Warum es im Glaubensbekenntnis keine Ethik gibt
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Wolfram Kinzig
Abstract
The article discusses possible reasons for the lack of references to Christ’s ethical teaching in the creeds. It suggests that the earliest rules of faith were composed in order to propagate a particular view of the divine status of Jesus Christ which served to safeguard salvation. By contrast, debates about the ethical consequences of a life dedicated to Christ did not touch upon doctrine proper. Nevertheless, initially, credal and ethical statements were often combined in theological discourse. However, when the fluid rules of faith coagulated into fixed formulae, things gradually changed. For creeds express both a personal loyalty to God and a consent to a series of propositional statements. As such they became increasingly incompatible with ethical commandments which are, by nature, adhortative or imperative. In addition, the earlier equilibrium between creed and paraenesis began to shift when, in baptismal catechesis, knowledge about matters of faith was given more attention than the teaching of Christian love for one's neighbour. Finally, it is discussed in what context, if at all, Christians were taught about biblical ethics.
Abstract
The article discusses possible reasons for the lack of references to Christ’s ethical teaching in the creeds. It suggests that the earliest rules of faith were composed in order to propagate a particular view of the divine status of Jesus Christ which served to safeguard salvation. By contrast, debates about the ethical consequences of a life dedicated to Christ did not touch upon doctrine proper. Nevertheless, initially, credal and ethical statements were often combined in theological discourse. However, when the fluid rules of faith coagulated into fixed formulae, things gradually changed. For creeds express both a personal loyalty to God and a consent to a series of propositional statements. As such they became increasingly incompatible with ethical commandments which are, by nature, adhortative or imperative. In addition, the earlier equilibrium between creed and paraenesis began to shift when, in baptismal catechesis, knowledge about matters of faith was given more attention than the teaching of Christian love for one's neighbour. Finally, it is discussed in what context, if at all, Christians were taught about biblical ethics.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt VII
- Vorwort XI
-
I Texte
- Zwei neuentdeckte Predigten des Nestorios: Adversus haereticos de divina trinitate (CPG 5691) und In symbolum fidei. Edition, Übersetzung und Kommentar 1
- Die Verpflichtungserklärungen der getauften Juden von Toledo aus den Jahren 637 und 654 53
- Glauben lernen im Mittelalter 91
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II Studien
- What’s in a Creed? A New Perspective on Old Texts 117
- Monarchianismus und Monarchie 137
- Der Ursprung des römischen Glaubensbekenntnisses 161
- The Origins of the Creed of Jerusalem 189
- Herrschaft und Bekenntnis 208
- Formation des Glaubens 227
- Warum es im Glaubensbekenntnis keine Ethik gibt 263
- Das Apostolische Glaubensbekenntnis – Leistung und Grenzen eines christlichen Fundamentaltextes 286
- Literaturverzeichnis 309
- Liste der Erstveröffentlichungen 343
- Indices 345
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt VII
- Vorwort XI
-
I Texte
- Zwei neuentdeckte Predigten des Nestorios: Adversus haereticos de divina trinitate (CPG 5691) und In symbolum fidei. Edition, Übersetzung und Kommentar 1
- Die Verpflichtungserklärungen der getauften Juden von Toledo aus den Jahren 637 und 654 53
- Glauben lernen im Mittelalter 91
-
II Studien
- What’s in a Creed? A New Perspective on Old Texts 117
- Monarchianismus und Monarchie 137
- Der Ursprung des römischen Glaubensbekenntnisses 161
- The Origins of the Creed of Jerusalem 189
- Herrschaft und Bekenntnis 208
- Formation des Glaubens 227
- Warum es im Glaubensbekenntnis keine Ethik gibt 263
- Das Apostolische Glaubensbekenntnis – Leistung und Grenzen eines christlichen Fundamentaltextes 286
- Literaturverzeichnis 309
- Liste der Erstveröffentlichungen 343
- Indices 345
