New Testament Ethics

At the New Testament Ethics seminar we will analyze the foreign (English, German) theological literatures most important works and their most relevant chapters with the purpose of recognizing and capturing in Jesus and Paul's teaching, the theological-principle considerations and the practical-ethical trends that lay in them. Linking the theoretical and practical aspects represents a serious exegetical, theological and hermeneutical task. During this process we will realize that the casuistic approach is completely strange from the New Testament, which for each situation tries to develop an exact and detailed condition. The Christian people live from the love of God, it is their point of reference and their entire behavior is governed and shaped by His love in all kind of different life events. The story of redemption teaches us that the gratefulness and the deep emotional attachment towards God can be expressed through love that is expressed by faith.

Competences

Specific competences

The attendee practices the comprehensive reading of the foreign (English and German) theological literature, he studies thoroughly the acquired knowledge regarding the New Testament exegesis and the theological literature, and through practice he will observe the two domains close relationship and mutual reference. He will gain an insight regarding the meaning of certain passages (pericopes) and he will recognize that specific hermeneutical situation wherein the comprehension process went through. He will discover the theological considerations that are behind the Christian actions and the way in which he can presume, inspire and shape Jesus Christ beatific deeds in every facet of the Christian behavior.

General competences

The attendee recognizes the fact that the Christian ethics is not the result of the still existing habits of the collectivity or the result of the general world ethos, but rather that every life situation is oriented only towards God our savers deeds. Although the Christian ethics from many points of view presents similarities with certain modern behavioural principles and forms (like for example openness, acceptance, freedom), its roots are not the anthropological, sociological, economical or political principles, and because of this the task of the attendee is to nuance, correct or in some circumstances, when from a Christian point of view they are unsustainable, to expose the suppositions that come from these domains.

Course structure

  1. Object, Purposes and Problems of the New Testament Ethics. Methodology

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 9-21 (13)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 1-12 (12)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 5-12 (8)

  2. The Kingdom of God as the Basis of Jesus’ Ethics

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 21-33 (13)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 18-30 (13)

  3. Eschatology and Ethics

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 33-43 (11)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 30-40 (11)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 24-39 (16)

  4. Repentance and Total Obedience

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 43-54 (12)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 40-52 (13)

  5. Jesus’ Interpretation of the Law

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 54-69 (16)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 52-68 (17)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 14-24 (11)

  6. The Double Commandment of Love

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 69-80 (12)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 68-79 (12)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 29-36 (8)

  7. The Concrete Aspects of the Commandment of Love

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 80-88 (9)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 79-87 (9)

  8. Concrete Precepts in the Teaching of Jesus

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 88-116 (29)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 87-107 (21)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 36-57 (22)

  9. Christological and Sacramental Motivations by Paul

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 155-164 (10)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 167-177 (11)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 117-120 (4)

  10. Pneumatological and Eschatological Motivations by Paul

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 164-176 (13)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 177-186 (10)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 120-124 (5)

  11. The Unity of the Motivations in the Theology of Paul

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 155-176 (22)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 167-186 (20)

  12. The Nature of the New Life in Christ

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 176-189 (14)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 186-198 (13)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 124-129 (6)

  13. The Ethics of Paul and the Ethics in the Ancient World

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 189-208 (20)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 198-217 (20)
    • Bolyki János: Újszövetségi etika, 131-136 (6)

  14. Concrete Precepts in the Ethical Teaching of Paul

    Reading:

    • Schrage, W.: Ethik des Neuen Testaments, 208-231 (24)
    • Schrage, W.: The Ethics of the New Testament, 217-241 (25)

Total estimated time

Classroom study

  • 2 hours/week (Course: 0 | Seminar: 2 | Practice: 0)
  • 28 hours/semester (Course: 0 | Seminar: 28 | Practice: 0)

Individual study

  • Time for studying course notes and bibliography: 20 hours/semester.
  • Time for further documentation in libraries, electronic platforms, or on the field: 10 hours/semester.
  • Time for preparing essays, papers, or documentation: 15 hours/semester.
  • Time for personal tutoring: 2 hours/semester.
  • Total individual study: 47 hours/semester.
  • Total estimated time: 75 hours/semester.

Examination

The attendee studies for each class the recommended literature. During the seminar, they will be discussed in an interactive way and the studied material will be systematized, assimilated, the questions that have appeared during reading or listening will be discussed as well as the different points of view, offering the possibility to put in practice the aspects learned so far. The active, relevant and constructive participation during classes will be a part of the final grade. The attendee will prepare a written paper regarding a given or freely chosen topic concerning a New Testament theological-ethical aspect, in which besides the elaboration of the topic he has to present his personal enquiry, as well as the given aspects contemporaneity and the possible solutions in our present life situations. The paper will have between 4000/5000 words.