Imitating Jesus: Part 2- ‘Great Moral Teacher’?
Dec 13th, 2007 by John
We’re commenting on Richard A. Burridge’s Imitating Jesus: An Inclusive Approach to New Testament Ethics.
Jesus of Nazareth is the bedrock event that grounds the reality of and studies about New Testament ethics (see Part 1 of this series).
In section II of the book Burridge asks, “Jesus of Nazareth: Great Moral Teacher or Friend of Sinners?” (33 ff). Here Burridge affirms that Jesus of Nazareth did exist as an historical figure who had a “mixed following” and Burridge offers the scholarly consensus about the basic outline of Jesus’ life. Using the genre of bioi (again, see previous post), Burridge presents first Jesus’ ethical teachings (his words). The reality of the kingdom of God dominates Jesus’ teaching, set in an eschatological framework that calls people to an urgent and total response into a new community. Then Burridge expands on Jesus and “the law and love,” substantiating that Jesus created tension by apparently violating current law with his ethic of love. Yet at the same time Jesus raised the bar of law so high that many scholars feel Jesus offered an “impractical approach to ethical issues” (55 ff). And here’s the point: Jesus was not a “great moral teacher” offering a code of conduct. Jesus lived a life and his life is the hermeneutic of his teachings (my summary).
This brings us, secondly, to Jesus’ ethical example (his deeds). This is so cool. Having shown that Jesus raised the bar of Torah (law), Jesus then welcomes and mixes it up with the ones most guilty of violating the terms of law! The pivotal issue is Jesus’ eating habits, that is, his eating with the most unsavory segments of society. Jesus taught a rigorous ethic and yet freely accepted and associated with the most “ethically dubious characters” (66), healng them and forgiving them. Jesus’ gracious acceptance was not dependent on repentance, his gracious acceptance generated repentance (e.g., Zacchaeus). Finally, Jesus was arrested, tried for treason and crucified. Here Burridge wonders (along with many scholars) about how much Jesus knew about what he was accomplishing by his death, that is, why was he dying? Burridge offers that Jesus’ words at the Last Supper offer help in grappling with “this enormous issue of debate” (67).
“But he [Jesus] still teaches his rigorous ethic: the ‘good morals’ among ‘bad people’ and the call to follow him in discipleship include the challenge to ‘get better’ and live a new life…. As people respond to the call and follow Jesus as disciples, they will hear his demanding ethic and will want to change along the way” (76-77).
We cannot separate “a code of ethics” out of the teachings of Jesus. Jesus’ way of life (and death) is the only context in which to make sense of his “rigorous ethics.” Only as we follow him do his teachings “make sense” and become “practical.”
Next: The event of Jesus and Paul.
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John,
I am enjoying this new series. I look forward to the next post.
The new look of your blog is great. Very well done. I like the way it is laid out.
Jim,
Thanks for your interest in the series on Burridge’s book. Thanks, too, for liking the new look of the site. My friend, Jeremy Bouma, is the creative mind behind the newness.
Two things tsrike me in this post and brings up two questons:
1. “Jesus was not a “great moral teacher” offering a code of conduct. Jesus lived a life and his life is the hermeneutic of his teachings (my summary).”
Should this be our approach to well?
2. “Jesus taught a rigorous ethic and yet freely accepted and associated with the most “ethically dubious characters” (66), healing them and forgiving them. Jesus’ gracious acceptance was not dependent on repentance, his gracious acceptance generated repentance (e.g., Zacchaeus).”
Am I right to say that the gospel is (often) preached as first repentance and then acceptance? Jesus lived it the other way round.
Attie,
I think Jesus should indeed be the example we follow. The truth should be incarnate in us as the hermeneutic of what we say and teach/preach. Also, I think that the gracious, inclusive, merciful and forgiving community should be the context within which sinners move toward repentance. Jesus lived a radically “other way round” life. Please keep in touch.