Theological Ethics: The Moral Life of the Gospel in Contemporary Context

by Ross Hastings

In Theological Ethics theologian, pastor, and ethicist W. Ross Hastings gives pastors, ministry leaders, and students a guide designed to equip them to think deeply and theologically about the moral formation of persons in our communities, about ethical inquiry and action, and about the tone and content of our engagement in the public square. The book presents a biblical perspective and a gospel-centered framework for thinking about complex contemporary issues in ways are life-giving and that will lead readers into greater flourishing as human persons in community.

This book is distinctive in presenting:

A framework for theological ethics that is robustly theological and Trinitarian. Ethics isolated from the gospel and theology becomes bad news, but when it is informed by and empowered by participation in the triune God of grace, it is part of the good news of the gospel.

An approach to theology and theological ethics that makes the Word of God the ultimate authority and it is therefore grounded in the biblical narrative and texts.

An understanding that theological ethics are inherently missional. The church as the image of the triune God makes it the home of ethics, but in light of its missional identity, it will reverberate outwards to engage the world in ways that are humble and not power-mongering, that are gospel-based and shalom-evoking.

Theological Ethics is for those who lead churches or ministries (or someday will) and who urgently need deep theological grounding as they daily encounter ethical and moral issues where they need to provide a gracious, truthful, and gospel-directed response.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2021

About the author

Ross Hastings, a Zimbabwean Scot, holds PhDs in organometallic chemistry (Queen’s University, Kingston) and theology (University of St Andrews, Scotland). His teaching interests include Trinitarian theology, pastoral theology, theology and spirituality of mission, ethics, and the interface between science and theology.

Reviews

[Rob O'Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are three problems with this volume, which claims to serve as an introduction to theological ethics and could serve as a seminary textbook on the subject:

1. While I deeply appreciate the author's claim that a study of ethics must begin in a study of theology, eventually a book on theological ethics must move to a discussion of ethics. This book never gets to the point -- that of addressing ethical issues and walking the reader through a process of using theology to make ethical decisions.

2. What the book does well -- and the only it received a 2-star rating -- is that what it actually does, it does well. It does provide a thorough discussion of systematic theology, of how the various doctrines discussed (i.e., the Trinity, authority of scripture, creation and Christology) developed throughout the centuries. It is dense but explained with depth. The problem is...this book is not an introduction to systematic theology!

3. Finally, this book was not edited with the best precision. There are numerous places where an editorial hand was needed, such as when the authors notes that he is about to outline three elements of this or that doctrine, notes two of them...and then moves on to a completely different discussion.

Save yourself the money and buy another book that is actually about ethics.

[Kaz Okaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great volume grounding the basis of ethics theologically. The title is slightly misleading since this is not really a book on ethics, but a theology of ethics. So if you’re looking for practical guides on ethical discernments, you will be disappointed. But if you are looking for a theological grounding of ethics, rooted in revelation of the triune God, this is a great volume. Especially helpful was the sections delineating the distinctions between Barth and O’Donovan in their understanding of the ontology of nature.

[Greg Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was average. I was hopeful that it would engage a little more with ethics, in particular, ethics in our contemporary context than it did. Apart from sexual ethics — which for being the only real engagement with ethics was a lackluster chapter — there is little engagement with ethics. It's at best a systematic theology book with gestures of application. Retooled as a theological anthropology book, it has real legs.

[Drew Correll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! This gave a consistent and synthetic analysis of what ethics are and should be. I also appreciated the way that the book gave an ethical perspective on modern issues in Christianity. I didn’t agree with everything but definitely still a good read!

[Jordan Southerland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! It’s quite a different kind of book I would read, but I can see myself going back to it. It is wonderfully based in trinitarian evangelicalism.

[Minh Q. · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book on Christian ethics

It is comprehensive but some chapters are dense with details. A good read on the theological ethics in the context of a modern world.

[Tyler Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to go back through this more quickly when I have time. I lost the argument a couple of times because my reading kept getting interrupted. It’s a good work and one that deserves expansion. I think theological ethics is the answer to many of the problems we run into today. Biblical ethics is good but lacks the content and tools to answer many of our increasingly prevalent questions. Thanks to Hastings we have an introduction and stating point for further development.

[Keith Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theological, Academic, and Practical

Every pastor wrestling with ethics in their local church would benefit from reading this book. I particularly appreciate that Hastings grounds ethics in spirituality. Knowledge of God’s will is rooted in knowing God, listening to the Spirit, and observing the model of the Son.