Christian Ethical System

Sources of Guidance

• Scriptures

• the natural law

• human experience

• authorities and traditions

Emphasis varies• Within the different variants of

Christianity• Eg. Catholic Church – emphasis

on natural law & authoritative bodies

• Protestant churches focus on bible, particularly Reformation churches

However the foundation to all Christian ethics includes

The Decalogueor

The Ten CommandmentsThe

BeatitudesThe

Golden Rule

Scriptures

• Christian ethics are based on some key passages from the scriptures,

• both Old and New Testaments

The Decalogue or Ten Commandments

• (Exodus 20:1-7 and

• Deuteronomy 5:6-21)

The Golden Rule

• (Matthew 22:37-39)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” This is the greatest and most important commandment.

The second most important commandment is like it “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”

The Beatitudes

• (Matthew 5:3-11)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven!.........”

Summary of Jesus’ ethics

• Repentance and forgiveness as the bases of the ethical life

• The radical, demanding nature of God’s ethical call on God’s reign

• The centrality of the love commandment