Session 12The Light Project

Clint Heacock

Pauline Christology and Ethics

Learning Outcomes

1. To define ‘Pauline ethics.’2. To explore the concept of a

‘connected’ view of Pauline Christology and ethics.

3. To construct a basic understanding of how these theological categories should impact upon current evangelism and church life.

Modern systematic theology is the attempt to “present the whole body of doctrinal truth, gathered from the Word of God, in a systematic way.”

Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 15.

Utilizing God-given human reason, theologians attempt to search the entire Scripture in order to “gather disconnected truths, to classify them, and to integrate them, so that their interrelation becomes evident” (15).

Therefore systematic theology becomes “a systematic presentation of the doctrinal truths of Scripture” (15).

1. Studying God 2. Knowing God3. What God is like4. What God does5. Humanity 6. Sin7. The person of Christ8. The work of Christ9. The Holy Spirit10. Salvation 11. The church 12. The last things

The Person of Christ The Work of Christ

“In part, this shift has been motivated by a suspicion that the Christ of the theological tradition is different from the actual Jesus who walked the paths of Palestine, teaching and working among his disciples and the crowds.”

Erickson, Christian Theology, 679.

How much do you think all of these distinctions matter to the average

Christian today?

“But in actual Christian life and experiences such separations can quickly seem inadequate. Beliefs about Christ interact with Christian behavior and the formation of communities in his name.

Indeed, from the earliest days of Christianity, perceptions of the nature of Christ have influenced notions of how those who believe in him should actually live, worship, and think of the church.”

Need, Paul Today, 101.

What exactly are the ‘Pauline ethics’ or ‘paranesis’?

“The Pauline Ethics have been understood as the indicative and the imperative. The indicative is the accomplished fact of what God has done for man’s salvation in Christ, revealed in history; the imperative is the commands of God toward man in light of the accomplished work in Christ.”

Biggs, “The Pauline Paranesis,” 3.

Indicative(What God has done

for humanity in Christ)

Imperative (The response by

humanityto what God has done

in Christ)

In Paul’s writings, what exactly does the relationship look like between the

indicative and the imperative? Are they closely related and if so, what

possible bearing could they have on our lives as believers?

What do the following passages reveal about the relationships in Paul’s

writings between Christ, creation and the church, and the ethical duties of

believers?• Phil. 2.1-18• Col. 1.15-29