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S C R I P T U R E E T H I C S

S P I R I T U A L I T Y

A N D

B y D O R O T H Y A . L E E

Introduction use and abuse of the Bible

E S T IO N S O F T t IE R E L A T IO N S H IP b e tween Scr ip tu re , sp i r -

i tu a l i ty an d e th ics a re imp o r tan t , i f n o t c r it i ca l, fo r Ch r i s t i an

l iv i n g. H o w a r e w e t o re f l e c t e t h i c a l l y o n o u r l iv e s , a n d w h a t

r o l e d o e s S c r i p t u r e p l a y i n t h a t r e f le c t i o n ? F u r t h e r, i f w e a r e

c o n c e r n e d t o b e c o m e w h o l e p e r s o n s , l i v i n g o u r l i v e s i n a l e s s f r a g -

m e n t e d w a y , w h a t p l a c e d o e s s p i r i t u a l i t y h a v e i n o u r e t h i c s ? U n d e r -

l y i n g t h e s e q u e s t i o n s a r e m o r e g e n e r a l t h e o l o g i c a l i s s u e s : o u r

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f r e v e la t io n , t h e m e t h o d o l o g y w e u s e i n r e a d i n g S c r i p-

t u r e , a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w e p r e s u p p o s e ( i f a n y ) b e t w e e n m o r a l

th eo lo g y a n d sp i ri tua l ity . Th i s a r t i c l e a rg u es th a t b ib l i ca l e th ics b e lo n g s

w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f a n i n t e r i o r a p p r e h e n s i o n o f s p i r i t u a l a n d

th eo lo g ica l r ea l i ti e s .

W e n e e d t o b e g i n w i t h t h e a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t t ha t th e B i b le , o n t h e

m a t t e r o f e t hi c s, h a s b e e n c o n s i d e r a b ly a b u s ed . A n o b v i ou s e x a m p l e o f

t h is i s t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i s t u s e o f p r o o f - t e x t s : t h e i s o la t in g o f b ib l ic a l

s e n t e n c e s a n d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n t o c o n t e m p o r a r y s i t u a t i o n s , r e g a r d l e s s

o f t h e i r b i b l i c a l c o n t e x t . T h i s a p p r o a c h r e s p e c t s n e i t h e r t h e t e x t a s a

l i t e r a r y a n d t h e o l o g i c a l w h o l e n o r t h e s o c i o - h i s t o r i c a l m i l i e u o u t o f

w h i c h i t a ri s es . A l t h o u g h i t c l a im s o b j e c t i v it y , b a s e d o n t h e v i e w t h a t

S c r i p t u r e i s t h e i n e r r a n t W o r d o f G o d , t h e d a n g e r o f s u b j e c t i v i t y i s

g r e a t e r t h a n i n o t h e r m o d e s o f r e a d i n g t h e B i b l e : t h e r e a d e r p r e s u p -

p o s e s a n e t h i c a l s y s t e m a n d t h e n d i s c o v e r s i t i n t h e B i b l e , u s i n g

i so la t ed v e r se s fo r v e r i f i ca t io n , a

L i n k e d t o t h i s i s t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e B i b l e p r e s e n t s a c o d i f i e d

s y s t e m o f e t h ic s f o r li v in g . S c r i p t u r e is a b u s e d w h e n , i n t h e n a m e o f th e

B i b l e , p a r ti c u l a r m o r a l c o d e s a r e i m p o s e d o n o t h e r s . H e r e t h e p r o b l e m

i s t h e s u p p o s i t i o n t h a t e t h i c s i s a n e x t e r n a l c o d e i m p o s e d b y e x t e r n a l

au th o r i ty . E th ica l t r an s fo rmat io n , in th i s v i ew , fo l lo ws a b eh av io u r i s t

p a t te r n : w h a t m a t t e r s i s c h a n g i n g e x t e r n a l c o n d u c t . T h i s a p p r o a c h c a n

b e l i n k e d t o a n i n d i v i d u a l is t i c r e a d i n g o f S c r i p t u re , w h i c h ~ o c u s e s o n

s e x u a l e t h ic s a n d i g n o r e s t h e k i n d o f s o c ia l e t h i c s w e f in d , f o r e x a m p l e ,

i n t h e p ro p h e t ic w r it in g s o f t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t a n d t h e G o s p e l o f L u k e

( e.g . A m o s 2 : 6 - 7 , 5 : 1 0 - 2 4 ; I s a i 1 : 1 2- 1 7 , 5 : 8 - 2 4 ; M i c 2 : 1 - 2 , 3 : 1 - 1 2 ;

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L k 1 : 4 6 - 5 5 , 4 : 1 6 - 2 1 , 6 : 2 0 - 2 6 ) . z I n th e s e a n d o t h e r w a y s , C h r is t ia n s

f a il to u n d e r s t a n d t h e n a t u r e o f S c r i p tu r e a n d a r e th u s p r e v e n t e d f r o m

m a k i n g v i t a l c o n n e c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e t e x t , s p i ri t u a li t y a n d e t h i c s .

Ethical d ivers ity a nd the Bible

M o r a l t e a c h i n g s i n th e B i b l e , in s o f a r a s t h e y m a y b e d i s c e r n e d a s

s u c h , a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d a b o v e a l l b y d i v e r s i t y , i n f o r m a s w e l l a s

c o n t e n t. T h e B i b l e is n o t a c o d e b o o k o f m o r a l i n s t ru c t io n . E v e n t h e

w o r d ' T o r a h ' c a n n o t b e e q u a t e d w i t h w h a t C h r i s ti a n s u n d e r s t a n d b y

'l a w '. 3 T h e t e n c o m m a n d m e n t s a n d t h e c u lt ic a n d m o r a l c o d e s o f th e

P e n t a t e u c h b e l o n g i n a w i d e r n a r r a ti v e f r a m e w o r k th a t t el ls o f c r e a t i o n

a n d G o d ' s c o v e n a n t w i th N o a h , A b r a h a m a n d S a r a h, a n d t h e o p p r es s e d

c h i l d r e n o f Is r a e l - n a r r a t i v e s th a t r e v e a l t h e d i v i n e n a t u r e a s m e r c i f u l ,

f a i t h f u l a n d i n v o l v e d i n h u m a n l if e . T o r a h i s l ik e w i s e d i s t in c t f r o m t h e

p r o p h e t i c w r i t i n g s i n w h i c h m o r a l d e n u n c i a t i o n a g a i n s t i n j u s t i c e i s

i n t e r tw i n e d w i t h c o n c e r n s a b o u t m o n o t h e i s m a n d i d o la tr y . T h e s e w r i t-

i n g s i n t u r n , w i t h t h e i r g r o u n d i n g i n c o v e n a n t a n d e x o d u s , a r e d i s t i n -

g u i s h e d f r o m W i s d o m l it e ra t u re , w h i c h is l a r g e l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h

e v e r y d a y l iv i n g, a r is i ng f r o m a n a f f ir m a t i o n o f b o t h c r e a t i o n a n d

h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e .4

S u c h d i v e r s i t y n e e d n o t i m p l y t h a t t h e r e a r e n o u n d e r l y i n g e t h i c a l

p r i nc i p le s u n i t i ng S c r ip t u re , s u c h a s t h e c o m m a n d t o lo v e . N e v e r t h e -

l e ss , e v e n t h is u n i v e r s a l c o m m a n d m e n t is i n t e r p r e te d i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s .

I n t h e T o r a h , t h e sh ema a f fi rm s t h a t l o v e o f G o d s ta n d s a t t h e h e a r t o f

t h e l a w ( D e u t 6 : 4 - 9 ) , p a r a l l e l e d b y t h e c o m m a n d t o l o v e o n e ' s

n e ig h b o u r , i n c lu d in g th e a l i en , a s o n es e l f (Le v 1 9 :1 4 , 1 8). Th i s d o u b le

c o m m a n d i s q u o t e d i n J e s u s ' c o n v e r s a t i o n w i th t h e s c r ib e , w h o i s

f r i e n d l y i n M a r k b u t h o s t il e i n M a t t h e w ( M k 1 2 : 2 8 - 3 4 / M t 2 2 : 3 4 - 4 0 ;

c f a l s o L k 1 0 : 2 5 - 2 8 ; G a l 5 :1 4 ). B o t h G o s p e l s q u o t e t h e s h e m a an d i ts

p a r a l l e l , g i v i n g a c l a s s i c a l l y J e w i s h r e s p o n s e , y e t w i t h a d i s t i n c t i v e

C h r i s t i a n f o c u s : t h e c o n t e x t , a f t e r a l l , i s t h e i m p e n d i n g p a s s i o n . F o r

M a t th e w , t h e c o m m a n d r e a c h e s i ts z e n i t h i n .l ov e o f th e e n e m y

( M t 5 : 4 3 - 4 8 ) . I n J o h n ' s G o s p e l t h e h i g h e s t e x e m p l a r o f l o v e is lo v i n g

' o n e ' s o w n ' t o t h e e n d : ' l o v e o n e a n o t h e r a s I h a v e l o v e d y o u ' ( J n 1 3 :1 ,

3 4 ; 1 5 : 1 2 , 7 ) . T h i s l o v e is s y m b o l i z e d i n t h e f o o t w a s h i n g ( J n 1 3 : 1 - 1 7 ) ,

a n d l a t e r i n t h e f a r e w e l l d i s c o u r s e w h e r e t h e m a s t e r - s l a v e p a r a d i g m

g i v e s w a y t o a n o b e d i e n c e p r e d i c a t e d o n m u t u a l i ty a n d f r i e nd s h ip

( Jn 1 5 :1 3 -1 5 ) .

J e s u s ' p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e s o v e r e i g n r e i g n

basileia)

o f G o d - a

m a j o r t h e m e t a k e n u p in th e S y n o p t i c G o s p e ls ( M k 1 : 1 4 - 1 5 a n d pa r s. )

- i s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f w h a t , s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , w e c a l l N e w T e s t a m e n t

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SCRIPTURE ETHICS AND SPIRITUALITY

e t h ic s . 5 J e s u s m o r a l t e a c h i n g is a s i g n i f i c a n t e l e m e n t in t h i s p r o c l a m a -

t i o n , c a l l i n g f o r a r e n e w e d c o m m u n i t y a n d a t r a n s f o r m e d l i f e - s t y l e .

J e s u s m i n i s t r y c o n s i st s in s h a r i n g t h e h o s p i t a l it y o f t h e t a b l e w i t h

s i n n e r s a n d o u t c a s t s ( e .g . L k 1 5 : 1 - 2 , 1 9 : 1 - 1 0 ) , c a r i n g f o r t h e p o o r a n d

h e a li n g t h e s ic k ( M t 1 1 : 2 - 6 / L k 7 : 1 8 - 2 3 ) , c a s ti n g o u t d e m o n s

( M k 1 : 2 1 - 2 8 a n d p a rs .) , o f f e r in g f o r g i v e n e s s ( M k 2 : 1 - 1 2 a n d p a r s .) ,

d r a w i n g w o m e n a nd m e n in to a d i sc i pl es h ip o f e q u a ls ( M k 1 5 : 4 0 - 4 1 /

M t 2 7: 5 5 - 5 6 ; L k 8 : 1 -3 ) a n d c re a ti n g a n e w c o m m u n i t y b e y o n d t h e

f a m i l y ( M k 3 : 3 1 - 3 5 ) . 6 J e s u s e s c h a t o l o g i c a l e t h ic s , s u m m a r i z e d in t h e

l o v e c o m m a n d , a r e r a d i c a l iz e d in t h e S y n o p t i c G o s p e ls b y t h e e v a n g e l -

i s ts c o n v i c t i o n t h a t m o r a l l iv i n g b e g i n s a n d e n d s in f o l l o w i n g J e s u s , a

d i s c i p l e s h i p m a d e p o s s i b l e , n o t s o m u c h t h r o u g h

imit tio

a s t h r o u g h

t h e t r a n s f o r m i n g p o w e r o f J e s u s d e a t h a n d re s u r re c t io n .

T h e F o u r t h G o s p e l i s v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e S y n o p t ic s , b o t h i n i ts

p r e s e n t a ti o n o f J e s u s t e a c h i n g a n d its s e e m i n g la c k o f c o n c e r n f o r

e t h i c s . W h i l e t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e

b silei

i s marg ina l t o t h i s Gospe l ,

J o h n s p e a k s i n s t e a d o f e t e r n a l l i f e t h a t e n g a g e s b e l i e v e r s r a d i c a l l y i n

t h e p r e s e n t t h r o u g h G o d s g i ft o f t h e S o n ( Jn 3 : 1 6 - 2 1 ) . I n t h e J o h a n -

n i n e m y s t i c a l v i s i o n , l o v e b e c o m e s a n e s c h a t o l o g i c a l r e a l i t y i n t h e

c o m m u n i t y o f f ai th . T h r o u g h i n c a r n a t i o n a n d p a s s io n , t h e d i v i n e g l o r y

t h a t m a k e s l o v e p o s s ib l e i s r e v e a le d . T h e c o m m u n i t y o f b e l ie v e r s is

d r a w n i n t o t h e l o v e a n d i n t i m a c y t h a t r e s i d e w i t h i n t h e d i v i n e b e i n g

(Jn 1:14, 12:32, 14:23, 17:1-5) .

O n e e x a m p l e o f b i b l i c a l d i v e r s i t y o n e t h i c a l m a t t e r s i s t h e v a r y i n g

t r e a t m e n t o f t h e s a b b a t h - a c o n c e p t , w e m i g h t n o t e , t h a t i s b o t h

s p i r i t u a l a n d e t h i c a l . T h e P r i e s t l y c r e a t i o n a c c o u n t u n d e r s t a n d s t h e

s a b b a t h a s t h e p i n n a c l e o f c r e a t i o n , t h e d a y o f e s c h a t o l o g i c a l r e s t i n

w h i c h G o d m e d i t a t e s o n c r e a t i o n ( G e n 2 : 2 - 3 ) . I n t h e t e n c o m m a n d -

m e n t s , h u m a n b e i n g s a l s o a r e g i v e n t h e s ab b a th , a c o m m a n d th a t

e x t e n d s t o s e r v a n t s a n d e v e n d o m e s t i c a n i m a l s , w h o s h a r e t h e s a m e

e t h i c a l r ig h t s. W h e r e a s E x o d u s g r o u n d s t h e s a b b a th i n c r e a t io n , a n d t h e

l ik e n e ss o f h u m a n b e in g s t o G o d ( E x o d 2 0 : 8 - 1 1 ) , D e u t e r o n o m y

a n c h o r s t h e s a b b at h t o t h e E x o d u s e v e n t a n d t h e c e le b r a t io n o f d i v i n e

l i b e r a ti o n ( D e u t 5 : 1 2 - 1 5 ) . I n t h e G o s p e l s , J e s u s c o n t r o v e r s i a l f r e e d o m

w i t h r e s p e c t to t h e s a b b a t h i s d i f f e r e n t l y c o n s t r u c t e d . F o r M a r k , i t

s i g n if i es th a t t h e l a w is l if e - g i v i n g a n d t h e r e f o r e m u s t g i v e w a y b e f o r e

h u m a n n ee d s (M k 2 : 2 3 - - 3 : 6 ) . T h e M a r k a n s a y i n g, t h e s a bb a th w a s

m a 4 e [ ~ h um a ~a ki~ 6, a ~ 6 ~ s t h u m a n k i r ~ 6 ~ t h e s a b b a t h ( M k 2 : 27 -

n o t f o u n d , s i g n i f i c a n t l y , i n i t s M a t t h a e a n o r L u c a n p a r a l l e l s ) , r e f l e c t s

M a r k s G e n t i l e C h r i s ti a n it y a n d i ts e t h i c a l f r e e d o m f r o m t h e r e q u i re -

m e n t s o f th e J e w i s h la w .

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1 9

I n M a t t h e w s G o s p e l , h o w e v e r , i t i s f a r l e ss c l e a r t h a t Je s u s a c t u a ll y

b r e a k s t h e s a b b a th ( M t 1 2 : 1 - 8 ); M a t t h e w s v i e w i s t h a t n o t o n e le t t er ,

n o t o n e s t r o k e o f a l e t t e r , w i l l p a s s f r o m t h e l a w u n t i l a l l i s

a c c o m p l i s h e d ( M t 5 :1 8 ). H e r e a n d e l se w h e r e , M a t t h e w w a n t s t o h o l d

t o g e t h e r b o t h t h e s p i r i t a n d t h e l e t t e r , s o t h a t t h e h e a r t o f t h e l a w

( j u s t i c e a n d m e r c y a n d f a i t h ) f l o w s o u t i n t o i ts d e t a i ls , s u c h a s t h e

t i t h i n g o f g a r d e n h e r b s ( M t 2 3 : 2 3 ). F o r M a t th e w , a u t h e n t i c it y h a s to d o

w i t h t h e i n t e g r i t y o f i n n e r a n d o u t e r , b e i n g a n d d o i n g , a t t i t u d e a n d

b e h a v i o u r , s p i r i t u a l it y a n d e t h i c s. 7 R i g h t e o u s l i v i n g i s g r o u n d e d i n a

s p i r it u a l it y o f p ra y e r , t r u s t in G o d s p a r e n t a l g o o d n e s s , l a y i n g u p

s p i r it u a l t r e a s u re , a n d f o l l o w i n g J e s u s in th e e t h i c a l w a y o f t h e b e t t e r

r i g h t e o u s n e s s ( M t 5 : 20 ) .

I n d i s t i n c t i o n t o M a t t h e w , P a u l s p e a k s o f a n e w r i g h t e o u s n e s s

r e v e a l e d a p a r t f r o m t h e l a w ( R o m 3 :2 1 ). F o r P a u l, t h e l a w f u n c t i o n s

o n l y n e g a t i v e l y i n C h r i s t ia n l iv i n g . It b e l o n g s t o th e o l d a g e , r e v e a l i n g

h u m a n b o n d a g e t o s i n a n d d e a t h , y e t o f it s e l f i t is u n a b l e t o b r in g a b o u t

m o r a l a n d s p i r i t u a l m e t a m o r p h o s i s ( R o m 5 : 1 2 - 2 1 ) . W r i t i n g f r o m

w i t h i n a C h r i s t i a n a p o c a l y p t i c f r a m e w o r k , P a u l a s s e r t s t h a t o n l y t h e

S p ir it o f th e n e w a g e h as t r a n s f o rm i n g p o w e r ( R o m 8 : l - l l ;

2 C o r 3 : 1 - 1 1 ; G a l 4 : 2 1 - - 5 : 1 ) . T h e p a t te r n o f C h r i s t ia n l iv i n g is

b a p t i sm a l : d y i n g a n d r i s in g w i t h C h r is t , l e a v i n g b e h i n d t h e o l d i d e n t it y

a n d f in d i n g t h e n e w i n t h e c o m m u n i t y o f th e b a p t iz e d ( R o m 6 : 1 - 1 1 ) . I n

t h is c o m m u n i t y , b a p t i s m s i g n a ls t h e e n d o f ra c ia l , c l a ss a n d g e n d e r

d u a l i s m : t h e e t h i c a l i m p l i c a t io n s o f P a u l s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f b a p t i s m f o r

t h e C h u r c h a r e r a d i c a l a n d f a r - r e a c h i n g ( G a l 3 : 2 7 - 2 9 ) . H e r e w e s e e

h o w t h e e t h ic a l i n j u n c t i o n s o f P a u l s l e t te r s a re g r o u n d e d i n w h a t t h e

a p o s t l e s e e s a s t h e c o r e o f t h e g o s p e l : t h e c r o s s a n d r e s u r r e c t i o n ,

r i g h t e o u s n e s s , g r a ce , lo v e , th e b o d y o f C h r i s t y T h u s e t h i c a l c o n d u c t o n

m a t t e r s o f f o o d a n d s e x u a l i t y , f o r e x a m p l e , i s i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e i t

a f f e c t s t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d b e c a u s e t h e b o d y i s d e s t i n e d f o r r e s u r r e c -

t io n (1 C o r 6 - - 1 0 , 1 5).

Pa ra en e s i s e t h ic a l e x h o r t a t i o n - is f o u n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e N e w

T e s t a m e n t e p i s t l e s , o f t e n a t t h e e n d , b u t s o m e t i m e s , a s i n H e b r e w s ,

a l t e r n a t i n g w i t h t h e o l o g i c a l t e a c h i n g . W h e r e a s m o s t e p i s t l e s c o n c l u d e

w i t h p a r a e n e t ic a l t e a c h i n g , d i r e c te d a t t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d it s

e s c h a t o l o g i c a l li fe (e .g . E p h 4 : 1 - - 6 : 2 0 ) , t h e L e t te r o f J a m e s c o n s i st s

s o l e l y o f m o r a l e x h o r t a t io n ; i t i s r e a c t i n g p r o b a b l y a g a i n s t a s o l ip s i s t ic

P a u l i n i s m t h a t d o w n p l a y s s a n c t if ic a t io n . J a m e s h a s a c o r re c t i v e c o n -

c e r n f o r s o c ia l j u s t i c e a n d t h e p l i g h t o f th e p o o r ( Ja s 1 : 9 - 1 1 , 2 : 1 - 7 ,

5 : 1 - 6 ) . S i m i l a r l y 1 J o h n , t h o u g h w i t h s t ro n g e r t h e o l o g i c a l b a s is , i s

c o n c e r n e d t ha t lo v e b e c o m e a r e a l i t y w i t h in t h e c o m m u n i t y

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20 SCRIPTURE ETHICS AND SPIRITUALITY

(1 J n 2 : 3 - 1 1 , 3 : 1 1 - 2 4 , 4 : 7 - 2 1 ) . H e r e a n d e l s e w h e r e in la t e r N e w

T e s t a m e n t w r i t i n g s , t h e r e i s e m p h a s i s u p o n f o r g i v e n e s s a n d t h e c h a l -

l en g e to g ro w in lo v e , d esp i t e s in fu l f a i lu re . Th ese ep i s t l e s , o f t en

b e a r i n g P a u l s n a m e , a r i se o u t o f a l a t e r c o n t e x t w h e r e g o o d C h r i st ia n

c i t iz e n s h i p a n d s o c ia l c o n f o r m i t y h a v e t e n d e d t o r e p l a c e th e e a r l i e r a n d

m o r e r a d i c a l P a u l i n e e t h ic . 9

Yet paraenesis i n th e N e w T e s t a m e n t r a r e l y e x is ts i n a v a c u u m . T h e

l a s t s e c t i o n o f G a l a t i a n s , f o r e x a m p l e , e x t o l s t h e f r u i t s o f l i f e i n t h e

Sp i r i t : l o v e , jo y , p eace , p a t i en ce , k in d n ess , g en ero s i ty , f a i th fu ln ess ,

g en t l en ess an d se l f - co n t ro l (Ga l 5 :2 2 ) . Th ese q u a l i t i e s a re , a t o n e an d

th e same t ime , e th ica l an d sp i r i tu a l ; t h ey s t an d in o p p o s i t io n to l i f e in

t h e f l e s h , l i f e t h a t is s e l f - d e s t r u c t i v e a n d h a r m f u l to c o m m u n i t y

( G a l 5 : 1 9 - 2 1 ); t h e y a r is e f r o m a n a u t h e n t ic f r e e d o m t h a t c a n n e v e r b e

t h e p r o d u c t o f e x t e r n a l l a w . E t h i c a l b e h a v i o u r i s t h e r e s u l t o f i n n e r

c o n v e r s i o n ; h e n c e s p i ri tu a l it y l ie s a t t h e c e n t r e o f e th i c s. N o t e t h a t th i s

i s re f l e c te d i n t h e S e r m o n o n t h e M o u n t , w h e r e t h e L o r d s P r a y e r a n d

th e say in g s o n p ray er l i e s t ru c tu ra l ly , a s we l l a s th eo lo g ica l ly , a t t h e

c e n t r e o f M a t t h e w s f ir st d i s c o u r s e ( M t 6 : 5 - 1 5 ) . E v e n J a m e s , t h a t m o s t

e t h i c a l o f a ll N e w T e s t a m e n t e p i st le s , s p e a k s p a r a d o x i c a l l y o f t h e

p er fec t l aw , th e law o f l ib e r ty ( Jas 1 :2 5 ).

N e w T e s t a m e n t paraenesis m o r e o v e r , is c o n c e r n e d w i t h C h r i st ia n

c o m m u n i t i e s r a t h e r t h a n i n d iv i d u a l s. T h e l e tt e r s t o t h e S e v e n C h u r c h e s

i n th e A p o c a l y p s e ( A p o c 2 : 1 - - 3 : 2 2 ) a r e a d d re s s e d to c h u r c h C o m m u n i -

t i e s i n A s i a M i n o r , e a c h h a v i n g a s i n g l e a n g e l a n d l a m p s t a n d

(A p o c 1:2 0), sy m b o ls o f a co rp o ra te id en t i ty . E th ica l an d sp i r itu a l

c o m m e n d a t i o n i n t h e s e c h a p t e r s ( f o r l o v e , f a i t h f u l n e s s a n d p a t i e n t

e n d u r a n c e ) a n d c r i t i c i s m ( a g a i n s t s p i r i t u a l a p a t h y , c u l t u r a l a c c o m m o -

d a t i o n a n d i d o l a t r y ) a r e d i r e c t e d t o e a c h c h u r c h a s a b o d y , e v e n w h e r e

i n d i v i d u a l l e a d e r s a r e n a m e d . A s e l s e w h e r e i n S c r i p t u r e , b i b l i c a l

w r i te r s a r e a s m u c h c o n c e r n e d w i th t h e g r o w t h a n d u p b u i ld i n g o f t h e

c o m m u n i t y a s o f t h e i n d iv i d u a l ( e .g . 1 C o r 3 : 1 - 2 3 ) .

I t i s im p o ss ib le to ch ar t th e co u rse o f b ib li ca l e th ics in an a r t i c l e su ch

a s th is . N e v e r t h e l e ss , tw o p o i n t s c a n b e m a d e i n s u m m a r y a b o u t t h e

B i b l e s m o r a l t e a c h i n g . F i rs t , a l t h o u g h S c r i p t u r e r e v e a l s a b i d i n g t h e o -

l o g i c a l t r u th s - s u c h a s t h e g o o d n e s s o f c r e a ti o n , th e f a l l e n n e s s o f

h u m a n n a t u r e, t h e c o v e n a n t m e r c y o f G o d , a n d t h e v i s io n o f a j u s t

w o r l d - t h e s p e c i f ic a t i o n s o f t h e s e t r ut h s a r e n e v e r t ra n s p o r t e d

u n c h a n g e d f r o m o n e g e n e r a t i o n t o a n o t h e r i n t h e b i b l i c a l w o r l d ; n o r

s h o u l d t h e y b e a p p l i e d u n c r i t i c a l l y t o d a y . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , b i b l i c a l

m o r a l s a r e a s d i v e r s e in c o n t e n t a n d p r e s e n t a t io n a s t h e c o n t e x t s f r o m

w h i c h t h e y a r is e . S e c o n d , m o r a l t e a c h i n g i n t h e B i b l e i s r a r e l y g i v e n a s

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21

i n d e p e n d e n t m a t e r ia l . I t is g e n e r a l l y e m b e d d e d e i t h e r i n n a r r a ti v e ( a s

w i t h t h e T o r a h o r M a t t h e w s G o s p e l 1) o r i n w i d e r d i s c u s s io n o f

t h e o l o g ic a l a n d s p ir it ua l t h e m e s . I n d e e d , in m a n y c a s e s - s u c h a s N e w

T e s t a m e n t

p a r a e n e s i s

m o r a l e x h o r t a t io n f l o w s d i r e c t l y f r o m t h e o lo g i -

c a l d i s c o u r s e . I n t h i s s e n s e , b i b l i c a l e t h i c s i s u l t i m a t e l y i n s e p a r a b l e

f r o m i ts w i d e r n a r r a t iv e , t h e o l o g i c a l a n d s p i ri tu a l f r a m e .

B i b l i c a l s p i r i t u a l i t y a n d e t h i c a l r e f l e c t i o n

I f w e a r e t o r e s p e c t t h e d i v e r s i t y o f b ib l i c a l e t h ic s , a n d t a k e s e r i o u s l y

t h e f o r m i n w h i c h i t is c a s t , a n u m b e r o f i m p l i c a t i o n s f o ll o w . I n t h e f ir s t

p l a c e , i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t h a t C h r i s t i a n s b e c o m e f a m i l i a r w i t h m o d e r n ,

c r i t i c a l w a y s o f r e a d i n g t h e B i b l e . A l t h o u g h h i s t o r i c a l - c r i t i c a l m e t h -

o d o l o g y g i v e s n o d i r e c t a n s w e r to q u e s t i o n s a b o u t S c r i p t u r e a n d e t h ic s ,

i t d o e s h e l p m o d e r n r e a d e r s u n d e r s t a n d t h e t e x t i n a s e n s i t i v e a n d

n u a n c e d w a y . O n t h e o n e h a n d , i t e n a b l e s u s t o r e a d i n d i v i d u a l

p a s s a g e s w i t h i n t h e i r l i t e r a r y c o n t e x t , w h e t h e r t h a t b e n a r r a t i v e ( l i k e

t h e G o s p e l s ) , p o e t r y ( s u c h a s C a n t i c l e s o r P s a l m s ) o r r h e t o r i c a l d i s -

c o u r s e ( l i k e t h e p r o p h e t i c b o o k s o r e p is t le s ) . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e

h i s t o r i c a l - c r i t i c a l m e t h o d t e a c h e s u s t o r e a d w i t h a w a r e n e s s o f t h e

s o c i o - h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e x t s o u t o f w h i c h t h e t e x t a r i s e s . W e b e g i n t o

r e a l iz e t ha t w e c a n n o t s i m p l y t r an s f e r m o r a l t e a c h i n g u n p r o c e s s e d f r o m

t h e a n c i e n t w o r l d t o t h e m o d e r n .

T a k e , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e d i v o r c e l o g i o n i n M a r k s G o s p e l

( M k 1 0 : 1 - 1 2 ) . T h e h i s t o r i c a l - c r i t i c a l m e t h o d c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t t e l l u s

h o w w e a r e t o i n t e r p r e t t h i s s a y i n g f o r t o d a y , b u t i t d o e s u n c o v e r

d i m e n s i o n s o f th e t e x t th a t w e n e e d t o t a k e i n to a c c o u n t . W e d i s c o v e r

t h a t t h is t e x t f o r m s p a r t o f a w i d e r u n it d e a l i n g w i t h J e s u s j o u r n e y t o

J e r u s a l e m ( M k 8 : 2 7 - - 1 0 : 5 2 ) ; t h at M a r k s t h e m e is d is c ip l e sh i p , u si n g

t h e i m a g e o f t a k in g u p t h e c r os s ; th a t M a r k i s c o n c e r n e d t o s h o w t h a t

t h e r a d i c a l c a l l t o d i s c i p l e s h i p a f f e c t s a l l a s p e c ts o f o u r l i v e s , i n c l u d i n g

m a r r i a g e , c h i l d r e n a n d w e a l t h ( M k 1 0 : 1 - 3 1 ) ; t h a t M a r k u n d e r s t a n d s

s e l f - d e n i a l a s e s s e n t i a l l y l i f e - g i v i n g r a t h e r t h a n a s c e t i c a n d d e a t h -

d e a l i n g ( M k 8 : 3 4 - 3 5 ) ; t h a t it i s l i k e l y t h a t th e h i s t o ri c a l J e s u s - a n d

p o s s i b ly a ls o M a r k h i m s e l f - w a s d i s t u r b e d b y a c u l t u r e th a t p e r m i t te d

d i v o r c e o n t h e f l im s i e s t o f g r o u n d s a n d b y t h e d a m a g e t h is c a u s e d t o

w o m e n , i n c l u d i n g s o c i a l d i s g r a c e a n d l o s s o f t h e i r c h i ld r e n ; t h a t th e

p r e s e n t f o r m o f t h is t e x t r e v e a l s t h e p r a c t i c e o f M a r k s R o m a n -

H e l l e n i st ic w o r l d w h i c h , u n l i k e J u d a is m , p e r m i t te d w o m e n t o i n i ti a te

d i v o r c e ; t h a t t h e T o r a h b o t h e x t o l s t h e i n t i m a c y o f m a r r i a g e a n d y e t

p e r m i t s d i v o r c e w h e r e i n t i m a c y fa il s ( G e n 2 : 2 3 - 2 5 ; D e u t 2 4 : 1 - 4 ) ; t ha t,

i n a d i f f e r e n t c o n t e x t , M a t t h e w s G o s p e l p e r m i t s d i v o r c e i n e x c e p t i o n a l

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circumstances (Mt 5:32); and that Mark s Gospel elsewhere presents

Jesus proclamation of the reign of God as addressed precisely to those

who are broken, offering new life and hope (Mk 2:13-17). 11 All these

aspects, and others, need to be included in contemporary ethical

reflection on the meaning of marriage. Such an approach provides an

alternative to literal readings that interpret dominical sayings in isola-

tion from their context, ignore canonical diversity, and disregard the

reality of the modern nuclear family and the changing status of women.

Secondly, we need to discover a new way of understanding biblical

revelation. Paul Ricoeur, using a term of Tillich, speaks of the unde-

sirability of heteronomy as a model of revelation.12 By heteronomy,

Ricoeur means an authoritative structure or influence outside the self

that imposes itself on the self - or, for that matter, the community - as

the basis and norm of obedience. At the same time, Ricoeur sees the

notion of autonomy as little better: a self that relates only to itself and

sees itself as the locus of authority. Ricoeur argues for a life-giving

dependence on the Word of God that is neither heteronomous nor

autonomous. Rather than submission to an authoritative divine word

that demands obedience, Ricoeur prefers to speak of the imagination

being transformed in the living encounter with God through Scripture.

This ties in with Ricoeur s conviction that humankind is an nim l

symbolicum and that symbol, myth, metaphor and image have greater

priority in human self-expression than does abstract, analytical

discourse. 13

There are two helpful images that can operate here as models for our

reading of Scripture in the l ight of this view. The first is that of an icon.

Just as an icon gives the viewer a profound insight into the eternal

through the human medium of images inscribed on wood, so Scripture

is a material icon through which we glimpse a vision of God and of

human life. To see Scripture in an iconic way is not to reject the human

material out of which it is made; indeed the latter, with all its

imperfections, is necessary. 14 The second image is that of dialogue. If

our dependence on Scripture is to be that of mature adults - grounded

in freedom rather than servility or childish conformity - our approach

to the text is best seen as one of intimate and vigorous dialogue. In

dialogue, we bring our true selves and the reality of our own context,

already formed yet open to more radical formation; we come before the

divine Word neither as empty vessels nor as all-knowing, self-satisfied

beings. In this dialogue, culture speaks to culture, community to

community, experience to experience; in the encounter, horizons merge

in ways we can never chart or predict. We remain, and yet also become,

our true selves.

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23

T h i r d l y , i f R i c o e u r i s r i g h t i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g r e v e l a t i o n a s t h e

e n c o u n t e r w i t h t h e i m a g i n a ti o n - t h e s y m b o l i c a n d m y t h - m a k i n g p a r t

o f t h e s e l f - i t m e a n s t h a t s p i r it u a l i ty p l a y s a n im p o r t a n t r o l e i n e th i c a l

r e f l e c t i o n . S p i r i t u a l i t y i s e s s e n t i a l l y c o n c e r n e d w i th t h e r o l e a n d

d o m a i n o f s p ir it

pneuma):

t h a t r e a lm w h ic h i s i n f i n i t e l y c lo s e t o u s y e t

a l w a y s b e y o n d o u r g r a s p . A n e m b o d i e d s p i r i t u a l i t y i s o n e t h a t r e c o g -

n i z e s t h e s i g n i fi c a n c e o f m a t t e r a n d b o d i l y e x i s t e n c e i n s e l f -

u n d e r st a n d in g . S y m b o l a n d i m a g in a t io n a re th e w a y s b y w h i c h w e

t o u c h t h e u n t o u c h a b l e , t h e c o n c r e t e i m a g e s w h i c h , l ik e a la d d e r , l e a d u s

to the e te rna l .

S p i r i t u a l i t y , i n t h i s s e n s e , l i e s a t t h e c o r e o f o u r l i v e s ; i t i s n o t o n e

d i m e n s i o n o f o u r e x i st e n c e , b u t th e l iv i n g h e a rt . T r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d

g r o w t h i n h o l i n e s s a r e n o t e x t e r n a l c o m p u l s i o n s , n o r i s C h r i s t i a n

o b e d i e n c e c o n c e r n e d w i t h e x t e r n a l c o n s t r a i n t s . F o r m a n y b i b l i c a l

w r i t e rs , a s w e h a v e s e e n , s u c h a n o t io n o f m o r a l l i v in g i s f o r c e d

a n d d a n g e r o u s ly h y p o c ri ti c a l e .g . M t 2 3 : 4 - 5 ) . J e r e m i a h s p e a k s

e s c h a t o l o g i c a l l y o f a c o v e n a n t in s c r i b e d n o t o n t a b le t s o f s t o n e e x te r -

n a l a u th o r it y , h e t e r o n o m y ) b u t o n t h e h u m a n h e a r t - t h a t i s, t h r o u g h a n

i n te r i o r s p i ri tu a l it y J e r 3 1 : 3 1 - 3 4 ; c f H e b 8 : 8 - 1 3 ) . T h i s n o t io n o f

i n t e r i o r it y a s t h e b a s i s o f e t h i c a l a c t i o n n e e d n o t b e i n t e r p r e t e d i n a n

a u t o n o m o u s w a y w h e r e I a m t h e s o l e m a s t e r o r m i s t re s s o f m y

d e s t in y ) , n o r a s a p a s s i v e q u i e t i s m t h a t d i s d a i n s t h e e x t e r n a l w o r l d a n d

i t s s t ruc tu res .

T h u s a n e m b o d i e d s p i r i t u a l i t y i s t h e t r u e p l a c e f r o m w h i c h m o r a l

r e f l e c t i o n a n d m o r a l l i v i n g s p r i n g . M o s t e t h i c a l q u e s t i o n s h a v e t o d o

w i t h b o d i e s o r p r o p e r t y , b u t t h e y a r e r e s o l v e d i n t h e r e a l m o f t h e s p ir it .

W i t h o u t s y m b o l a n d i m a g i n a ti o n , w i t h o u t s p ir it u a li ty , m o r a l t h e o l o g y

d e g e n e r a t e s i n to l e g a l i s m a n d a u t h o r it a r ia n i s m , w h i c h i n t u rn g i v e s r i s e

to i t s o p p o s i t e i n t h e i n d iv id u a l i s m a n d s e l f - a u th e n t i c a t i n g e th o s o f

m o d e r n w e s t e r n c u l t u r e . I n e i t h e r e v e n t , w h a t t h e C h u r c h p r o d u c e s i s

n o t m a t u r e , s e l f - m o t i v a t e d a n d l o v i n g a d u l t s , b u t r a t h e r s u b m i s s i v e

a n d / o r r e b e l l i o u s c h i l d r e n , l a c k i n g i n c e n t r e a n d s e l f h o o d , w h o h a v e

l it tl e to o f f e r t h e c o m m u n i t y o f f a it h o r w i d e r s e c u l a r s o c i e ty . It n e e d

h a r d l y b e n o t e d t h a t it li e s in t h e i n t e r e st s o f s o m e , e v e n i n t h e C h u r c h ,

t o c u l t iv a t e c r e d u l it y ra t h e r t h a n fa it h , h e t e r o n o m y w h e t h e r a s s u b -

m i s s i o n o r r e b e ll i o n ) r a th e r t h a n m a t u r e s e l f h o o d , c h i ld i s h s e r v i tu d e

r a t h e r t h a n r e s p o n s i b l e f r e e d o m . T h e i m p o s i t io n o f an e x t e rn a l m o r a l

c o d e i s t h e a n t it h e s is o f a t ru l y m o r a l t h e o l o g y t h a t a r is e s f r o m a n

in t e r i o r s p i r i t u a l i t y a n d e m b r a c e s a l l t h in g s i n l o v e .

F o u r t h l y , a n e t h i c s g r o u n d e d i n S c r i p t u r e n e e d s t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t

h u m a n b e i n g s a re b y n a tu r e p e r s o n s - in - c o m m u n i t y , n o t p s y c h o l o g i -

c a l l y i s o l a t e d i n d iv id u a l s s t r u g g l i n g a lo n e t o l i v e t h e e th i c a l l i f e . A

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2 4

S C R I P T U R E , E T H I C S A N D S P I R I T U A L I T Y

soc i a l and r e l a t i ona l app roach t o e t h i c s a r i s e s f rom a sp i r i t ua l i t y t ha t

s e e s r e l a ti o n s h i p a s ly i n g a t t h e c o r e o f w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e h u m a n .

M o r e t h a n t h a t, i t i s a n c h o r e d i n a r e n e w e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f G o d a s a

c o m m u n i o n o f p e rs o n s , i n w h i c h r e l a ti o n a li ty h a s p r i m a c y o v e r o n t o l-

o g y . 15 S u c h a n a p p r o a c h , w h i c h i s b i b l i c a l l y b a s e d , c h a l l e n g e s t h e k i n d

o f e th i c s t h a t is f ix a t e d o n s e x u a l m o r a l i t y a n d c o m p i l i n g l i s ts o f

b i o l o g i c a l d o s a n d d o n t s . A r e l a ti o n a l m o r a l i t y f o c u s e s o n t h e q u a l it y

o f r e l a t io n s h i p s b e t w e e n p e r s o n s : o n in t e g r it y , lo v e , c o m m i t m e n t , s e l f -

fu l f i l m en t and se l f -g i v i ng . 16

A t t he sa m e t i m e , su ch an e t h i c i s co nc e rn ed w if la r e l a t i onsh i p i n i ts

w i d e r p o l i t i c a l c o n t e x t : t r a d e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n r i c h a n d p o o r n a t i o n s ,

s o c ia l, j u s t i c e f o r t h o s e d e p r i v e d o f t h e m e a n s t o s u p p o r t t h e m s e l v e s ,

g e n d e r a n d r a c i a l e q u a l i t y w i t h i n C h u r c h a n d s o c i e t y , e c o l o g i c a l

r e s p o n s i b i l it y f o r o u r e n d a n g e r e d p l a n e t, c u l t iv a t i o n o f p e a c e f u l r e s o l u -

t io n o f co n f li ct . I f w e a r e t o a v o i d t h e i n d iv i d u a l is m o f w e s t e r n

c a p i t a l i s m a n d i t s c o u n t e r p a r t i n m a t e r i a l c o n s u m e r i s m , w e n e e d a n

e t h ic t h a t a r is e s f r o m a s p i ri tu a l it y o f re l a ti o n s h i p , i n w h i c h w e s e e

o u r s e l v e s , b o t h p o l i t ic a l l y a n d i n d i v i d u a l l y , a s b e l o n g i n g t o o n e a n o t h e r

i n c o v e n a n t : o u r C h u r c h , o u r w o r l d , o u r e ar th . Y e t a g a in , t h is c a n n o t b e

a n i m p o s i t i o n

ab extra ,

b u t n e e d s r a t h e r t o a r i s e f r o m a n i n t e r i o r

sp i r i t ua l i t y nu r t u red by Sc r i p t u re . O n t he o t he r hand , l e s t t h i s s eem l i ke

a r e j e c t i o n o f t h e C h u r c h s r o l e in m o r a l d i s c e r n m e n t , a tr u e s p i r i tu a l it y

w i l l t r a n s c e n d o u r o w n t i m e a n d p l a c e , a n d r e a c h b o t h b a c k w a r d s a n d

f o r w a r d s i n to t h e t ra d it io n s a n d h o p e s o f t h e C h u r c h a s t h e c o m m u n i o n

of sa in t s .

Conclus ion

I f th e B i b l e i s n o t i n t h e f ir s t p l a c e a b o o k o f ru l e s f o r r ig h t e o u s

l i v i ng , i t i s none t he l e s s a c r i t i c a l r e sou rce fo r e t h i ca l r e f l ec t i on . Sc r i p -

t u r e c a n n o t b e u s e d i n a s i m p l i s t i c w a y . I t s i n j u n c t i o n s c a n n o t b e

i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e i r l i t e r a r y a n d s o c i o - h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e x t s . T h e B i b l e

d o e s n o t e x i s t a p a r t f r o m t h e C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t y a n d i t s n a r r a t i v e , o r

f r o m c o n t e m p o r a r y t h e o l o g i c a l i n te r p re t at io n , b o t h i n w o r d a n d d e e d .

F i n a l ly , i n it s r e c o g n i z e d d i v e r s i ty , b i b li c a l m o r a l i t y c a n n o t b e i m p o s e d

f r o m a b o v e n o r s e p a r a t e d f r o m e x p e r i e n c e . I n t h i s s e n s e , S c r i p t u r e ,

e t h ic s a n d s p i r it u a li ty c o n v e r g e o n l y i n th e o n g o i n g p r o c e s s o f c o n v e r -

s i o n metanoia) w h i c h , l ik e a s p r in g o f l iv i n g w a t e r, w e l l s u p f r o m

w i t h i n a n d o v e r f l o w s in t o h e a r t - f e lt a c t i o n f o r l o v e a n d ju s t i c e .

N O T E S

1 F u r t h e r o n t h e p r o b l e m s o f b i b li c al f u n d a m e n t a l i s m , s e e J a m e s B a r r , undamentalism 2 n d e d n ,

L o n d o n : S C M , 1 98 1) .

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2 R e a d i n g E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s r a t h e r t h a n o r i g i n a l b i b l i c a l l a n g u a g e s e x a c e r b a t e s t h e p r o b l e m ,

s i n c e E n g l i s h n o l o n g e r d i f fe r e n t ia t e s b e t w e e n s e c o n d a n d t h ir d p e r s o n a l p r o n o u n s ; w e r e a d ' y o u '

i n t h e s i ng u l a r, w h e n t h e o r i g i n al l a n g u a g e m a y w e l l b e p l u r a l ( s e e , f o r e x a m p l e , P a u l ' s i m a g e o f

t h e t e m p l e o f th e H o l y S p i r i t w h i c h i s a d d re s s e d to t h e c o m m u n i t y a s a w h o l e , 1 C o t 3 : 1 6 - 1 7 ) .

3 S e e T . M a f i c o , ' E t h i c s ( O l d T e s t a m e n t ) ' , Anchor B ib le d i c t ionary v o l 2 ( N e w Y o r k ; D o u b l e d a y ,

1992) , p 645 .

4 Ibid . p p 6 4 5 - 6 6 5 .

5 S e e W . S c h r a g e , T h e e t h i c s o f t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t (Ph i lade lph ia : For t r es s , 1988) , e spec ia l ly

p p 1 3 - 1 1 5 , a n d E . L o h s e , Theo log ica l e th i cs o f the Ne w Testamen t ( M i n n e a p o l i s : F o r t r e s s ,

p p 3 9 - 6 0 .

6 E . Sch ias s le r F io renza ,

In m emo ry o f her: a f em in i s t t heo log ica l recons truct ion o f Chr i s tian

origins 2 n d e d n ( N e w Y o rk : C r o s s ro a d , 1 9 9 5 ) , p p 1 1 8 - 1 5 9 .

7 S e e e s p e c i a l ly t h e a n t i t h e s e s i n t h e S e r m o n o n t h e M o u n t c o n c e r n i n g m u r d e r a n d a d u l t e r y

( M t 5 : 2 1 - 3 0 ) .

s j . C . Beker ,

Pau l the apos tl e: t he t r ium ph o f God in l i fe and though t

(Ph i lade lph ia : For t r es s ,

1 9 8 0) , p p 2 3 - 3 6 , s p e a k s h e l p f u l ly o f t h e P a u l i n e g o s p e l a s p o s s e s s i n g tw o c o m p l e m e n t a r y

d i m e n s i o n s : c o h e r e n c e ( t h e u n n e g o t i a b l e c o r e ) a n d c o n t i n g e n c y ( t h e c o n t e x t u a l i z a t i o n w i t h i n

spec i f i c cu l tu res ) .

9 T h e ' h o u s e h o l d c o d e s ' a r e a n e x a m p l e o f t h is k i n d o f w e a k e n i n g o f e a r ly C h r i s t i a n e sc h a t o l o g i -

c a l e t h i c s; t h e s t ru c t u r e s o f t h e R o m a n - H e l l e n i s t i c p a t ri a rc h a l h o u s e h o l d a r e a d o p t e d , w i t h s o m e

m o d i f i c a ti o n ( c f C o l 3 : 1 8 - - 4 : 1 ; E p h 5 : 2 2 - - 6 : 9 ; 1 P e t 2 : 1 3 - - 3 : 7 ; 1 T i m 2 : 8 - 1 5 ; T i t 2 : 2 - 1 0 ) . C f

S c h t i s s l e r F i o r e n z a ,

op. cit.

p p 2 5 1 - 2 8 4 .

lo M a t t h e w ' s G o s p e l i s c o n s t ru c t e d a r o u n d a n a l t e r n a ti n g p a t t er n o f n a r r at i v e a n d d i s c o u r s e . T h e

f i v e m a j o r d i s c o u r s e s , o r t e a c h i n g b l o c k s , a r e e m b e d d e d w i t h i n t h e s t o r y o f J e s u s " li fe , d e a t h a n d

r e s u r r e c t io n . I n t h i s w a y , M a t t h e w t r ie s to h o l d t o g e t h e r w o r d a n d d e e d , b e i n g a n d d o i n g .

J S e e, f o r e x a m p l e , M . D . H o o k e r , T h e G o s p e l a c c o r d i n g t o M a r k ( L o n d o n : A & C B l a c k ,

1 9 9 1 ) , p p 2 3 4 - 2 3 7 .

12 p . R i c o e u r , ' T o w a r d a h e r m e n e u t i c o f t h e i d e a o f r e v e l a t i o n ' , H a r v a r d T h e o l o g ic a l R e v i e w 7 0

( 1 9 7 7 ) , p p 1 - 3 7 .

13 See , fo r exam ple , P . R icoeur ,

T h e s y m b o l i s m o f e v i l

( B o s t o n : B e a c o n P r e s s , 1 9 6 7 ) , p p 3 - 2 4 ,

and In t erpre ta t ion theory : d i scourse an d the surp lus o f mea n ing ( T e x a s : T e x a s C h r i s t i a n

U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 75 ), p p 4 5 - 8 7 .

14 C f S . S c h n e i d e r s ' d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e B i b l e a s t h e

s y m b o l

o f t h e W o r d o f G o d i n T h e

revelatory

text : interpreting the N ew Testament as sac red Scripture

(New York : HarperCo l l in s , 1991) ,

p p 2 7 - 6 3 .

15 C f C . M . L a C u g n a , Go d fo r us : t he Tr ini ty and Chr i s t ian l i f e (New York : HarperCo l l in s ,

1 9 9 1 ) , e s p e c i a l l y p p 2 4 3 - 3 1 7 .

16 F e m i n i s t t h e o l o g ia n s h a v e p o i n t e d o u t t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f b o t h d i m e n s i o n s i n e t h i c a l d i s c o u rs e ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r w o m e n w h o s e v o c a t i o n h a s b e e n o n e o f s a c r i f i c i a l s e r v i c e a t t h e c o s t o f

d e v e l o p i n g t h e i r o w n s e n s e o f s e l f. S e e t h e n o w c l a s s i c a rt i c le o f V a l e r i e S a l v i n g , w r i t te n i n 1 9 6 0 ,

a r g u i n g t h a t w o m e n ' s s i n f u l n e s s c o n s i s t s o f s e lf - n e g a t io n ra t h e r t h a n s e l f - p ro m o t i o n : ' T h e h u m a n

s i t u a ti o n : a f e m i n i n e v i e w ' i n C . P. C h r i s t a n d J . P l a s k o w ( e d s ),

Wo mansp i r i t r is ing: a f em in i s t

reader in religion ( S a n F r a n c i s c o : H a r p e r & R o w , 1 9 7 9 ) , p p 2 5 - 4 2 .