Jesus As A Teacher Of Wisdom Flashcards
Who was in support of Jesus as a teacher of wisdom
“Jesus was great moral teacher” - Richard Dawkins
Retort to Dawkins
If he is only recognised by Dawkins as a moral teacher but not holy, God or doinf miracles then how can he be a great moral teacher (contradiction)
How was Jesus a teacher of wisdom
- loving the poor
- forgiveness:7X70
- healing the sick
- love
- good news : salvation of sins and reborn to eternal life
Jesus had a moral message through parables e.g Good Samaritan
How does Jesus as a teacher of wisdom show his divinity
Direct access to message of God relayed to us humans and challenging judisim e.g saying the sabbath is for humans not the other way round
How did Jesus show his was a teacher
- he was a rabbi : educated other and interpreted laws
- spend time preaching e.g sermon on the mount
- challenge controversial things
Strength - Jesus as teacher of wisdom
Links to liberation theology, Jesus practised what he preached (athropraxy)
And his teaching still relevant today
Strength of the sermon on the mount
- sermon on the mount taught by Jesus focused on the intentions than the outcome : deontological
- “do onto others as you would like do he done to you “ - links to utilitiarism
- teaching of love links to situation ethics and agape love
Moral teachings of Jesus
- agape love : love your neighbour/enemies which can be applied in modern day as love is subjective (flecher situation ethics)
- forgiveness and mercy : equality and fight for fairness e.g adulterous woman
- humility : washing one another’s feet
Weakness of Jesus as a teacher of wisdom
Jesus gave moral teachings, they are not the teachings that a mere human teacher of wisdom would have the right to give: Jesus used Moses message and contradicts it “eye for an eye” or turn the other cheek implies that Jesus thinks of himself as having greater authority than Moses. Arguably only God has that much authority.
Weakness of Jesus as teacher of wisdom
- Jesus gave moral teachings, they are not the teachings that a mere human teacher of wisdom would have the right to give
- “eye for an eye/turn the other cheek”
- give a teaching that completely contradicts those of Moses implies that Jesus thinks of himself as having greater authority than Moses. Arguably only God has that much authority.
