Ethics of Christ Project
Objective: The goal of this project is to investigate and grow in a deeper understanding of
one moral teaching from the New Testament.
Following the guidelines for the use of scripture in ethical thinking from “An Introduction to
Catholic Ethics” (see link here, specifically Section B of this reading), students will apply the
following principles or “tasks” to a chosen teaching from the New Testament:
● The Exegetical Task: What is the original/intended meaning of the text?
● The Christocentric Principle: What can be learned about this teaching by viewing it in
the light of the entirety of Christ’s life and teachings throughout the Gospels? How does
it fit in with his other teachings, and how did he shape his life according to this teaching?
● The Theological Task: What can other sources of moral wisdom (such as the Tradition of
the Church or the lives of the saints) tell us about the chosen teaching?
● The Hermeneutical Task: What can this teaching/passage tell us about action and issues
in today’s modern world? How can it be applied to today’s context?
The student should present his findings in a written paper of not less than 800 words, which will
be due on February 21, 2022, at 8:05 AM on Google Classroom. All quotes and paraphrases
in the paper must be cited, and a Works Cited page with proper MLA formatting must be
included (as you would do in your English class). Students are expected to do their own work,
and anyone that is found to be copying or plagiarizing will receive a 0 for the project and a
referral to the Dean.
The paper should be typed on Google Docs, and it should exhibit correct grammar, spelling, and
punctuation. Grammar counts. The essay should have a brief Introduction (summary of your
chosen teaching/story), Body (Steps 2-5), and Step 5 will serve as your conclusion. Times New
Roman 12 pt font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins. Late papers will be dropped by a full letter
grade for each day they are late. Full credit will demonstrate the depth of responses,
research/citations, following the order of the outline, and a clear/concrete ethical principle for
our contemporary times summed up at the conclusion of the paper.
Directions and Outline Below:
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Step 1: Choose ONE ethical teaching from the New Testament and give a brief summary to
open your paper.
You may choose to investigate any moral or ethical teaching that is present in the New
Testament. However, the following stories and chapters constitute significant texts that may
help you in your selection. I suggest you focus on a story with teaching within it. See below
Your chosen teaching will likely consist of just a few verses of text (not the entire chapter).
● Matthew 5: 1-12 — Sermon on the
Mount (Beatitudes)
● Matthew 5: 38-42 — Resistance vs.
Retaliation
● Matthew 5: 43-48 — Love of Enemy
● Matthew 19: 16-30 — Rich Young
Man
● Matthew 25: 31-46 — Judgment of
the Nations
● Luke 10: 29-37 — Good Samaritan
● Romans 12-15
● 1 Corinthians 12-13 — Love and
being a member of the Body of
Christ
● Ephesians 4-5 — Unity and Mutual
Love
● Colossians 3-4 — Renunciation of
Vice
● 1 Peter 2-3
● James 2
● John 13
● 1 John 2
Step 2: The Exegetical Task
Some questions that could be addressed: What is the historical context of this passage? What
was the political/social/religious climate at the time? Social or cultural norms that may be
different than our current experience? What genre is this, is it part of a speech, is it a parable?
Or what literary methods or techniques have been used here? Metaphor? Hyperbole and
exaggeration? And how does knowing the genre/methods/techniques help us understand the
passage and interpret it correctly? Should it be taken literally? Figuratively?
To investigate the original meaning of your chosen text, it will be helpful to consult the
footnotes of a study Bible as well as biblical commentaries (see links below). It would be
prudent to explore the context of the gospel or letter as a whole in order to determine if its
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intended audience or the circumstances of its composition might shed light on the teaching that
you have chosen. For instance, was Matthew’s Gospel targeted to early Jewish-Christians or
recently converted Gentiles? It might make a difference in how you understand your passage.
Also, examine the chapter as a whole to see how it might help you to understand your chosen
verses.
A limited number of contemporary Catholic Bible commentaries are available for free online.
However, plenty of resources are available. (Just make sure to use discretion when choosing
sources.) The following are provided as suggestions to begin your research.
Footnotes from the New American Bible
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mt+1&version=NABRE
Agape Bible Study and Commentary – basic Catholic commentary series.
https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Bible_Studies_Menu.php
Intervarsity Press New Testament Commentary Series
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/toc/
● A free New Testament commentary online. While not written by Catholic authors, it
provides satisfactory commentary for the purposes of this project.
The New Jerome Biblical Commentary
Edited by Raymond Edward Brown, et al (1968)
● Available at many local libraries
A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture – older
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.449110/page/n1
● Edited by Bernard Orchard, et al (1953)
George Haydock’s Catholic Bible Commentary – very old! but still decent
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hcc.html
● By George Haydock (1859)
Other Biblical Commentaries
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/
● If you are still struggling to find what you are looking for, there are other commentaries
available online. However, please use discretion, as not all may exactly reflect Catholic
teaching.
Step 3: The Christocentric Principle
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All Catholic moral teaching must be understood through the lens of the entirety of Christ’s life
and teaching. Reflect back on what you know about the life and teachings of Jesus as a whole
(life and deeds throughout the Gospel stories, passion, death, resurrection). How can this
knowledge help improve your understanding of your chosen passage? For example, does Jesus
embody this passage in some way in the whole of his life? Are there other stories that show this
teaching in action? Do other words of Jesus clarify what your chosen teaching means? If so,
reference particular Bible passages (search for other passages using biblegateway.com or
USCCB).
Step 4: The Theological Task
Now review what other sources of the Church’s teachings have to say with regard to your
chosen teaching. In most cases, they will expand on what you found in the New Testament.
Investigate what these sources can offer to us to help our understanding. You can also look for
other witnesses in the history of the Church, such as the saints who embodied the specific
teaching you’re focusing on.
The following are some suggestions to help you begin:
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_do
c_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html
Catechism of the Catholic Church
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-
catholic-church/
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-
ccc_en.html
Use Google to search the Vatican or USCCB website:
“site:www.vatican.va adultery”
“site:www.usccb.org death penalty”
Step 5: The Hermeneutical Task — Conclusion
Lastly, in your own words, how can this teaching be applied to today’s world and today’s
historical situation? What does it have to do with our lives today or with our contemporary
situation? What does this teaching look like in practice in 2022? What could it look like? What
does this passage suggest we DO/how ought we to LIVE as Christians? Research the
contemporary situation if necessary and cite any news sources that may aid in bolstering your
claims about the contemporary situation and how the teaching might apply.