A historical study of the ethical atmosphere at the beginning of the Christian era; and it's relation to the ethical aspect of New Testament teaching

Rose, A. N. (1912). A historical study of the ethical atmosphere at the beginning of the Christian era; and it's relation to the ethical aspect of New Testament teaching. University of Birmingham. M.A.

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Abstract

The purpose of this essay is not to examine the precise extent to which Christian Ethics has borrowed elements from external sources or has been modified by external influence during the later processes of development and systematization. Its aim is rather to show the organic relation of the ethical teaching of the New Testament to antecedent and contemporary moral consciousness and doctrine, and further to show how the ethical atmosphere of the time, made possible the wide-spread dissemination of Christian principles. To demonstrate such connection will not be to divest Christian teaching of its unique character and value. It is a great law of intellectual and moral progress that no great truth can enter into human life unless previous development and preparation has rendered men capable of receiving that truth. Accordingly, if we recognise the teaching of Christianity as embodying the loftiest of moral principles, we must also allow that a stage of development had been reached which rendered possible the formulation and reception of that teaching. Thus an examination of the ethical atmosphere at the beginning of the Christian era may be considered a legitimate part of the historical study of Christian ethics.
The fact that this study involves an examination of Christian Ethics as well as of philosophical ethics will render an occasional excursus into the realm of New Testament theology unavoidable. It is impossible to estimate the ethical value of New Testament teaching without taking into consideration not only the immediate instruction upon conduct and life which it contains - were this only considered it could claim little original much less unique value - but also the ethics of a religious teaching. Moreover a considerable amount of the external influence which finds its place in forming New Testament ethical thought has been mediated through the channels of theological ideas. Indeed the inseparability of the ethical from the theological aspect of thought can well be illustrated from the ultimate direction assumed by Greek philosophy in the Endemian ethics and neo Platonism.
Avoiding therefore, too hard a distinction between ethics and religion, we shall attempt to show New Testament teaching in its place at the first meeting point of the two long lines of development in East and West.

Type of Work:	Thesis (Masters by Research > M.A.)
Award Type:	Masters by Research > M.A.
Licence:
College/Faculty:	Faculties (to 1997) > Faculty of Arts
School or Department:	School of Theology
Funders:	None/not applicable
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BS The Bible
URI:	http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/8360

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