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

1128 Pages·3.556 MB·English

by  Richard B. Hays

The Moral Vision of
the New Testament
Community, Cross, New Creation
A Contemporary Introduction
to New Testament Ethics
Richard B. Hays
Dedication
To my students at Yale Divinity School, 1981–1991
(1 Thess. 2:8)
Contents
Dedication
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 Koin nia 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