> <snip!>
>
> It is difficult to decide if Jesus' moral teaching was
> a mere Hebrew ethical revival, or if it was a
> compilation of contemporary ethical ideas from all
> around the Mediterranean area. I think most scholars
> are apt to deduce that Jesus' ethics was a synthesis
> of many ethical theories, because that gives the best
> explanation of his ideas, and answers the question;
> why did Jesus teach as he did ?
>
> Maybe the ethics of Jesus is not of unique Hebrew
> heritage, at least not as a unified set of principles,
> but great parts of Jesus' ethics are certainly of
> Hebrew origin.
>
> the cross and resurrection.
> > That's where the work
> > of Jesus Christ makes an original contribution to
> > western civilization, and
> > to the whole creation.
>
> Tom, you are absolutely right !
>
> God bless you,
>
> Bjoern Moeller
> BA-student in philosophy, Copenhagen University
>
> Mathildevej 24, 1.t.v.
> 2000 Frederiksberg
> Denmark
>
> e-post: dj_mic20@yahoo.com
Jesus did not 'compile' current ethical ideas. He is ultimately the
SOURCE for ethical ideas, being a member of the Godhead. He did not
synthesize current ethical theories, He laid the pure foundation of
those theories. Jesus, although as a man was a member of the culture of
His time, as God, He preceeded that culture and, indeed, all cultures.
There seems to be a current of critical thought which ascribes Jesus'
ministry as derivative of His culture and circumstances, merely a
dramatic repackaging of exiting ideas. This tendency forgets that He is
GOD ALMIGHTY in the flesh.
-- --Bill Yates --wtyates@aol.com --wtyates@vcnet.com --http://www.vcnet.com/wtyates/ --Moderator, Writer's Club Christian Writer's Workshop --Editor, WorldVillage.com's Believer's Weekly --Folk Music in Ojai! http://www.vcnet.com/wtyates/ojaifolk/ --The Rincon Ramblers! http://www.vcnet.com/wtyates/ramblers/