Paul and Virtue Ethics

Building Bridges Between New Testament Studies and Moral Theology

By (author) Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, James F. Keenan, SJ Boston College

Publication date:

16 November 2010

Length of book:

240 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

240x162mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780742599598

In Paul and Virtue Ethics, Daniel Harrington and James Keenan build upon their successful collaboration Jesus and Virtue Ethics to discuss the apostle Paul's teachings as a guide to interpret theology and ethics today. Examining Paul's writings, the authors investigate what they teach about the basic questions of virtue ethics: Who am I? Who do I want to become? And how do I get there? Their intent is not to provide stringent rules, but to awaken discovery and encourage dialogue. The book first considers the concept of virtue ethics, an approach to ethics that emphasizes moral character, and Paul's ethics in particular. Next, the authors focus on the virtues of faith, love/charity, and hope as treated by Paul and Thomas Aquinas. Closing the book with reflections on the roles of other virtues (and vices) in individual and communal Christian life, the authors discuss various issues in social ethics and sexual morality as they are dealt with in Paul and in Christian virtue ethics today.

Prologue
Part I. The Shape of Christian Virtue Ethics
Chapter 1: Virtue Ethics and Fundamental Moral Theology
Chapter 2: The Shape of Paul's Christian Virtue Ethics
Chapter 3: The Human Condition Before and After Christ: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 4: Conversion and the Human Condition: Theological Perspectives
Chapter 5: The Many Contexts of Paul's Ethical Teachings
Chapter 6: Experience and Conscience in Theology Today
Part II. The Theological Virtues: Paul and Thomas Aquinas
Chapter 7: Faith: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 8: Faith: Theological Perspectives
Chapter 9: Love: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 10: Charity: Theological Perspectives
Chapter 11: Hope: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 12: Hope: Theological Perspectives
Part III. Other Virtues and Christian Life
Chapter 13: Virtues and Vices: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 14: Virtues and Vices: Theological Perspectives
Chapter 15: Ethics in a Communal Setting: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 16: Ethics in a Communal Setting: Theological Perspectives
Chapter 17: Communal Ethics and the Eucharist
Chapter 18: Eucharist and Virtue
Part IV. The Virtues and Social and Sexual Issues
Chapter 19: Social Ethics: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 20: Social Ethics: Theological Perspectives
Chapter 21: Relationships and Sexual Ethics: Pauline Perspectives
Chapter 22: Relationships and Sexual Ethics: Theological Perspectives
Epilogue: Paul, Dietrich, Martin, and Bernhard
Index
About the Authors

One could not ask for better guides through Paul and virtue ethics than we have in Harrington and Keenan. The clarity of their exposition and comprehensive grasp of their fields makes this book a welcome resource for any student of Paul and virtue.