HRS101

Christian ethics
and its
anthropological
connection
Dr G Bustos, DWU Madang 2020
Presentation Outline
“It is in giving that we receive” St Francis of Assisi

 What is Christian anthropology?

 The puzzle of human beings: Religion as the quest for
meaning
 Humankind as God’s image
 Hominization/ the Divine in me
 Biblical concepts
 Dilemmas
Recap!
Theological basis of Christian ethics particularly
its: nature, origin, sources, subject, goal, motive

From the Christian standpoint, the final

authority for what is right or wrong are two-
fold: a. from God Himself, b. and from the
Word of God.
Christian ethics is grounded in the Divine
Command Ethics.
1. Both Christian and Non-Christians have agreed
on the following characteristics: standard, justice,
motive, guidance, harmony, relationship between
rules and results.
2. A theory that lacks clear guidance is impractical
and will create confusion.
3. For Christians, the Scriptures (both Old & New
Testament) and the long Christian Tradition
provides that guidance.
Point of departure:
Image/story of creation of human kind (See Gen 1:27) in
exchange with other views (Sociology, Anthropology, Ethnology,
Physic, Evolutionist…Religion!)
The man in a being of realities? (Philosophers: Heiddeger, Kant,
etc).
Who is man? (Ps 8)
 Old Testament

The Old Testament history began with the call of Abraham till the
Birth of Jesus (extended over a period of some 3,500 years).

 3500 2500 1000 0 2020

 Abraham Egypt David Jesus Now

Key concept: Covenant
 Thefundamental ethical focus of the Old
Testament is the Covenant Relationship

 The “covenant” is a solemn agreement between

to parties establishing a personal relationship of
love and fidelity between them. In this case the
covenant is between Yahweh and the Israelites.

 This agreement entails rights and duties and the

outcome of the obedience or disobedience to
this covenant is the blessing or curse.
 The heart of that covenant relationship is
God’s word that “I will be your God, and you will be
my people” (Jer. 7:23; cf. Ex. 6:7, Lev. 26:12, Rev. 21:3).
 God takes a people to be his, redeems them from
death, demands certain behaviour on their part,
and declares His blessings and curses: blessings if
they obey and curses if they disobey.
 In every covenant Yahweh declares
◦ I will be your God and you shall be my people. I
will bless you and protect you if you keep my
commandments.
 It is God’s initiative and Israel is called to total
obedience. Yahweh made three promises:
1. A homeland (a homeless people promised a
home land)
2. Numerous Descendants (from a handful of
people)
3. Prosperity – abundance of wealth (from a poor
people)
The Ten Commandments

The first three Commandments express the Love of God

1. I am the Lord your God, you shall not have

other gods.
2. You shall not call the name of the Lord your
God in vain.
3. You shall keep holy the Lord’s Day.
The other seven (7) commandments express
the Love of neighbor

4. Honor your father and mother

5. You shall not kill,
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal,
8. You shall not lie.
9. You shall not covet you neighbor’s wife
10. You shall not covet you neighbor’s
goods.
 Israelite's duty was a total commitment to following
whatever Yahweh says.
 The 10 Commandments is the core of Mosaic Law. It
summarizes the fundamental demands of God for his
covenanted people.
 The most important commandment here is the first
one. “Yahweh alone is the Lord your God and you
shall have no other gods.” The rest is the code of
conduct.
 New Testament
 The name “Christian” was first use in Antioch (Act 11:26), referring to
the believers of Jesus Christ. Hence, from a humble beginning of just
less then 12 Apostles and 72 disciples.

 Christianity has now become a dominant religion in the world with

over 2 billion followers and has influence on all aspects of private and
public life.
The Early Christian Community’s ethical living.
1. Shared a communion of Life: (Acts 2:42-44) The Disciples shared
everything they had in communion and special attention to the
orphans, widows, the sick, etc.
2. Dying/Rising Ethics –(Rom 6:4) sharing in the suffering, death and
resurrection of Jesus was the ultimate and the greatest prize of the life
of discipleship.
3. End time perspective – (2 Cor 15:17) The end of the word is coming
(soon). God will transform the world into a new creation. It was used to
stimulate the faithful to the life of holiness. But when is he coming?
 Since Christianity began with Jesus Christ, it is important to study his
teachings, because Jesus was a good moral teacher. Jesus Christ is
the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises and expectations.
 “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace, because
while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God….” (John 1:16-17).
 Jesus himself is the new covenant – Jesus is God becoming man thus -
uniting God and humanity. Covenant is the expression of love & fidelity
– In Jesus, God’s love and fidelity is expressed.

 In the Old Testament, God literally dwelled with Israel, as he placed

himself the temple.
 In the New Testament, Jesus is “Immanuel,” God with us. He is God
living among us (John 1:14). And after his Resurrection, he sends the
Spirit to dwell in us, as in a temple.
 Message of Jesus can be summarized in the following
 1. Kingdom of God – Like Israel was subjected to slavery
in Egypt, God intervened and through Moses God
gave us a share in his divine life.
 2. Call to Conversion and Repentance – Metanoia
(Greek) – Tanim bel – tok pisin) is the key that opens the
door to the Kingdom of God, the divine life.
 3. Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7)– Jesus is the new
Moses: You have heard, that it was said … but now I
say to you”
 4. Great Commandment of Love – (Mk 12:28-34) The
perfect bond between the two commandments. Love
is the form and essence of Christian perfection.
 5. Demand of Discipleship – Take up your cross and
follow me, follow the narrow part vs the path of wealth.
 Summary of Biblical
teaching on Ethics
 1. God is the Law Giver
 2. Human beings are responding to God’s Call to obey or disobey.
 3. When there is obedience there is reward, either here and now or
in the future.
 4. The words, life and death of Jesus as being the way, the truth,
and life.
 5. Christian conduct their lives for God in this world and of the world
to come.
 6. The relationship to one another is in view of their relationship to
God as father, creator, redeemer and the final end of human
existence.
Religion (Philosophy of
religion)
 Justify and give answer to:
 1. Where from? Origin
 2. What for? Reason for being
 3. Where to? Destiny
Basic questions that all humans seek
answers to

1. Who are we? (the question of IDENTITY)

2. Where did we come from? (the question of
ORIGIN)
3. Where are we going? (the question of DESTINY)
4. Why are we here? (the question of PURPOSE)
5. What ultimately matters? (the question of
MEANING)
6. How are we to live? (the question of
MORALITY/RIGHT ACTION)
7. What happens when we die? (the question of
FINALITY and CONTINUITY)
OT/NT Biblical view

Unfolding
of history
Creation of
story salvation
(Genese)

Christian
Anthropology

God
creator=we(creature)
Coming to the spotlight!
The biblical understanding
of human beings

• Basar e.g. • Nefesh

sarx and i.e.
soma psyche
Physical: flesh, Physical:
body (St Paul: throat, neck,
flesh as sinful breath. Soul
entity –Hl Sp and body (life)
transformed in unity

Physical: heart.
Physical: wind,
Metapha to
breath as
cardia as the
metapha: human
centre of the
beings as
person/emotions
emotiona,willing
/good will. NT:
being. Pneuma
Ethical being with
as connection to
conscience
the Divine
• Ruach i.e. object of/to love • Leb i.e.
pneuma cardia
Activity: How can you reconcile the following
dilemmas based on our Christian-biblical
understanding?
References:
 Ethical dilemmas:
https://www.google.com/search?q=What+is+an+ethical+dilemma+example?&client=firefox-b-
d&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=557&sxsrf=ACYBGNQ8G9bzKc5TQCKl0oGX1OhZod4WCg:1582022614884&tbm=isch&sourc
e=iu&ictx=1&fir=L5KfNeLd1uCFmM%253A%252CIOvdvwUsDNf1rM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTwgO8B1O--D-
EWJ8q7rjPxhG5tHw&ved=2ahUKEwjnlvK_9drnAhVQOSsKHYixCrYQ_h0wAXoECAgQBg#imgrc=UhRC_fP7tsBU0M.
Retrieved on 18 February 2020. Other images included.

 Carrol J, (2008) Ego & soul: the modern West in search of meaning. Melbourne:
Scribe Publications.
 Shand, J. (2009). Central issues of philosophy. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
 Luzbetak, L. (1996). The church and its cultures. Soth Pasadena, California: William
Carey Library.
 The Cambridge Companion to Medieval philosophy, (2003), ed, A S McGrade,
Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press.
 Maritain, J. (2005). An introduction to philosophy. London: Continuum.
 Pieper, J. (2002). Über das christliche Menschenbild(div. Auflagen). Münch:Kösel-
Verlag .
 Wolfgang Speyer. (2001). Hellenistisch-römische Voraussetzungen der Verbreitung
des Christentums (pp. 11-38). In Johannes Beutler (Hg.). Der neue Mensch in
Christus. Hellenistische Anthropologie und Ethik im Neuen Testament (QD 190),
Wien: Lit Verlag.
 Other reference books are available at the “The Friendship Library” Section on
Philosophy – 110).
 Other references provided by the lecturer (see books presented during the
lecture).