings are new creation and goodness of Christ in
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a new creation (2nd Corinthians 5:17). Some believe human being is fundamental and rational
beings, capable of knowing what the good is and capable of directing his/her conduct in
proper knowledge. Human is a creature/creation; thus he/she is not able to claim for
themselves final authority into anything they do.
c). Criteria for moral action
The double commandment is from the sayings of Jesus is known by all (Mark 12:30-
31). Thus in the Decalogue we see specific consideration or criteria of action or doing we
need to understand that in the process of action human being need God’s intervention.
Christians is a sense of personal responsibility to a living God in their action.
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1.2. BIBLE ETHICS IN CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Every religion has ethical content in it. Christianity is considered to be ethical religion
like Judaism. Emily Brunner believes that Christian faith gives the answer, the only answer
and the whole answer to the ethical problems.
There are two strands in Christian faith: 1) Religious content and, 2) Ethical Content.
Some Christian emphasize religious content such as worship, prayer, faith, devotions and etc,
while others stress ethical content such as conduct, social morality, Christian duties and etc,.
We need to balance both these strands. Bible is written several centuries ago to people from
different religious, socio-cultural back-up, it contains various kinds of literature, prose,
poetry, history, prophecy and etc,. Thus there has to be a special attention given to interpret
the Bible. This special science is known as Bible Hermeneutics. Thus there needs to be
definite principles and methods for the interpretation.
Bible ethics and Christian theology are not confined to individual believers because
theology and ethics have to deal with the Church, the body of Christ. Thus the Holy Spirit has
been leading people in the knowledge and experience of God. People like Luther and Wesley
have always struggled with the moral problems and related their problems to their
understanding of the Bible.ths we need to relate our problems to our understanding of the
Bible.
a). Life’s Purpose
Everyone must have a purpose in life. Since life is a gift from God it is important to
have a purpose in one’s life. Thus we need to have a good foundation for our lives.
i). we need to read the Bible in order to Grow and thus Romans 10:17 says, “So faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Modern human beings have looked to sources
other than the Bible that is education, philosophy and science. These sources have led the
human beings away from the truth. It is only through the Bible we understand the truth around
us. Bible often calls us to action by means of hearing, seeing and doing. Our obedience to
Christ comes from our love for Christ. This is expressed in our service to the people. Our
ethical responsibilities need to be interpreted to us.
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ii). Fellowship with God

Bible ethics is based upon the teachings of the Bible and is concerned for human life.
Thus for human being it is important to come into a relation with God. Christianity is abiding
in fellowship with God his son Jesus Christ. In Christ we have life (John 5:26) but there are
two conditions which are required to have fellowship with God: i). A right belief about Christ
and ii). The right ethical living. The combination of these is stated in the Bible. Thus faith in
Christ and moral living are very closely related to each other. They form an inseparable union.
iii). Fruit of the Spirit
All our actions fall into or moral conduct. In a Christian life it is only the Holy Spirit
which allows the fruit of the Spirit to be seen in our moral actions. Thus we see Paul’s
discussion in his letter to Galatians in the 5 th chapter in regards of the flesh and this flesh is
against the godly desire. Thus we need the fruit of the Spirit for proper ethical living.
b) Principles of human conduct
i. spirituality and morality
Christian life is twofold it is spiritual as well as moral. Spirituality has to do with our
relationship with God and our fellowship with Him. It includes our attitudes beliefs and
practices which motivates us to reach out to God. Thus it is about the movements of God’s
Spirit in one’s life in the community and in the cosmos (Greek word). Christian morality is
based upon a relationship to God and also who is our God because we believe our God and
thus it becomes the responsibility to l.ead the right king of life, god’s relationship with us has
been characterized by a covenant. A covenant is a scored and solemn agreement between god
and people, He has loved and redeemed. As God has created the world we need to live in the
world according to God’s order.
ii. Motivation and moral action
Jesus Christ is not only the ideal of our life but its motive also. Motive is an important aspects
of ethics (motives + Action = Motivation). Motive means thoughts and feelings that make a
person to act. Motivation is internal or subjective to the person concerned. Motives are based
upon ones spirituality and morality. The motive of a human being needs to be in line to God’s
will.
iii. Christ as the Standard
The ethical teachings of Christ illustrates his authority, words and deeds are in full agreement
with Christ (Acts. 1:1; to do and teach). Christ being the standard has demonstrated the kind
of moral life we need to live. In him we need to see all the moral values and qualities which a
person needs to have. Thus we need to understand the moral requirements of Christianity.
1. Introduction
1.3. Moral discourse
Ethics is distinct form morality or moral behaviour. It is based on a reflection, it is a
reflection, and it is a reflection of the basis of moral action. Thus we see Christian ethic as
understanding the real reality against the unseen reality or Maya.
3.1 Dimensions of Christian Ethics
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3.1. Deontological ethics

Deontological ethics is rule oriented or duty oriented ethics based upon the ruler and
regulation which exists in the society example honouring the elders. The word deontological
comes form the Greek word ‘deon’ which means binding. Thus it refers to the study of duty
and moral obligation. Deontological ethics is rooted in natural law that is reasoning some
laws are given which everybody needs to obey and it helps in understanding the right and the
wrong. Manuscript or the law of manu is an example of systematic scheme of a conduct. In
ancient Babylon they had the code of Hammurabi, the Hebrew people had their Torah. Thus
many people accept these codes very faithfully despite of their limitations. Fidelity to God
replaced by a rigid faithfulness to the rules.
Biblical understanding
The oldest rules is the Decalogue in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy code and also the book
of Leviticus and Numbers are full of rules and regulation. The sermon on the mout by Jesus
can be called as code of ethics.
3.1. b. Definitions
Paul Ramsey defines deontological ethics as “obedient love” “unprincipled love,” “covenantal
love”. While for Richard Niebuhr the code of conduct is defined in deontology. Thus we see
there is a definite place for laws and duties to obey in Christian ethics.
3.1. c. A Advantages
It is not concerned with the consequence of a decision whether that will be good or have a
negative effect but it regulated human life. It disciplines the people, teaches obedience, right
action based on law it takes into account the wisdom and the experience of the past.
Disadvantages
It is monotones, mechanical, autocratic. It is legalistic, judgmental. It leads to self
righteousness. It becomes an identity of the past, not contextual.
3.2. Situational Ethics
The second methodology in Christian ethics was a response to the problems of legalism or
authoritarianism this is called situational ethics. It asked the question of life what is
happening? Or who is affected? Thus ethics becomes more sensitive to and having an
analytical understanding of the history and human context. Situation ethics is very much
people evidnted and it is inductive in character. Thus situational ethics clarified there an not
be a fired or once for all solution to any human or historical problem. It lakes into account
kants’ understanding that theory without Praxis is empty and praxis without theory is blind.
Dietrich Bon Hoofer is the best example of contextual ethics not only in theory by also in
practice. And he understood that ethics is different from natural morality.
Situational ethics exposes moral decision and actions. There is no once for all solution to any
human and historical problems. James Gustafson understood that God is the source of
everything good and he enables the people, to understand their actions the important.
3.2.1. Biblical understating
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The important word in the Bible is ‘love’ for situational ethics. In the New Testament Greek
word has “agape”, “philia” “Eros”. Jesus is the best paradigm for love. It is the suffering,
sacrificial liberative love that is mentioned in a particular context. Thus situational ethics
takes into consideration the understanding of love.
Thus situational ethics is concerned with the transformation within the society. The
experienced of the marginalised (poor) is taken very seriously. Thus this ethics aims at the
future order of liberation, which will help in the human quest for liberation.
3.2.2. Teleological ethics (behaviour)
The third mode or moral discourse is teleological which is primarily end or goal
oriented. It looks towards the future, for the ‘summum bonnum’ it means the highest or
ultimate good. It is concerned with clarification of values, visions, goals and ideals. This
methodology first appeared in the philosophical ethics of the early Hellenistic thinking. It was
pioneered by Aristotle in his book ‘Nichomachean ethics’. According top him the good of
every action is relative because every action is individual and unique (different). He was the
first philosopher who made a distinction between science of good and science of truth.
Biblical Understanding.
God made covenant in the Old Testament with Abraham and Noah. Covenant is a
contract understanding, relationship, thus we find the element of future in the word covenant.
From the time of the Old Testament the patriarchs and the prophets of the Hebrew people
understood the future in terms of the day of the Lord. (Proverbs 29:18) According to this,
‘where there is no vision the people perish’. Jesus himself began his ministry by proclaiming
‘the kingdom of God is at hand’, repent and belief in the gospel. Thus we see in the message
of Jesus the kingdom talks about the future.
Hindu thinkers like Radhe Krishnan, Rabindranath Tagore, Gandhi wrote about the future
oriented goal and values. Thus in ethics we are concerned about the future, it has broken into
the present. Goals for the future should make/mould our present. Promise needs to become a
reality only when we have hope. Thus future oriented ethics gives hope for a change.