BIBLICAL ETHICS

Decalouge decides main ideas for christians, it has a good structure for society but not flexible 

• Themes- set apart obedient to God
• Order- prioritise relations with God
• Absoloutes- permamnent 
• Apoditic- standard/mission statement of ethics 

THE DECALOUGE IS APODITIC

10 commandments set apart from other laws

they are apoditic rather than caustic 

• they don't have punishments attacthed to each
• more like a policy/ mission than strict laws 
• shows how human and God's relationship should be 

escathologically happy: happy in next life if they follow ethical code to live morally 

sermon on the mount

SALT AND LIGHT

• you are the salt and the light 
• salt preserves and improves quality of human life 
• light to the darkness positive influence 

Jesus: "I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it" renewed absoloutes in old testament for a new audience 

ALLSOP: the beatitudes are jesus' version of the decalouge 

JENKINS: emphasise the spirit in which the children of the kingdom should live

JENKINS: some of the most challenging of Jesus' teachings are found on the S.O.T.M

JENKINS: it is not how peeople act which is all important inner attitudes are also crucial 

blessed are the poor they will inheret the kingdom of heaven
Barclay: material things mean nothing but God means everything

blessed are those who mourn they will be comfroted                                                             Barclay:the man who is desperately sorry for his sin will be redeemed  

blessed are those who hunger for righteoussness 
pur desire for goodness should be as strong as starvation 

blessed are the merciful for they'll be shown mercy 
Mckenzie: reward for compassion is to recieve compassion

pharisees turned laws of OT into : strict legalistic rules unrelaistic ethical standard

 decalouge was misuesd, burdening, overwhelming

Jesus clashed with pharisees over healing a man on the sabbath

Jesus wanted a fresh interpretation, he said the greatest commandment was love: love your neighbour as yourself, love the lord your God 

RADICAL ETHICS

• freedom to fulfill ethical law
• benefit you and your family 

REID- "the spirit of the law became lost in a mass of regulations"

Jews don't follow fresh interpretation follow OT e.g strict clothing and food laws 

sermon on the mount- proper explanation of ethical law

decalouge- universal and eternal 

beatitudes- eight blessings of Jesus on S.O.T.M

pharisees- negative approach e.g don't do this

Jesus- positive approach e.g do this