Some Christians distinguish the moral laws in the Old Testament (which must be obeyed) from the ceremonial and civil laws (which may be disregarded). Others prefer a strictly New Testament ethic. Neither option, argues Chris Wright, does justice to the Old Testament as an essential part of our Bible. In this lively and readable approach, he develops a comprehensive alternative. First, he proposes a theological, social and economic framework for Old Testament ethics. Then, in relation to contemporary issues, he explores a variety of themes: economics, the land and the poor; ecology and the earth; politics and the world of nations; law and justice; society, culture and the family; the way of the individual. This book is a fully revised, updated and integrated edition of Chris Wright's earlier two books "Living as the People of God" and "Walking in the Ways of the Lord." He has added new surveys of historical and contemporary scholarly approaches to Christian ethical use of the Old Testament. This fresh and accessible study will appeal to non-specialists, while the greatly expanded bibliography makes this a useful resource for students.
Contents
PART ONE: A STRUCTURE FOR OLD TESTAMENT ETHICS
1. The theological angle
2. The social angle
3. The economic angle
PART TWO: THEMES IN OLD TESTAMENT ETHICS
4. Ecology and the earth
5. Economics and the poor
6. The land and Christian ethics
7. Politics and the nations
8. Justice and righteousness
9. Law and the legal system
10. Culture and family
11. The way of the individual
PART THREE: STUDYING OLD TESTAMENT ETHICS
12. A survey of historical approaches
13. Contemporary scholarship: a bibliographical essay
14. Hermeneutics and authority in Old Testament ethics
Appendix: What about the Canaanites?
