“The ethics of the New Testament are completely

absolutist”

Discuss with reference to the texts that you have studied.

Absolutist

•ABSOLUTIST…….. Means to follow a set of rules or laws.

•To be absolutist, it is part of your duty to follow the New Testament ethics.

•Some examples of rules within the New Testament includes…….. The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount.

New Testament

Agape- unconditional Christian love

Paul’s letters. The letters are found throughout the New Testament.

Revelations, the end goal.

The Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God, is found contained within parables. These parables can be found with Matthew 13.

The Sermon on the Mount. This is found in Matthew 5-7.

Some of the parables. The parables can be found within Matthew and some of the other gospels.

The miracles are found throughout the New Testament. In the miracle accounts, some of the characters are raised from the dead.

Introduction

•Brief translation of the term ‘absolutist’.

•Explain the motives of New Testament ethics.

•Show knowledge of different teachings, that are included within the Bible e.g. the Sermon on the Mount, the parables and the miracles that are contained within the gospels.

•There should be some reference to our duties as Christians.

No because……….

• The teachings are only to be used as guidelines. Therefore they allow variance and they don’t need to be follow directly.

• “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17).

• The quote shows that Jesus did not come to follow the rules completely and straight to the board, instead he was sent to fulfill the laws instead.

• Due to the teaching of love, then people would be less likely to follow these teachings as there are different thoughts and emotions that are involved.

Yes because……….

• The sermon on the mount, the parables and miracles are examples of absolutes in the NT

• Our duty is to do God’s will. Therefore, New Testament ethics are absolutists and we should follow the teachings fully in order to create and achieve happiness.

• Following on from this, we should follow the absolutist teachings of the New Testament in order to enter the kingdom.

• E.g. teachings that you may wish to follow fully include Matthew 5:27 which says: “You know the the commandments which says “Be faithful in marriage”.

Conclusion

• The laws that were enforced by God where made to be fulfilled but not destroyed.

• His only son Jesus, was sent with the purpose to fulfil rather than destroy. However sometimes the Laws had to be changed.

• Overall the New Testament ethics is fairly absolutist however in different times and situations the rules and laws need to be thought about carefully.