2. Learning Outcomes
2. To define ‘Pauline ethics.’
3. To explore the concept of a
‘connected’ view of Pauline
Christology and ethics.
4. To construct a basic understanding
of how these theological categories
should impact upon current
evangelism and church life.
3. 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.
4. 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).
5. 1. Studying God
2. Knowing God
3. What God is like
4. What God does
5. Humanity
6. Sin
7. The person of Christ
8. The work of Christ
9. The Holy Spirit
10. Salvation
11. The church
12. The last things
7. “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.
8. How much do you think all of these
distinctions matter to the average
Christian today?
9. “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.
11. “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.
12. Imperative
Indicative (The response by
(What God has done humanity
for humanity in Christ) to what God has done
in Christ)
13. 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?
14. 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