The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation - A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics"

A leading expert in New Testament ethics discovers in the biblical witness a unified ethical vision - centered in the themes of community, cross and new creation - that has profound relevance in today's world. Richard B. Hays shows how the New Testament provides moral guidance on the most troubling ethical issues of our time, including violence, divorce, homosexuality and abortion. Dedication Contents Preface Introduction: The Task of New Testament Ethics New Testament Ethics As a Problem The Fourfold Task of New Testament Ethics Possible Objections PART ONE The Descriptive Task: Visions of the Moral Life in the New Testament 1. Paul: The Koinōnia of His Sufferings Is Paul’s Ethic Theologically Grounded? The Theological Framework for Pauline Ethics Paul’s Moral Logic: Warrants, Norms, and Power Appendix: Paul on the Relation between Men and Women 2. Developments of the Pauline Tradition Witnesses to the Legacy of Paul Ephesians: Cosmic Ecclesiology 1 Timothy: How to Behave in the Household of God 3. The Gospel of Mark: Taking Up the Cross Finding “Ethics” in the Story of Jesus: Reflections on Method Mark’s Christology: A Story of the Crucified Messiah Discipleship: Following the Crucified Messiah Eschatological Expectation in Mark: “Keep Awake,” Mark’s Narrative World As Context for Action 4. The Gospel of Matthew: Training for the Kingdom of Heaven Matthew’s Christology: Jesus As Teacher Training for the Kingdom Matthew’s Eschatology: “I am with you always, to the end of the age,” Historical Setting: Matthew As Ecclesiastical Diplomat Matthew’s Narrative World As Context for Action 5. Luke-Acts: Liberation through the Power of the Spirit Luke’s Christology: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,” The Church in the Power of the Spirit Luke’s Eschatology: “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?,” Luke’s Narrative World As Context for Action 6. The Gospel and Epistles of John: Loving One Another John’s Christology: The Man from Heaven Loving One Another: The Friends of Jesus Johannine Eschatology: “We know that we have passed from death to life,” John’s Narrative World As Context for Action 7. Excursus: The Role of “the Historical Jesus” in New Testament Ethics Why Not Begin with Jesus? Methods for the Quest The Life and Teachings of Jesus: A Proposed Reconstruction Implications for Christian Ethics 8. Revelation: Resisting the Beast Apocalyptic Symbolism: The Interpretive Choice The Lamb That Was Slaughtered The Vocation of the Saints A New Heaven and a New Earth The Narrative World of the Apocalypse As Context for Action PART TWO The Synthetic Task: Finding Coherence in the Moral Vision of the New Testament 9. Diverse Voices in the New Testament Canon Cacophony or Polyphony? Three Procedural Guidelines 10. Three Focal Images: Community, Cross, New Creation Community Cross New Creation Why Love and Liberation Are Not Sufficient PART THREE The Hermeneutical Task: The Use of the New Testament in Christian Ethics 11. How Do Ethicists Use Scripture? Diagnostic Questions Modes of Appeal to Scripture Other Sources of Authority The Enactment of the Word A Diagnostic Checklist 12. Five Representative Hermeneutical Strategies Reinhold Niebuhr: Christian Realism Karl Barth: Obedience to the Command of God John Howard Yoder: Following the Way of Jesus Stanley Hauerwas: Character Shaped by Tradition Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza: A Feminist Critical Hermeneutic of Liberation 13. How Shall We Use the Texts? Normative Proposals Summary and Normative Reflections Moral Judgment As Metaphor-Making The Church As Embodied Metaphor The Role of the Old Testament in New Testament Ethics Summary: Proposed Guidelines for New Testament Ethics PART FOUR The Pragmatic Task: Living Under the Word—Test Cases 14. Violence in Defense of Justice Key Text: Matthew 5:38–48 Synthesis: Violence in Canonical Context Hermeneutics: Responding to the New Testament’s Witness Against Violence Living the Text: The Church As Community of Peace 15. Divorce and Remarriage Reading the Texts Synthesis: Divorce and Remarriage in Canonical Context Hermeneutics: Responding to the New Testament’s Witness Against Divorce Living the Text: The Church As Community Making the Love of God Visible 16. Homosexuality Reading the Texts Synthesis: Homosexuality in Canonical Context Hermeneutics: Responding to the New Testament’s Witness Against Homosexuality Living the Text: The Church As Community Suffering with the Creation 17. Anti-Judaism and Ethnic Conflict Reading the Texts Synthesis: Israel in Canonical Context Hermeneutics: Responding to the New Testament’s Witness Concerning Israel Living the Text: The Church As Community Overcoming Ethnic Division 18. Abortion Reading the Texts Synthesis: Abortion in Canonical Context Hermeneutics: Responding to the New Testament’s Silence on Abortion Living the Text: The Church As Community of Life Conclusion Sharing Possessions: A Challenge to the Church Pressing On Toward the Goal: The Vision of New Testament Ethics Works Cited Permissions Searchable Terms of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings Author Searchable Terms Topic Searchable Terms About the Author Praise Copyright About the Publisher

A leading expert in New Testament ethics discovers in the biblical witness a unified ethical vision — centered in the themes of community, cross and new creation — that has profound relevance in today's world. Richard Hays shows how the New Testament provides moral guidance on the most troubling ethical issues of our time, including violence, divorce, homosexuality and abortion.

Hays' passionately written book, with its bold agenda, has neither peer nor rival. —Leander E. Keck, Winkley Professor of Biblical Theology, Yale Divinity School

There are few people I would rather read for the actual exposition of the New Testament than Richard Hays. This book is filled with wonderful readings that not only inform us about how to think better about the so-called 'problem of the relation between the New Testament and ethics' but, even more, speak of how our lives should be lived in the light of Christ's cross. -Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Studies, Duke University Divinity School

Richard Hays has succeeded brilliantly in bringing New Testament studies, contemporary theology, and ethics into a deeply reflective conversation... Hays' point is that the New Testament norms the Christian life, and, with the help of imagination and metaphor, can address the moral conflicts of our time. —Ellen T. Charry, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

This book isn't just a breath of fresh air. It's a hurricane, blowing away the fog of half-understood pseudo-morality and fashionable compromise, and revealing instead the early Christian vision of true humanness and genuine holiness. If this isn't a book for our time, I don't know what is. —N. T. Wright, author of The New Testament and the People of God

Analyzes the ethical vision of the New Testament related to issues such as violence, divorce, homosexuality, and abortion. Discusses themes of community, cross, and new creation