Scripture and Ethics

John Jefferson Davis wrote, “By teaching foundational truths concerning the nature of God, man, good, and evil, and the meaning and destiny of human life, the Bible provides a basic world view within which the various data of the human sciences can be understood.” The foundation for any world view is epistemology. The importance of the Bible in Christian ethics is due to the limits of human knowledge. The final ground of knowledge and truth is the Bible. Truth is obtained from the inspired and inerrant Word of God.

Scripture is important in Christian ethics because truth is grounded in God’s person. The Gospel of John, for instance, is noted for its clear antithesis between light and darkness. The fact that sin exists is indicative of a corresponding standard of truth against which that darkness is measured. The immutable nature of God is the ultimate ground for all truth claims.

The fact that God has communicated truth to humanity also indicates the importance of the Bible for Christian ethics. Although mankind is created in the image of God, and the Fall has devastated the direct oneness and intimate fellowship mankind had with his Creator, the Bible communicates the truth that God uses general and special revelation to communicate to mankind. Whereas the general revelation reminds mankind that God exists, special revelation is God’s disclosure of specific truth.

Since God has communicated truth to humanity, this indicates that mankind is responsible to live in accordance with revealed truth. For example, John 5:24-29 communicates that choices made in the present will culminate in everlasting destinies. Man will either come to the “light” or remain in “darkness.” The fact that there is no middle ground stresses the importance of the Bible in ethics.