CHRISTIAN

ETHICS
 Christian ethics

The study will be divided

into TWO SECTIONS:
The first section deals
with the principles of
Christian Ethics
while the second will be
concerned with the
practice.
 INTRODUCING
CHRISTIAN ETHICS
I. Definition of Keywords in the
Study of Christian Ethics:
CHRISTIAN
– a person who believes and
follows Jesus Christ - His
life, works and teachings.
 ETHICS
- is the science of morality.
As a science:
Is essentially a study of the
principles, rules, standards, or
norms by which humanity lives
in society.
It is a set of moral principles or
values, codes or systems which
should be strictly observed or
 accepted principles / rules of
conduct – which determines what
conduct is good and what is bad
and points out which human acts
ought to be approved and which
ones should be disapproved.
 furnishes us with standards /
norms to know whether our
conduct is good, right, proper,
virtuous and desirable.
 It is the study of what is right or
wrong in human behavior, and the
pursuit of the good life.
 It is derived from the Greek word
ETHOS which means way of life or
customs, habits or practices approved
by a given culture.
 It is the characteristic spirit / attitudes
of the community, people or system.
 It is a system of accepted moral
principles that govern or influence a
person’s behavior.
 As it relates to morality:
It explores how MORALITY
(understanding about right and
wrong actions) affects people’s
behavior.
Morality – derived from the Latin
moralis – meaning customs or
manners and from the Aramaic
mores – customs or conventions
regarded as essential to or
characteristic of a community.
Moral - It deals more with practices,
customs, habits, behavior, actions that
are considered acceptable in any
given society. Technically, refers to the
conduct / behavior itself considered
essentially as good or right.
the application by person of ethical
principles or codes which s/he learned,
accepted, internalized, applied or
practiced in daily living and indicated
by his/her decisions and actions.
 Oftentimes the terms “ethics”
and “morals” are used
synonymously and
interchangeably, but they are
not strictly the same.
 The term “MORALS” comes
from the Latin meaning
“custom” or “habit.”
 Morals are what people DO.
 The word “ETHICS” is from the
Greek “ethos” meaning a standard
or rule; a norm.
 In contrast to morals, ethics
communicates the idea of what one
ought to do, whereas morals are
what they actually do.
 Ethics is faith translated into
actions. It is living according to
biblical facts and principles, not just
having knowledge of them.
Other Related Terms:
 Immoral - means what is
bad or wrong; used to describe
a person whose behavior does
not conform to moral standards.

Ethical – term used to describe

a behavior which conforms to
accepted standards.
Unethical – commonly used to refer to
behavior which deviates from the norm.
Technically, it is a description of a person
who is without any code of ethics, or of
an individual who fails to live up to
accepted standards set up by his/her
group or by his/her profession.
 Norms & Standards - ethically are
essentially the same – both refer to
principles of right action binding upon the
members of a social group - guide, control
or regulate proper & acceptable behavior.
A Standard – is a “measuring
rod,” a “rule & measure” of the
rightness or wrongness of
person’s free acts. “It is a
roadway to good; it sets limits, it
measures good and at the same
time it makes room for the
exercise of genuine human
freedom.” (Leo R. Ward,
Philosophy of Value.)
 II. Understanding Christian
Ethics
CHRISTIAN ETHICS – is a
systematic study of the way of
life as exemplified and taught
by Jesus Christ, applied to the
manifold problems and issues
of human existence.
(Georgia Harkness)
AS A SYSTEMATIC STUDY - A
SCIENCE OF MORALITY
is classified as a SOCIAL
SCIENCE
– as it deals with how people live in
a relationship to the world around
him/her,
– as it systematically inquires how
persons and communities ought
to live life
as a MORAL SCIENCE
– the main focus of inquiry / argument is
what makes a thing, action, and thinking,
GOOD AND RIGHT.
– The study of values in human behavior
or the study of moral problems: e.g.
(1) the rightness and wrongness of
actions,
(2) the kinds of things which are good or
desirable, and
(3) whether actions are blameworthy or
praiseworthy.
– It asks such questions as:
What constitutes any person or action being
good, bad, right or wrong, and how do we
know (epistemology)?
What part does self-interest or the interests
of others play in making moral decisions and
judgments?
What theories of conduct are valid or invalid
and why?
Should we use principles or rules or laws, or
should we let situation decide our morality?
Are killing, lying, cheating, stealing and
sexual acts right or wrong, and why or why
–Morality - is a universal
concern, a component
of religion and ethics as
it seek answers on what
is right or wrong, good
and bad.
is a NORMATIVE SCIENCE
–as it provides answers to
moral dilemmas by
prescribing norms or the
standards, rules and
principles governing
human conduct accepted &
approved by the society.
THE CONCERN OF CHRISTIAN
ETHICS
The WAY OF LIFE (Greek:
Ethos)
– is the primary concern of
Christian Ethics
– it is how persons ought to live life
- what the good life is, who is the
good person, what is the right
conduct, good behavior
The three (3) aspects of Christian
Ethics that relates to the moral WAY
OF LIFE:
1.Knowing - concerned with knowing
about right and wrong, good and
bad from a Christian perspective.
2.Doing - concerned with doing what
is right and promoting what is good.
3.Being - concerned with being the
good person, having a good
character and right conduct.
Three (3) perennial ethical words
mandating the moral life and
expressing the sense of duty to
God and to people.
1.Ought - what I ought to know
about the moral life?
2.Must - what I must do to live a
good life?
3.Should - what I should be as a
good person?
THE SOURCE / BASIS AND AUTHORITY
OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS
is its distinctiveness / particularity
“…the way of life exemplified and taught
by Jesus Christ...”
– Christian Ethics is distinctive as human
conduct is determined by divine conduct
– the human-divine conduct as exemplified
and taught by Jesus Christ
– the life and teachings of Jesus Christ is
the primary source of Christian Ethics
– Jesus Christ - is the Word of God
incarnate or in-flesh - is the primary
authority in Christian ethics
- Authority - refers to the primary
source of truth which human
recognizes and allows to control
his/her life.
Jesus Christ - His way of life and His
teachings - is the authority, the norm /
standard or basis on how Christians
(the believers & followers of Christ)
ought to live life.
– The Bible - is regarded as the primal
record or guidebook on how Christians
ought to live life.
- It is the primal record and charter
document of the Christian moral life,
God’s moral laws, and the ethics
exemplified and taught by Jesus
Christ.
- It is the Word of God revealed in history
- It is the written record of God’s dealings
with people as they encounter God in
their daily experiences, problems and
- When it is rightly interpreted and
related to our day become normative
for us.
- Christians should seek to understand
the historical background related to
the scriptural teachings and to search
for its meaning and relevance for
Christian living today.
- The teachings of the Bible form the
basis of Christian ethical values,
personal convictions and practices.
The particularity of
Christian Ethics is the
authority it accords to
Jesus Christ as revealed in
the Scriptures being the
primary standard for
morality.
 •TWO-FOLD STANDARD OF
CONDUCT OR MODEL
1. JESUS CHRIST
- i.e., His example, His life,
His teachings.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but
by me.” [John 14:6]
 •TWO-FOLD STANDARD OF
CONDUCT OR MODEL
2. THE WORD OF GOD / BIBLE
“All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the
man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good
works. [2 Tim. 3:16-17]
THE TASK OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS
 its application
“…applied to the manifold
problems and issues of human
existence.”
– the application of the moral truth
revealed & taught by Jesus
Christ on how people ought to
live in the contemporary society
is the basic task of C.E.
Three (3) Categories that Designate the
Task of Christian Ethics

1. Descriptive Task - seeks to simply

define, classify, describe and comprehend
the moral life as it is actually lived.
- a scientific task (a social science tool) -
emphasis is empirical
- collect and observe data about human
behavior and conduct, problems and
issues in human existence, and draw
conclusion.
- e.g. human beings act in their own self-
interest - observed how humans beings
act in many situations, described what
they have observed, and drawn
conclusions.
- How in fact do people make ethical
choices and what are the qualities of
character they embody?
- What are the operative creeds and the
moralities by which they live?
- What moral justification (or supportive
reason) do they give for their decisions?
2. Critical Task
- analyzing, evaluating and
critiquing moral issues and
content.
- What is to be made of the way of
life (the way of being & doing),
the creeds & moralities, the set of
justifying reasons?
- Do they hold up on the light of
critical reflection?
- Is this faith & morality worthy of the
allegiance invested in them? Is it
faulty or sound?
- Before any attempt to apply the
ethical teachings of Jesus Christ to
our present human existence one
must critically analyze and
understand the content and the
context of Jesus’ life and teachings
and its relevance to the
3. Normative (Constructive /
Prescriptive) Task - attempts to
provide the recommended
content and procedures on living
the moral life as it ought to be
lived.
- provide recommended content &
method for the moral life and
supplying sound supporting
reasons for these;
- attempts to say what the good
life is, what characterized the
good person, and the good
society;
- what marks the right decision
and action on a particular matter;
- recommend and support a
particular way of deciding, a
particular set of rules, principles,
ideals, goals and models.
Five (5) Disciplines / Fields of
Study Related to Christian
Ethics:
1. Theology - is a disciplinary
component of Christian Ethics which
studies the nature and revelations of
God as the basis for the norms of
ethical conduct. God is the subject
of theology and God’s righteousness
sets the ethical goals of person.
2. Sociology - closely related to Christian
Ethics as it studies human relations and
ways in which people can live together in
harmony and happiness in community.
Christian Ethics seeks to infuse / impart
Christian principles into society. It may
bring a message of judgment upon
conditions which are impediments to the
welfare of humankind. It will awaken
persons to recognize the values which
can enhance life and to better the social
and moral conditions within society.
3. Psychology - is another
discipline related to Christian
Ethics as they are both interested
with the nature and motivation of
human behavior. Good conduct,
out of a right motive, is the goal
in both disciplines, and the two
can assist each other in their
attempts to help persons to
achieve this end.
4. Philosophy - related to Christian
Ethics in its search for knowledge,
reason and meaning of human
existence. Ethics being one of the
major branches of Philosophy.

5. Anthropology - related to
Christian Ethics as it tries to
understand the origin of human
existence
 MAJOR THEMES IN THE
ETHICAL TEACHINGS OF
JESUS CHRIST
1.KINGDOM OF GOD
– the dominant theme of Jesus ethical
teachings
– centering on the reign or rule of God in
the lives of person and communities
– the righteous and sovereign rule of God
in a redeemed community / society
– Redeemed society - people
who accept the conditions of
the Kingdom of God and make
an effort to live in obedience to
God’s will.
– emphasizes the concept that
God is sovereign (supreme
ruler / authority) and rules in the
world
– human beings are subject to God’s
power and authority
– to enter into it meant an opportunity
and responsibility to live in harmony
with the will of God
– it is in the heart - divine power which
works quietly in person, gives
him/her the impetus (drive) and
motivation to live a morally clean life
- gives him/her ideals for which to
strive
– is present and is being realized in the
course of history - provides norms for
people to follow
– cannot be realized socially until it is
experience individually

2. RIGHTEOUSNESS
– to be good and do what is right
– theme grounded on the four (4) distinct
traditions set forth in the Old
Testament why it is better for person to
2.1. Because the righteous will
live longer, be happier and
more prosperous. (Reward-
Punishment Orientation)
2.2. Because God commands it
e.g. 10 Commandments
2.3. Out of gratitude to God for
deliverance (Israelites from
Egyptian slavery)
2.4. Because God Himself is good - this
4th motive for goodness is what Jesus
emphasized most - both in His life and in
His ethical teachings
 does not mean that we are asked to be
superhuman or subhuman, but neither
does it mean that we should be satisfied
to be sub-human
 as a human being - with all limitations
which that implies - still s/he is unique
among creatures in that s/he is a bearer
of God’s image.
 Jesus challenges us to be authentic
human beings
 - Contrary to much popular
opinion, which identifies the human
with the morally weak and fickle,
Jesus identifies human with moral
courage and firmness of character
 - “You must be all goodness,” -
“just as your heavenly Father is all
good.” Matthew 5:48
3. JUDGMENT
– another prominent theme in
Jesus’ ethical teaching
because of the “urgency of
entering” the Kingdom and the
disastrous consequences of
refusing or ignoring His appeal
(Mt. 25:14-30, Lk. 13:6-9 –
Jesus’ Parables on Judgment)
– Entering the Kingdom and
living under the personal rule
of God should be a person’s
supreme objective in life.
– Jesus’ emphases on “kingdom
and judgment” are really part
of a larger theme which can be
called “the presence of God”
– the heart of His teaching is the
truth of the inescapable and
immediate presence of God
whom human can know only in a
spontaneous and freely chosen
response of trust
– also emphasizes the
consequence of refusing or
ignoring the appeal to enter the
Kingdom of God.
THREE (3) DISTINCTIVE MORAL
AND SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES
– which underlie all of Jesus’
teachings, and received repeated
emphasis in His parables, sayings,
conversations and actions:
1.LOVE
- Two-fold requirement of love - to
God and to people - center of Jesus’
teachings.
- expanded the love
requirement - to include
“sinners” even “enemies”
- we are to love them chiefly
because God already loves
them, but also because,
judged by the standard of
God’s perfect love, we are all
sinners in one way or another.
- universal character of God’s
love - symbolized in the way
the sun shines and the rain
falls on all people alike (Mt.
5:45)
- In the same way, love must be
all-inclusive, unqualified.
- Love to God and people - two
dimensions of the same thing.
- Demonstrate love for God by
loving fellow human.
- “Love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your
soul and with all your mind
and with all your strength. …
Love your neighbor as
yourself” (Mark 12:30-31;
Matthew 22:37, 39; Luke 10:27)
- Pharisees had set definite limits
to the concept of “neighbor” -
choose only those whom they
were obligated to love
- Jesus extended the neighbor
concept to include all kinds and
conditions of human
- Parable of the Good Samaritan
(Luke 10:29-37)
- The neighbor whom you are required
to love as you love yourself is your
fellow human - maybe any human
being whose need is within reach of
your help, - or any person whose help
is within reach of your need,
- whether or not related to you by blood
kinship or ceremonial kinship
- whether s/he is obligated to you
because of past favors (utang na
loob)
- Jesus said “If you love only the
people who love you, why should
you expect a blessing? Even
sinners love those who love
them” (Lk. 6:32)
- There are no limits and no
conditions attached to real love
because God’s love for persons
is all-inclusive & unqualified.
- We are asked to be fully human -
to actualize the divine image (the
godly character) in which we
were created.

- True personhood is
“Godlikeness” at the finite level.
2. FORGIVENESS
- Jesus was concerned to free it
from legal restrictions so that it
might include all people without
discrimination
- the disciple is to forgive as many
times as forgiveness is sought
(Lk. 17:3-4)
- “forgive seventy times seven,” or
without limit (Mt. 18:21-22)
- Jesus did not define specific
conditions under which a person
is obliged to forgive.
- If He had done so, it would
enable us to excuse ourselves
whenever we feel that a given
situation does not require us to
forgive.
- The forgiving person does not even
bother to count the number of times
or measure the degree to which he
has forgiven another person.
- Jesus immortalized His own
teaching - on the Cross He forgives
those who nailed Him there.
- Forgiveness, as with love, is also
required of person chiefly because it
is the first act of God toward
humans. (Col 3:13, Eph. 4:32)
- The requirement of forgiveness is
rooted in the forgiveness of God.
- Knowledge of God’s forgiveness of sins
provides both the motivation and power
to forgive others, and
- Jesus teaches that that the power to
forgive springs inevitably from true
knowledge of God’s forgiveness.
- So Jesus teaches His disciples to pray:
“Forgive us our sins, as we ourselves
forgive those who sinned against us.”
Lk. 11:4)
3. HUMILITY
- 3rd distinctive quality of those who live
under the reign of God
- It is pictured as a positive quality that
appears when persons are
completely dedicated and committed
to the service of their fellow human.
- The truly humble person is so
dedicated that s/he is not even aware
that her/his service is worthy of merit.
- Jesus’ Parable of the Last Judgment -
those who are singled out for honorable
mention are totally unaware of when or
where they performed any service
worthy of such honor (Mt. 25:31-46)
- Parables of the Self-Righteous Pharisee
and the Wedding Banquet (Lk. 18:9-14,
14:7-11)- illustrate that self-seeking
ambition and humility are incompatible in
the new life that is to be lived under the
personal authority of God.
- As with the principles of love &
forgiveness - no specific rules
are laid down concerning the
conditions under which persons
should be humble or how person
are to act in order to be humble.
- The assumption is that persons
are to be humble under all
conditions and that only God can
truly exult a person.
- This Christian virtue - sometimes
associated with hiya (shame).
Although it is a good thing to be
capable of experiencing a sense
of shame when the situations
really demands for it - but it is
also an inhibiting factor in
interpersonal relations because it
is rooted in a feeling of inferiority
- then, it is false humility.
- The genuine humility Jesus is
asking for is based on a realistic
and honest appraisal (evaluation)
of one’s own worth / value in
relation to what God is doing in
the world, and in relation to the
tasks that wait to be done in the
service of our fellow humans.
It is God’s attitude and action
toward humans that provide
both the motivation and the
power for genuine human
love, human forgiveness,
and the self-giving service
which is the distinguishing
mark of true humility.
All three stem from a
living and personal
relationship to God such
as Jesus exemplified in
His own experience.
HOW DO CHRISTIANS
DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT AND
WHAT IS WRONG?
Deciding what is right and
wrong is being concerned with
what is MORAL.
To behave MORALLY is to
behave in a way that shows you
understand the difference
between right/wrong & good/bad
A MORAL action / behavior is
a right action / good behavior.
Talking about MORALITY
means talking about what is
right and wrong, good & bad.
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN ETHICS?
So CHRISTIAN ETHICS is looking at
Christian beliefs about right and wrong
(morality) and how this affects how
Christians ACT / BEHAVE.
Christian Ethics therefore, must be a
system of accepted moral principles
that should govern a Christian’s
behavior.
It is the conformity of human activity to
the will of God.
Basically, Christian ethics, as
rooted in the Bible, is aimed to
show how different God’s
children should be from the
world they live in, showing love
and concern to all as well as
being imitators of God Himself.
In this way, they would be a
“light” to their fellow humans.
SO WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MORALITY?
CHRISTIAN MORALITY is not based on a
set of rules or laws, like some religions
(e.g. Judaism).
Christians believe that God made a new
covenant (formal agreement/contract) with
His people that were based on LOVE.
Jesus said there were only two great
commandments. These say that Christian
morality is based on LOVE, and that love
comes from God.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE / BASIS OF
CHRISTIAN ETHICS?
Christian Ethics takes its root in the Bible, the
sovereign word of God. It is also rooted from
Christian traditions, which, however, are also
based on the Bible.
The main basis of Christian Ethics is concern,
which the four Gospels call love. This love is
not the love that is an upsurge of the heart that
we feel for those who are close to us. It is the
love that always wants the good and best for
others. It demands a universal concern.
SO WHAT ARE THE TWO GREAT
COMMANDS?
One of the teachers of the law came and heard
them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given
them a good answer, he asked him "Of all the
commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," Jesus answered, "is
this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord
is one. Love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul and with all your
mind and with all your strength. The second
is this: Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these."
The Bible, Mark chapter 12 verses 28-31
 SO CHRISTIAN
MORALITY IS BASED ON
LOVING GOD,
LOVING YOURSELF AND
LOVING YOUR
NEIGHBOR.
Sounds simple…but what
does this really mean?
 LOVING GOD
This is not a warm, fuzzy (vague)
feeling. The New Testament in the
Bible was originally written in Greek.
The Greek word for love used by
Jesus here is AGAPE. This means
putting others first. Loving God
means putting God first in your life,
and doing what God says is right. It
also means being concerned for
others.
 LOVING MY NEIGHBOR
Again the word by Jesus is "agape". Christians
should be concerned for their neighbors and care
for them as much as they care for themselves.
Who is my Neighbor?
In Luke's Gospel (Luke chapter 10 verses 25-
37), in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, it
shows that your neighbor is anyone who is in
need of your help, not just your friends or
someone who lives close to you. In the Sermon
on the Mount, in Matthew chapter 5 verses 43-
48, Christians are told to love their enemies and
pray for those who persecute them.
 LOVING YOURSELF
Every human being is precious
to God and made is God’s
image – we are divine (godly)
beings (Genesis 1:27-28).
Therefore, a Christian believes
that caring for yourself is really
important.
 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, THEN,
MEANS LOVING OTHERS AND
CARING FOR THEIR NEEDS AS
WELL AS YOUR OWN.

WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS LOVE?

Not just WHY but HOW?
Almost everyone, if not all, knows it’s
impossible to love some people!
But Christians are supposed to love
God and love others. But why? Why
should they love everyone?
In a passage in the New Testament, in
1 John chapter 4 verses 7-21, it is
explained that Christians are to love
because "God is love" (1 John
chapter 4 verse 8). Christians are to
show God’s love to the world. God
lives in them to help them to do this.
It continues, "We love because He first loved
us" (1 John chapter 4 verse 19). Christians are
to love other people because all people are
loved by God.
Loving God is also closely linked to loving
others: "If anyone says, "I love God", yet
hates his/her brother/sister, he/she is a liar. For
anyone who does not love his/her
brother, whom he/she has seen, cannot love
God, whom he/she has not seen. And Jesus
Christ has given us this command: Whoever
loves God must also love his/her
brother/sister."