Ethics and Greek Philosophy

Christian Alexander

I am studying ethics and its origins in Greece. I do not want to study this through an Aristotlean and Platoic lens but if I have to I can. How can I find every biblical reference to Ethics? My working definition of ethics is that it is a set of values, principles, and rules that regulate human behavior and relate to how human actions can affect self and society. 

MJ. Smith

Christian Alexander said:

How can I find every biblical reference to Ethics?

You can't for multiple reasons. First, ethics in scripture is often stated via narrative rather than declarative statements. Second, the NT was written in a Greco-Roman culture so a basic knowledge of Greek ethics is essential (along with Jewish ethics) to be able to interpret NT ethical statements in their cultural context. History of Christian Ethics: Resources | Theology and Ethics (theologyethics.com) will give you some starting point to understanding Christian ethics in the 1st or 2nd century. But an understanding of ethics origins in Greece has to include Aristotle (and Plato) - otherwise you are speaking from a limited view from the fringes.