The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation, A Contemporary Introduction t

Product Description

A leading expert in New Testament ethics discovers in the biblical witness a unified ethical vision -- centered in the themes of community, cross and new creation -- that has profound relevance in today′s world. Richard Hays shows how the New Testament provides moral guidance on the most troubling ethical issues of our time, including violence, divorce, homosexuality and abortion.

Top Reviews

Careful, challenging exegesis of New Testament ethics
by K. James (4 out of 5 stars)
November 24, 2018

I liked the carefulness and humility that Richard Hays shows when interpreting the New testament. He doesn't flinch from it's challenging commands or problematic texts. He centers his interpretation of the New Testament around three focal images: Community, Cross, and New Creation. This framework is really helpful for thinking through the various implications of the New Testament. Hays shows how many significant ethical implications of the New Testament have been largely ignored by Christians who claim to hold it as their authority. Specifically the New Testaments call to non-violence and the sharing of possessions.

I didn't give it five stars because Hays left a couple big questions unanswered - is God speaking in the New Testament and subsequently is the text that God speaks through accurate in its portayal of Jesus and the Apostles? At various points he'll say that Paul didn't write a text attributed to him or that certain parts of the Gospels are later interpolations into the text. I'm well aware of how common these theories are in the academy, but Hays professes to be a Christian and the church is part of his audience. So how does Hays handle the questions raised by the theory that some parts of the New Testament bear false witness about the life and work of Jesus? The question has ethical import, and in his book on ethics, he leaves the question mostly untouched.

This complaint considered, Hays books is still a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the New Testament calls the church to act. Hays is inviting the church into this great conversation of ethics based on what God has done in Jesus, and we do well to join him in that conversation.
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It stresses the greatness of the Christian message
by Harmonious (5 out of 5 stars)
October 19, 2019

This is another home run from Richard Hays. With this thoughtful and well argued volume, Mr Hays, instead of giving us a fish, taught us how to fish. Mr Hays beautifully explains us the gist of Christian hermeneutics and, in the process, presents us the Soul of Christianism. Mr Hays' assessment of Christian ethics and morality is thought provoking. By reading this book, I was able to better glimpse the greatness of Christianity.
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Good Ethics comes from Good Bible Interpretation & Understanding
by Stu2 (5 out of 5 stars)
August 13, 2014

Hays suggests the New Testament vision of Community, the Cross and New Creation as themes for approaching ethical issues. He readily acknowledges that not all ethical issues are directly addressed by the New Testament, but suggests that by employing the vision contained within these themes we will be able to give a coherent and responsible Christian response to ethical issues. Not that this is easy to live out, as he relates in is own experience of living in a community that shared possessions for several years. Yes, it will be difficult and costly, but that's the nature of being a Christian.

I love this book because Hays does a fantastic job of handling the Bible with respect and great skill; he takes the Biblical teaching seriously and does not ignore or dismiss those passages that are unpalatable. Neither does he fall into shallow proof-texting, or a flat reading of Biblical passages. Not only is this a great ethics book, it also a great hermeneutics book on how to understand and interpret the Bible. I wish I had read this book sooner.
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Essential Reading for NT Ethics
by Jeremy Myers - Writing at RedeemingGod (5 out of 5 stars)
February 22, 2014

A long book, but worth the read. The sections are the end about homosexuality, abortion, divorce, and other ethical issues are well worth reading the book, but (as he points out at the beginning of these sections) you are likely not to understand his approach to these issues, or agree with his take on them, unless you have read the rest of the book.

When it comes to a book about the proper way to read and apply the New Testament, this book is a must read volume.
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A refreshing paradigm of reading NT ethics
by Donner C. S. Tan (5 out of 5 stars)
August 16, 2009

I am halfway through the book and deeply appreciate the fresh approach Hays proposes in reading NT ethics. Basically, it is a narratival one akin to N.T. Wright's 5-act play as a way of understanding NT authority. The 3 focal images of community, cross and new creation are critical milestones for telling the story of how God was forming a covenant people through which the redemptive accomplishments of Christ on the cross would be fully worked out or implemented in the world, culminating in its final renewal. The ethical question to ask within this narrative framework will be: how can the church best live out her vocation as a cross-shaped people and a redemptive witness to God's eschatological work in renewing the world?

I thoroughly enjoyed the exegesis of the Pauline corpus, the four gospels and Revelation as it takes seriously their distinctive voices and historical contexts before going on to do the work of synthesis and contemporary application. He admits that his interpretation of the text is conditioned by reasons, tradition and (communal)experience which are indispensable to the task of biblical interpetation. This is going to make the task and process of ethical discernment more demanding but also far more biblical, communal, nuanced and pastorally sensitive. But, Hays does not see his paradigm as a definitive grid but an *illuminating* lens. It is certainly open to being revised and complemented with other approaches, ways of reading the biblical narrative (such as a less linear one than the one proposed herein) and other scripture texts not discussed here(such as the general epistles, etc as others have pointed out).

Overall, Hays succeeds remarkably in offering us a balanced, honest and faithful way of reading and applying NT ethics. He has put in our hands a very useful hermeneutic tool that will shed much light on the NT ethical writings and significantly influence the way we think about moral issues in light of the over-arching narrative of Scripture.
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Understanding and Living the Scriptures
by J. Barginear (5 out of 5 stars)
July 20, 2011

Very good book on Ethics ( I don't agree with every assumption , interpretation or conclusion). Dr. Richard Hays uses a Synthetic task (placing the text in canonical context) the focal images of Community, Cross and New Creation, which is intelligent but the Individual must have an intimate, love, fellowshipping, faith, relationship first with God. They must have been Born again by Grace through Faith; in Repentance ,Water Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost- Speaking in tongues, then live out the Christian life in Context of the Community/ Church. Yet there must be a personal/ individual study of the Word of God (Bible),obedient faith, worship and praise etc. Also "Love" is Key for God "is" Love and the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, giving us the ability to Love God with all of our heart, soul, minds and strength and our neighbors as our selves. And Without Faith it's impossible to please God for the individual must believe that he is and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Here are two Quotes from the book:
"The Church has failed to teach that love is an act of the will, that marriage mirrors the costly fidelity of Christ to the Church , and the power of God can transform us and redeem situations that look hopeless."
"If reconcilable tensions exist between moral vision of the New Testament and that of particular Old Testament texts, the New Testament vision trumps the Old Testament. Just as the New Testament texts render judgments superseding the Old Testament requirements of circumcision, and dietary laws, just as the New Testament forbidding of divorce supersedes the Old Testament permission of it So also Jesus' explicit teaching example of "NONVIOLENCE" reshapes our understanding of God and the covenant community in such a way that "KILLING ENEMIES" is no longer a justifiable option." (All caps and quotations marks are added)
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The work is honest, sincere, effectively organized, ...
by Dave315 (4 out of 5 stars)
January 17, 2018

The work is honest, sincere, effectively organized, and well-written. Naturally, the author brings to the work his own perspectives (as we all do). However, whether one agrees or disagrees with his conclusions on various points, Richard Hays effectively presents his ideas in a logical and convincing manner, from a relatively traditional, mainstream Christian perspective.
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Great Read!
by prautes_4559 (5 out of 5 stars)
May 13, 2014

Hays provides an objective look at the topics that give us the most trouble today, and have for centuries. He guides us through the history, theological history, and provides a proper context and rubric from the New Testament on which to base our views. Hays yields healthy skepticism with popular views, strong opinions based on the NT Scriptures, and an emotional touch from personal experience. I highly recommend this book although I am still digesting his arguments.
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Several great insights to be discovered by anyone who reads this ...
by Gene (4 out of 5 stars)
August 28, 2017

Several great insights to be discovered by anyone who reads this book!
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Great
by Jim King (4 out of 5 stars)
September 22, 2018

Insightful and really makes me reconsider how to live out my Christian life in today's world. Thoughtful and well organized.

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