Due to the fact that Scripture is the authoritative Word of God (Belgic Confession. Article 5),
the infallible written Word of God. is and stays the basis for Christian ethics. Scripture is not
just another single source for Christian ethics among other sources, but it is the decisive
source among all other sources. The question then arises - how is it possible in the ever-changing
life situation of the modem day context of society? In an ever increasing
secularized society places the Christian life and also the Christian ethics under more
pressure. The acceptance of the authority of Scripture is therefore indispensable for
Christian ethics. Scripture does however not present a text as an absolute answer for every
possible or similar ethical problem. The deep-seated principles of Scripture must be
exposed. From these principles norms should be derived that is applicable to the modem
problem.
The problem statement that follows from this culminates as the following: Can a thematic
analysis of the Biblical dogma present a fundamental working foundation for Christian ethics
in modem day society and serve as a corrective for the problematic approaches of a
biblicistic as well as an over critical view of Scripture for the basis of ethics? The central
theoretical argument of the study is the following: A thematic analysis of the Biblical dogma
can indeed present a fundamental, working foundation for Christian ethics in modem day
society and can serve as a corrective for the problematic approaches of a biblicistic as well
as an over critical view of Scripture for the basis of ethics.
In the second chapter the definitions of what could be defined as Christian ethical
perspectives and principles is examined. In other words, the purpose of the chapter is to
examine and to give a broad overview of the understanding of ethics, morality, morals etc.
The qualified deontological approach is chosen due to the fact that normative approach with
its focus on Scripture as authoritative therein plays a big role.
The third chapter focuses on which view of Scripture and use of Scripture is normally applied
in Reformed ethics in the use or interpretation of Scripture. Special attention is given to the
authority of Scripture, view of Scripture and an attempt is made to convey the hermeneutical
points of departure (axioms) in order to derive an intra-biblical use of Scripture. The chapter
comes to the conclusion that even though the Christian ethicist does have in theory at his
disposal a biblical-founded hermeneutical model it does not safeguard him against a faulty
use or interpretation of Scripture in practice in the fourth chapter the present-day Scriptural principles that serves as basis and
cadre for the interpretation of Scripture in light of the answering of Christian ethical questions
is examined. In light of the present-day situation seems that although there is a sound
hermeneutical axiom that serves as filters in the interpretation of Scripture in the reformed
ethics, in practice either a biblicistic or a Criticism of Scripture approach to Scripture is
chosen. The approaches of the fundamentalistic/biblicistic and Criticism of Scripture is
examined and m e s to the conclusion that both, in their own way, does bring the authority
and the message of Scripture in disrepute. In the event of the fundamentalistic and biblicistic
approach the divine inspiration character of Scripture is overemphasized and all Scriptural
Utterances is treated on the same level to such an instance that everything is sanctioned. In
the event of the Criticism of Scripture the human fallible character is again overemphasized
to the extent that the normative authority of Scripture for Christian ethics is not taken into
account . The chapter comes to the conclusion mat a "third way” must be examined to
circumvent the many pitfalls of either a fundamentalistic/biblicistic of Criticism of Scripture in
the interpretation of Scripture in light of a modem day ethical problem.
In the fifth chapter an adjudication and evaluation of the quality of the use or Interpretation of
Scripture in light of capital punishment within the biblical view of a right to life is given as a
representative of modem day ethical problems. In light of the principles given in Chapter 3
and 4 it is shown that Scripture is most often misused despite fair hermeneutical principles
Only to reflect the ethicist own preconceived ideas.
The last chapter indicates an approach that might possibly serve as an alternative/valid use
or interpretation of Scripture in reformed ethics other than a typical biblicistic/fundamentalistic
or Criticism of Scripture approach. The chapter draws to the conclusion that the contextual-paradigmatic
approach is at this time the only capable approach of acknowledging the proper
interpretation of Scripture to shed some light on the ethical problems of modem day society,
without stepping into the boundaries of either a biblicistic/fundamentalistic of Criticism of
Scripture interpretation of Scripture. The contextual-paradigmatic approach succeeds in
preventing the ethicist to misinterpret Biblical texts that seems to be of importance to the
debate of capital punishment and to make a scientific contribution lo important debates in
South Africa today, especially those related to the interpretation of the Bible and its use in the
development of South Africa. In this way an attempt is made to contribute towards and to
provide guidelines for a healthy and responsible society and for the functioning of Christians
within the current South African state. The message of the Bible must thus be established in
a responsible and valid way, and communicated effectively to society. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/1461 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Saaiman, De Wet |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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