Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning

by Wayne Grudem

What does the Bible teach about how to live in today’s world? Bestselling author and professor Wayne Grudem distills over forty years of teaching experience into a single volume aimed at helping readers apply a biblical worldview to difficult ethical issues, including wealth and poverty, marriage and divorce, birth control, abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, business practices, environmental stewardship, telling the truth, knowing God’s will, understanding Old Testament laws, and more.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Philosophy, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction

1296 pages, Hardcover

Published July 31, 2018

About the author

Wayne Grudem (PhD, University of Cambridge; DD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary, having previously taught for 20 years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Grudem earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, as well as an MDiv from Westminster Seminary. He is the former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a cofounder and past president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible, the general editor of the ESV Study Bible, and has published over 20 books, including Systematic Theology, Evangelical Feminism, Politics—According to the Bible, and Business for the Glory of God.

Reviews

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayne Grudem has become a household name in evangelical circles over the years. His landmark book, Systematic Theology, is used in Bible Colleges and Seminaries around the world. I have personally taught through his excellent book at least six times. As a result, hundreds of men and women have been equipped and edified in the Christian faith.

Dr. Grudem’s newest offering, Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning is a wonderful companion to Systematic Theology. The book weighs in at over 1,200 pounds and will likely turn some readers away. But walking away from Grudem’s book would be like gazing at a massive treasure chest and refusing to open it for lack of time or desire. Both responses would be tantamount to foolishness.

The introduction alone is worth the price of the book as the author establishes the foundation for Christian ethics by grounding his discussion in the holy character of God and sacred Scripture. Indeed, the essence of Christian ethics is living Coram Deo, and to the glory of God.

The remainder of the book is organized around the Ten Commandments. The basic outline is as follows:

Protecting God’s Honor

Protecting Human Authority

Protecting Human Life

Protecting Life

Protecting Property

Protecting Purity of Heart

Grudem does not leave any stone unturned here. Every ethical topic imaginable is explored. Each topic, of course, is subjected to uncompromising biblical standards.

Christian Ethics is a breath of fresh air that will embolden followers of Jesus Christ and challenge them to live with God-centered resolve in a postmodern ethos that has forgotten God and repudiated his holy law. It is not only a response to the zeitgeist that surrounds us; it is a rally cry for faithful Christians to live in a way that pleases the triune God!

[Steve Knaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exceptionally well written and is deeply researched. The author sticks to looking at Scripture as the ultimate authority for our ethical reasoning (not the culture, nor our own preferences). It is a very long read but makes you think a lot and always brings you back to Scripture.

[Philip Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grudem snobs beware: this was great. Super clear and well researched companion to his Systematic Theology . It was structured by the text of the decalogue, but unpacks each commandment with the light shed on it from the wider context of scripture in mind (ie. "do not murder" touches on anger etc.). The discussion on continuity between the testaments was on point, as was his interaction with Geisler and the Feinberg brothers in their respective ethics books around exemptions vs. exceptions as a means of understanding moral conundrums and impossible moral questions. Discussions around bioethics, sexuality, business ethics, capitalism, government & civil disobedience (especially helpful atm), and environmentalism & global warming were solid.

#nowayWayne moments:

- His discussion around the leading of the Spirit in terms of moral guidance from Romans 8 (all who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God) had some off moments. This cannot be referring to extra-biblical guidance—and I say this as a continuationist—because Paul is describing universal Christian experience as a basis for understanding one's identity as a Christian (Basically, you don't want to be saying that all the people who don't get 'words from God' aren't Christian).
- I strongly disagreed with his stance that there are no exceptions to the ninth commandment (Grudem reckons you can't even lie to get a friend to show up to a surprise birthday). This is largely based on an artificial distinction between deceptive acts and deceptive words (Grudem allows for the possibility of the former being moral while denying the latter) that I just don't think holds water. I was genuinely surprised that his 'implied exceptions to commands' idea that he uses on other commands such as obedience to parents or governments wasn't used here. Sam Storms and John Frame offer an alternative perspective on this which I think is sound.

Overall, awesome.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Grudem, covering a wide array of issues, with his simplicity and clarity. Exhaustive, exhausting, and excellent!

[Kevin Halloran]

Theologian Wayne Grudem is back with Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning. (I’m thankful to see his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis didn’t keep him from finishing this.) Grudem shares, following the basic structure of the Ten Commandments, a textbook on Christian ethics that is accessible for lay readers. This volume contains 42 chapters dealing with a wide range of issues from the character of God as the ultimate basis for ethics to idolatry to the authority of parents to capital punishment to abortion to many contemporary issues related to sexuality (birth control, homosexuality, reproductive technology, transgenderism) and more.

If you liked Systematic Theology, you’ll notice that Christian Ethics has a similar structure and utility: chapters are structured in an outline format and at the end of each chapter Grudem shares application questions, resources for further study, verses to memorize, and a hymn.

Grudem is clear, well-read, and knows current thinking as it relates to certain issues. (For example, he interacted with Matthew Vines in the homosexuality chapter and current transgender theory in the transgender chapter.) You won’t necessarily agree with all of Grudem’s conclusions on every issue, but he does present a clear take on fundamental issues. I’d also recommend a book Grudem interacts with a lot, Ethics for a Brave New World by Feinberg, for comparison. It would be hard for me to think of a better introduction to Christian ethics. (Listen to Grudem’s lectures on ethics.)

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a massive book—one you could use to hold a door. I gave it four stars because this is the kind of book that can be used for data and as a resource to go to, even though I do not agree with all of Grudem’s conclusions. Certainly some of his theological presuppositions (I.e the NT does not hold that the fourth commandment is binding on Christians, etc.) were a cause of my disagreement, but overall I think this is a helpful resource and is a welcome contribution to Biblical ethics.

[Matthew Bonzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great content. Accessible yet still thorough and academic in tone/delivery.
I didn’t expect to end each chapter with questions to ask yourself, Scripture memory, and a hymn but it was appreciated.

[Garrett O'Hara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning! Not only did Crossway provide me with free digital copies of this book in exchange for an honest review, but it also has Wayne Grudem’s name on it. That’s right — from the guy who is infamously labeled as the greatest academic advocate of the charismatic movement and all of its abuses now comes a book about ethics! Bring on the tongues and glitter clouds!

Seriously though, this is an excellent book, and Grudem is probably against fake glitter clouds. Whether you find Christian Ethics to be good in a few particulars will depend upon your pneumatology and your hermeneutics. I’ll also admit that I have not read the entire book, as it’s quite long, but I believe I’ve read enough to write a sound review of its method and the content which I’ve had the pleasure to examine.

Grudem defines Christian ethics in this way:

Christian ethics is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us about which acts, attitudes, and personal character traits receive God’s approval, and which do not?”

Thus, Grudem goes on in the course of 42 chapters to address a myriad of ethical topics indexed largely by the Ten Commandments.

Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Protecting God’s Honor
Commandment 1: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Commandment 2: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image.”
Commandment 3: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”
Commandment 9: “You shall not bear false witness.”
Commandment 4: “Remember the Sabbath day.”
Part 3: Protecting Human Authority
Commandment 5: “Honor your father and your mother.”
Part 4: Protecting Human Life
Commandment 6: “You shall not murder.”
Part 5: Protecting Marriage
Commandment 7: “You shall not commit adultery.”
Part 6: Protecting Property
Commandment 8: “You shall not steal.”
Part 7: Protecting Purity of Heart
Commandment 10: “You shall not covet.”

A Solid Foundation
The above index really doesn’t do the entire table of contents justice, as there are so many chapters within each part. Just to give a glimpse, part 1 contains the following eight chapters:

1 — Introduction to Christian Ethics
2 — The Ultimate Basis for Ethics: The Moral Character of God
3 — Our Source of Ethical Standards: The Bible
4 — The Goal of Ethics: Living for the Glory of God
5 — The Joys and Blessings of Obedience to God and the Harmful Consequences of Sin
6 — How to Know God’s Will: Factors to Consider in Making Ethical Decisions
7 — Christians Will Never Have to Choose the “Lesser Sin”
8 — How Should Christians Use the Old Testament for Ethical Guidance?

Chapters one through four indeed lay a solid foundation upon which the rest of the book goes on to more specific topics. And yes, that last one is where Things Above Us authors and readers may begin to differ, but the point within is at least well-argued and worth considering. To be brutally honest, I find myself woefully undereducated on this very topic, so I at least found it to be helpful in my own processing.

A Sampling of Controversies
A few other chapters are worth highlighting for their contribution to discussions on which typical Things Above Us readers may usually disagree or take particular interest.

“No Carved Images”
Chapter 10 concerns the biblical prohibition against carved images and addresses images of the Father, images of false gods, images of Jesus, and visual arts in general. Unfortunately, his argument that “this commandment does not prohibit pictures of Christ” is quite short and doesn’t appear to address the most classical arguments against this position, even though I find myself presently aligned with his position. Addressing this particular issue in only three paragraphs of text is bound to leave some questions and arguments unanswered, but given the prominence of the question in Christian history and modern-day theological dialogue, I believe the question deserves more discussion.

The Sabbath Commandment
In a chapter dedicated to the Sabbath commandment, Grudem does a good job articulating the classical Reformed position and charitably articulates his own view of the Sabbath commandment not being morally binding on people today. His arguments include the termination of the Mosaic Covenant, the lack of the Sabbath commandment’s reaffirmation in the New Testament, and how the Sabbath commandment summarizes “many other commandments about special holidays and other ceremonies.” Grudem then goes on to modern applications such as on what day of the week Christians should generally meet to worship and having regular days of rest from work.

Poverty and Wealth
Since “social justice” appears to be the topic de l’année, it’s appropriate that Grudem has already included a chapter that addresses topics of monetary inequality, helping the poor, government-based assistance, and even a short discourse on why he refuses to use the term “social justice.” This appears to be one of the longest chapters in the book, if not the longest, and is quite comprehensive.

So How About That Charismaticism?
Although Grudem has many good things to say about the sufficiency of Scripture, here’s where we see him toe the line in regards to modern-day charismai.

The sufficiency of Scripture shows us that no modern revelations from God are to be placed on a level equal to Scripture in authority. Throughout the history of the church, and especially in the modern charismatic movement, people have claimed that God has given revelations through them for the church. However we may evaluate such claims, [33] we must never regard such revelations as equal to scripture. [34] Rather, we must insist that God does not require us to obey any moral directives that come to us through such means but are not confirmed by Scripture. [35]

(Emphasis original; footnote numbers reformatted.)

In each of these footnotes, Grudem inserts notes concerning his view on continuing revelation from God and refers to some of his other writings, most notably his Systematic Theology. He specifically denies cessationism in footnote 35:

I do not wish to imply at this point that I am adopting a “cessationist” view of spiritual gifts (that is, a view that certain gifts, such as prophecy and speaking in tongues, ceased when the apostles died). I only wish at this point to state that there is a danger in explicitly or even implicitly giving these gifts a status that effectively challenges the authority or the sufficiency of Scripture in Christians’ lives.

There really is so much to like in Christian Ethics that I find it kind of sad that this part has to be addressed, but indeed, it’s too important to omit. This may not be terribly important for already-cessationist pastors and theologians who are seeking resources that will help them in their work, as this isn’t Grudem’s actual argument for his position. However, a pastor or teacher who rightly feels responsible for his flock should be duly warned before issuing Christian Ethics as a class textbook to a group of students that may not be prepared to come across an argument like this and already have a solid foundation upon which to critique it. Still yet, one may reasonably be less cautious about using Christian Ethics in a church teaching setting than using Grudem’s Systematic Theology, as the latter argues at much more considerable length for continuationist pneumatology.

[David Couch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian Ethics is a complicated subject to tackle. Well, I say complicated, in some ways it is pretty straight forward. But ethics are what fall out of a whole Bible theology; and therefore, are affected by the way you put together the Bible. So the challenge is to put together an ethical standard that is consistent and as Biblically centred as is possible.

To this challenge, Wayne Grudem steps up with his book on Christian Ethics. I’ve been looking forward to this book coming out ever since I first listened to recordings of his Sunday School class on the topic a few years ago. At that point he kept pointing back to Frame, but you just knew he would publish his own after a little while.

Content
In typical Grudem fashion, this book takes a wide array of issues, and presenting them in a simple and clear way. Also, in what seems to be another Grudem thing, this book is huge. It’s a whopping 1296 pages, but don’t let that turn you off. Some people (yes, like me), might just try to read it cover to cover - but that's not how it's meant to be used.

In the introduction to the book, Grudem explains his approach to Biblical ethics. A number of key points stand out - for example, he argues that revelation is progressive, and therefore the entire Mosaic covenant is abrogated and no longer binding. This sets this volume apart from similar ones like Frame for instance. But this does not mean that he is OT-phobic (especially as that seems to be the discussion of the current day) - on the contrary:

“it becomes evident that we cannot teach “all that Jesus commanded” without including all of the Old Testament (rightly understood in the various ways in which it applies to the new covenant age in the history of redemption) as well. In this broad sense, “all that Jesus commanded” includes the whole Bible when it is rightly understood and applied to the lives of believers living in the New Testament age”.

Structure
The strange thing, after saying this though, is that he then structures his book around the 10 commandments. This does lead, therefore, to having a chapter on Sabbath, even after saying it is not binding for Christians today. However, this is the convention used by other similar volumes, so does not break that tradition. It would have been interesting to see another approach though, in order to differentiate these views. So, in light of this, you'll find the book is split into 7 parts (around the 10 commandments), and each is very exhaustive - each topic I tried to find was found very quickly:

Introduction
Protecting God’s Honour (Commandment 1, 3, 9 and 4)
Protecting Human Authority (Commandment 5)
Protecting Human Life (Commandment 6)
Protecting Life (Commandment 7)
Protecting Property (Commandment 8)
Protecting Purity of Heart (Commandment 10)

What I particularly liked
Just like his Systematic Theology, Grudem ends each chapter with a memory verse, questions for reflection, a further reading list, and a related hymn. When I first read Systematic Theology, the hymn seemed a little random, but nowadays I appreciate it. The church is blessed with many great hymns, and it makes you rethink the lyrics in connection to what has just been discussed.

I particularly appreciated the way that the volume provides extensive scriptural references. Even if you do not agree with everything that Wayne says, you can definitely follow his line of thought. He also provides the main views on the ethical discussion, before presenting his own - which is extremely useful for understanding other viewpoints.

Summary
This book would be suitable for teenagers and above. Similar to other works, it takes a fair amount of effort to get through. However, you will be richly rewarded if you do! I am interested in Christian Ethics, and I look forward to referring to this book regularly, as another great resource in by bookcase.

[Reyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talking about Christianity, Bible, morals, and reasoning seem to be something not very popular. It is not social, cultural or political accepted in our times.

I knew that my husband would want this book when he saw it, he is a Pastor and all these topics are very related to the topics we see and need in Biblical Counseling. It is essential to have a clear guide to the Word of God in matters of daily life, plus those that involve wise decisions.

I recommend you to read the topics that interest you first, and then the ones you would never read or think you do not need because you already "know", that will really encourage you to continue reading the rest of it. It makes me laugh because I think that: "If this is just the introduction" to the topic ... how will the subsequent content be ?! ".

Do not expect to read this fast, it's 1296 pages to savor, so thankful again for your hard work Mr. Wayne Grudem. More than just any other book about ethics, I see it as a header manual for people who work with people, mainly those who come to us with complicated questions. It is a book written deeply and carefully.

I give thanks to God for people like Wayne Grudem who have invested a great part of their lives in leaving us a legacy so thought, elaborated and well documented to make our lives easier by searching for light on complex issues. The book made me rethink how I see many of the topics it contains. I'm sure you will feel conviction about some topics.

As a family, we plan to deal with these important issues with our children, I think that if parents train their children on these issues, there would not be so many people in need of counseling, or in the church.

We want to discuss these issues with key people, study partners and congregants, so that they in turn train others to think more ethically, Christianly, biblically and morally.

We need to obey 1 Peter 3:15 and be prepared to address even hard controversies, may the Lord help us to be ready, willing and able to do it. #CHristianEthics

[Jakub Ferencik · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am steel-manning the Christian argument for ethics and so I'm trying to get my hand on many different books from Christian ethicists of different views. Anyone who is familiar with American evangelicalism would recommend Wayne Grudem as an appropriate introduction. Grudem, however, is primarily conservative (and Reformed), thus most of these claims come from a very literal interpretation of the Bible.

This review is less of an assessment of the arguments that Grudem makes in this 1,200 page volume, and more of a summary of the various passages. God knows that if I would try to dismantle all the arguments, I might as well finish with another 1,200 page book. The philosophy is weak and intuition strong. But - once again - my desire is to steel-man and thus find the best arguments defending Christian Ethics. One pattern that I noticed was that every theoretical view was justified because God said or did it himself. It's clear why ethics can not be defined by the actions of a god that we have good reason to think never existed. However, if you do start from a premise that states that God does exist, you may find these convincing.

Grudem includes any ethical topic you could think of. He mentions plastic vs. paper bags, tattoos, lying, fossil fuels, objections to Environmentalism, secularism (separation of church & state), homosexuality, gun ownership, liberty, and so many more topics. In that regard, I really think this book is one of the best I could have approached for my research. I am strongly thinking of getting "Systematic Theology" by Grudem as well. But if I do, I may risk going too far down the rabbit hole of Reformed Theology. All in all, this volume was not disappointing. The logic, however, is a different story.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first got this book I was intimidated by the length and breadth of it. However, after I started reading the book I realized that it is very accessible. Grudem organizes his systematic review of Christian Ethics based on the 10 Commandments. All ethical theory can be summarized by the ten words of God spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai.
Grudem takes a Kantian view of ethics and consistently holds that the moral imperative set forth in Exodus must be literally followed. He even goes so far as to hold that a Christian hiding a Jew from Nazi soldiers must not lie in order to protect the innocent victim. This theory is somewhat strained, but he does not want to open the door to situational ethics or moral relativism. Even when I thought he was too rigid, I respected his position and could follow his reasoning.
This book would suitable for a graduate level class in seminary or a Sunday school class of teenagers. I was very impressed with how he brought difficult concepts down to a level that could be understood by anyone. Each chapter deals with a distinct ethical issue. He bases his analysis on Biblical passages and commentary from the great theologians of the past and present. At the end of each chapter, he includes questions for discussions and a hymn.
I was pleasantly surprised and highly recommend this work.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crossway for providing a pre-publication edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[zikkery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m gonna be one of the single-digit nerds that read this entire catalogue from cover to cover. Here it is:

+ points for categorization of issues to make things easy to find
+ points for excellent writing style
+ points for being a great research tool
+ points for being balanced. A lot of fundie Christians (calling you out JMac stans) will simultaneously hold to the idea that America should be a Christian nation and hold to the narrative that America was founded on Christian values, and then spout that the American Revolution was a sinful act of rebellion. Grudem has the guts to confess that he once held to that belief and then tells his biblical reasoning for reneging on this stance. Beautiful 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

- points for reading into some issues a little too much. This resource does not claim to be the end-all/be-all but some stuff like climate change, ownership of weapons/self-defense and trying to use the Bible to make a stance on these issues goes outside of the bounds of Scriptural authority

[Will O'kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read *most* of this book for an Ethics course. Grudem lays out helpful material here on a majority of the controversial ethical issues of our day. I disagree with several of Grudem's conclusions, which makes complete sense given the volume and moral complexity of the subject matter covered. I also disagree at times with Grudem's theological method (exegesis to the neglect of natural law/theology, moral absolutism, etc.). Helpful in some ways, but this probably shouldn't be your only Ethics resource.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has just completed a university course in Christian Ethics, I was keen to read Grudem's new book. I was not disappointed. He helpfully begins by giving an introduction to what Christian Ethics is, and explains why one can look to the Bible to develop a moral framework. The topics that Grudem covers are expansive, and anyone seeking to understand a Christian viewpoint on a certain ethical issue will find this book extremely helpful.

[Josh G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Grudem is remarkably clear, practical, and rooted in scripture. He deals with both sides of various ethical issues and the advocates who take competing positions. He provides helpful analysis established on exegetical foundations while making sure to “put the cookies in the lower shelf” for everyone to understand. Great resource.

[Braley Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s become cool to hate on Grudem in evangelical circles today. No writer is perfect, but the chapters that I have read in this have been incredibly clear, logical, Biblical, and (normally) persuasive. No book is immune from errors, but overall this is a great resource for theologians, ethicists, and pastors to have on their shelves.

[Joel Opificius · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. I enjoyed this more than his Systematic Theology textbook. He still at times uses his method inconsistently, and I think there are a few areas where his views may be problematic. But still, this serves as a great introduction to a vast amount of contemporary issues and represents opposing views well. I look forward to the second edition coming out this fall.

[Michelle Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

setting aside at page 630.
I do intend to finish this someday, but this past year I made the goal of reading about 10 pages a week and ended up getting about halfway. I do not plan to continue it this year, but some year I will. still rating because I really appreciated what I have read .
I especially appreciated the introductory chapters.

[Andres Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si bien no estarás de acuerdo en todo lo que Grudem enseña en el principio, hay muchos temas en los que la claridad y sencillez para explicar, presentar argumentos y contraponer puntos de vista es grandioso, ojalá este libro lo traduzcan al Español, es un gran aporte por lo actual que es.

[Jeffrey Alan Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Necessity for any Serious Christian

I purchased this on Kindle and now I’m ordering hard copy! Once starting this book I couldn’t put it down. This will be referred to in the future frequently for further study. Thank you Wayne

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

While certainly a lot of reading and almost too much information at some parts, the premise of the book was still incredibly educational and helpful towards the class I was taking. I disagreed with the author in some key aspects but agreed with him in far more.

[Niesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I certainly understand and agree with much of this I found some areas to be very Amerocentric or even Naive. Such as his reasons against Surrogacy, his validations of mass Corporations, vaccines, pesticides & herbicides.

[Alex Monseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough… but wish there was some Gospel in there.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent on just war and, particularly, on ethics and how the old connects to the new. I believe he is progressive covenantal, but unlike many proponents of the view, he is, thankfully, precise.

[William Bowers]

Read a 250 page portion for school.

[Sam Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a pastor, this book is a useful resource to consult on a wide range of ethical matters. So much of it, especially in the first 5 sections, is clear, engaging and readily applicable to the complexities of life.

However, I did find Part 6, on Protecting Property, much harder going. It addresses many macro issues involving politics, economics and the environment which at times seemed a few steps removed from the biblical data. Maybe my British context blinds me to viewing free market capitalism, small central government and continual economic growth as necessary entailments of biblical teaching. Or perhaps they aren’t. The lengthy chapter on Stewardship and the Environment didn’t pull any punches either. It certainly gives food for thought.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first encountered Grudem's work as an undergraduate theology student. Here is a masterwork that explores Christian ethics. The book is arranged topically and has been written with the expertise, Biblical knowledge, and research one comes to expect from an author of this caliber.

I would gladly incorporate this book into a Bible as Literature class, Christian ethics or Christian thought course, or just add it to my bookshelf for professional and personal consideration in ministry. It would be recommended or required reading, and is certain to support dialogical classrooms.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are the basis for moral reasoning? What are the differences between morality, immorality, and amorality? Are the Ten Commandments still relevant today? Absolutely! Indeed, as society becomes more secular and moral reasoning replaced by amoral philosophies, we become more confused and less convicted about what is the right thing to do. Things may be legally right but ethically wrong. How then do we do our part to retain basic human decency in the things we do or say? Without any guide, we are left to our own devices and we are prone to make serious misjudgments about what we ought to do in the light of societal pressures and what basic norms should be. This is especially so for Christians who are increasingly been challenged by the world to give a defense of the gospel and the basis for moral reasoning. We need help in order to structure our thoughts and to understand the Bible's principles for moral reasoning. Here we see the brilliance of Bible teacher and theologian, Wayne Grudem, who guides us through the basics of understanding what ethics was; what the Bible teaches; the purpose of ethics; the need for God's laws in society; and many fundamental elements on how we should anchor our ethical framework based on biblical principles. In a clear and concise manner, he leads us through each of the ten commandments and shows us the relevance of the ancient laws for modern times. Most crucially, he tells us why we follow ethical principles. That is because of the glory of God. He explains the different kinds of ethics that we have today: Deontological; teleological; relativism; virtue ethics; among the various normative ethics, and compares them with biblical ethics. He cautions us as we study Christian Ethics not to presume we could "improve upon" biblical ethics. The reason why we study is because we want to better know God's will for us. This is perhaps the key point to take home as we read this book. For reference, the ten commandments are:

No other gods before the LORD
No graven image
No misuse of the LORD's Name
Keep the Sabbath
Honour your parents
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witnesses
You shall not covet.

The book is framed as follows:

Part One - Ethics for Today
Part Two - Protecting God's Honour (Commandments 1-4)
Part Three - Protecting Human Authority (Commandment 5)
Part Four - Protecting Human Life (Commandment 6)
Part Five - Protecting Marriage (Commandment 7)
Part Six - Protecting Property (Commandment 8)
Part Seven - Protecting Purity of Heart (Commandments 9-10)

Grudem covers a lot of ground. Part One sets the stage for the relevance of biblical principles for modern ethics. He deals with questions surrounding Christian ethics and the ultimate basis for ethics. He defines Christian Ethics as:

"any study that answers the question, 'What does the whole Bible teach us about which acts, attitudes, and personal character traits receive God's approval, and which do not?'"

He boldly declares that the Bible is essential for our everyday living. Knowing the many different modes of opposition by an unbelieving society, he argues that the commandments should still be taught regardless of opposition. The way forward is to do it gently and sensitively. In fact, the bigger concern is about Christians who are becoming more apathetic about the ethical state of the world today. So Grudem goes to list down the authority, the clarity, the necessity, and the sufficiency of Scripture for daily living. This is important because without it, this book would be meaningless. Those who reject or ignore the Bible would be doing so at their own risk. Each chapter is structured in a way that makes this book an excellent textbook for students of ethics and Church school curriculum. There is the explanation of the meaning of the commandment followed by the rationale behind it. He dives into the nitty-gritty of both ancient and modern contexts before showing us that the commandment is still crucial for proper functioning of any society. This is followed by a list of probing questions for personal application and a list of resources for further research. One interesting feature is the placement of hymns at the end of each chapter to remind us that Christian Ethics is not simply about good works, it is about godly worship. It is about honouring God. It is about dependence on Him to help us do the things that bring glory to His Name.

My Thoughts
First, this is an excellent primer for studies about Christian Ethics. Grudem is systematic about laying down the basics about the meaning of the commandments and the basis of how human ethics grow out from. Students will find a huge collection of topics that are meaningful for our society today. Even though Grudem's background is more conservative, the format and approach can be easily understood which is a key criteria for good textbooks. As an introduction, readers are made aware of the many different perspectives out of any one topic. He is not afraid to make known his views. At the same time, he opens the topic for us to consider the different perspectives.

Second, Grudem is not afraid to deal with controversial or contentious issues. There are many topics of interest such as capital punishment; suicide; racial discrimination; aging and death; marriage; birth control; divorce and remarriage; homosexuality and transgender issues; financial stewardship; corporate thefts; environmental protection; and many more. Though one does not have to agree with everything the author says, most of us would agree that the topics highlighted are of high relevance for our society today. The value in this book is not the opinion expressed per se, but the methodical steps to explain what the ethical issue is and how to go about understanding God's point of view and ours.

Third, Grudem makes not apology for his theological stand. He readily compares and contrasts different opinions without compromising his own beliefs. At the same time, he puts forth the reasons for differing with dissenting views. One of the ways he does so is to make a difference between biblical principles and personal opinions. Grudem does not compromise on the former but gives ample room for differences in opinions.

I would recommend this book for personal study of Christian Ethics as well as for preachers wanting to preach a series on the Ten Commandments. This resource is an essential resource for any library collection.

Wayne Grudem is Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. He has published 22 books and is also the General Editor for the ESV Study Bible, published in 2009.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

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This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.