Christianity - Core Ethical Teachings Flashcards
What is the role of Christian ethics?
they dictate how Christians should think and behave in harmony and maintaining their relationship with God, and with humanity
What does it mean to have a right relationship with God ?
to act in line with His teachings
What does it mean to have a right relationship with humanity?
to treat others ethically
What is the main source of Christian Ethics?
The Bible
What is the ethical role of the Ten Commandments?
they provide fundamental ethical teachings of the Old Testament, and form a covenant (promise) between God and His followers
What is the theme of the first four commandments?
they describe how to have a correct relationship with God
What is the theme of the last 6 commandments?
they describe how to have a correct relationship with your neighbours
Where are the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament?
The Ten Commandments are contained in Exodus 20: 1 - 17
Where are the Beatitudes in the New Testament?
they are contained in Matthew 5: 1 - 12
What are the origins of the Beatitudes?
they were delivered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew
What is the role of the Beatitudes?
they
- outline a series of virtues describing the model of a good Christian
- form the basis of Christian behaviour up to the present by
- dictate how Christians should behave and treat others, in order to be praised, or blessed, by God
What is the origin of the Ten Commandments?
delivered by God to the Prophet Moses (Mosaic Law)
Where is Jesus’ Comman
Jesus’ Commandment of Love is contained in Matthew 22: 34 - 40
Jesus’s commandment of love is the greatest declaration of Christian ethics in the New Testament
Again, Jesus addresses the two aspects of Christian ethics here: maintaining your relationship with God and your relationship with your neighbours
Jesus’ focus on love was revolutionary: it does not appear as a core idea in the Old Testament, and so is distinctly Christian
What are the two key verses in Matthew
22: 34 - 40?
1) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind”
2) “Love your neighbour”
Guiding behaviour: Ethical teachings guide adherent to act in line with their beliefs in their everyday life. They also guide Christians in cases of extraordinary moral dilemma. In these cases, teachings are normally supplemented by secondary sources, like specific denominational rulings
secondary sources: specific, supplementary denominational rulings and teachings such as
- The Catechism of the Catholic CHurch
- Anglican Synod Documents
Catholic secondary sources =
the text of many
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Pope’s Letters ( papal encyclicals)
Anglican/protestant secondary sources =
- sole function, core guidance (Word of God)
Relationship with God is demonstrated through the Relationship with Humanity
Living Christ’s Message:
Christian ethics are based on the nation of humanity created in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:27)
living ethically, as the image og God on Earth is a way for Christians to fulfil Christ’ message
Living Chrsit’s message (continued) Gospel values = Christ’s message
treating others with:
compassion
mercy
kindness
forgiveness
(especially found in parables, which are Jesus’ teachings)
Christ’s message delivered in the parables
acting in accordance with the Gospel Values also helps to build up a relationship with God
this allows adherents a deeper, more meaningful and more fulfilling experience with their own faith by living as Jesus did.
Holistic approach: how Christianity works as a living religion
Principal Beliefs:
the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
the nature of God and the Trinity
Revelation
Salvation
Principal Beliefs Mnemonic
Divinity and Humanity of Jesus
Death and Resurrection of Jesus
Nature of God and the Trinity
Revelation
Salvation
Doughnut Holes
Don’t Require
Nutella
Raspberry
Sauce
OR
Dead Horses
Don’t Run
Near
Red
Signs
2 things
What are the Beatitudes?
what they are, what they do and where they were delivered
a collection of Jesus’ teachings on the Sermon on the Mount that praises the specific virtues that reflect a Christian way of living and blesses the people who show these virtues.
What is the basis of all the virtues described in the Beatitudes?
Love
How do Christians view the relationship between the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments?
they are seen as complementary pathways to God, not a competing set of values
What is the Decalogue?
The Ten Commandments
Who are blessed according to the Beatitudes?
- The Poor in spirit
- those who mourn
- the meek
- those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
- the merciful
- the pure in heart
- the peacemakes
- those who are persecuted because of righteousness
- ## those who are insulted, persecuted and lied about because of their faith
What is an example of a parable that exemplifies the relationship that Jesus offers to his followers?
The parable of the Lost Son, who is welcomed home and forgiven of his sins
What is the Great Commandment?
Jesus’ Commandment of Love
