Western Lit. 1-30: Ethics and the progress of History?

     The biblical narrative exists within the context of a rich historical setting and draws influence from many popular works surrounding it. There is a crucial difference between the Bible and all other ancient literature: in the Bible, ethics are crucial in determining the direction and development of history. Throughout all of scripture, an emphasis is always placed on the importance of ethics as a guiding principle and the consequences of choosing between good and evil. Therefore, if we are to understand the view of scripture, we must understand its views on the role of ethics in history. This essay explores the key role of ethics in the development of history as presented in the Bible. The reader should come to this understanding by analyzing key stories and passages that demonstrate the centrality of ethical living in the biblical narrative.

The Bible as a whole emphasizes the significance of ethics in relation to the development of history, but this message is particularly prominent in the early sections of Genesis. At the beginning of the story, God is depicted as the sovereign creator, the bringer of order and goodness to the world. In Genesis 1-3, man is presented as a ruler over creation, made in the image of God, responsible for upholding the ethical system imposed by the sovereign. However, the temptation to prioritize human knowledge and morality over the wisdom of God's system leads to conflict. This eventually results in the sanction of spiritual death for those who choose their own morality over obedience to the Father. The story of Cain and Abel exemplifies this conflict. In this story, Cain fails to give proper respect to the sovereign by making a proper sacrifice. As a result his sacrifice is rejected, making it worthless. In turn, the bitterness of Cain results in him falling prey to sin through the first death. As a result, Cain is ostracized from the community, though not given the death penalty. This oddity seems to stem from the inherent value of every individual, an essential part of biblical ethics. The building of the first cities by Cain, described in this story, is presented as an example of the immorality of man serving as the guiding principle of civilization. The story of these two brothers reinforces the idea that actions have consequences and that man must respect the order of a higher power.

The story of Noah and the Ark, found in chapters 6-9 of Genesis, further illustrates the consequences of widespread evil and the importance of living according to God's ethical system. God enacts worldwide justice and recreation through the very waters of creation, with the Ark serving as a saving sanctuary of grace for the faithful. The story also reinforces the idea of the Adamic covenant, as God reaffirms his expectations for man. In the story of Ham, we see a man who refuses to turn away from his father's naked sins and as a consequence, passes this sin down to his own son, carrying the concept of generational sin into the new age of man. This strongly supports the narrative that ethical sanctions play a key role in the development of history.

In Genesis 11, the story of the Tower of Babel presents the sin of man as the romantic pursuit of our mortal ambitions in rebellion against God. The attempt to create a way to perfection apart from the divine ethical system leads to the fracturing of society and the collapse of the mortal hierarchy. The story introduces the concept of ideology, the romanticization of one's own sinful identity apart from ethics. The central idea conveys that the desire to forge meaning outside the ethical system of divine hierarchy erodes society and fractures mankind. The state is depicted as the key perpetrator of this sin. However, it is composed of unethical individuals who have chosen to prioritize their own desires over obedience to God.

Throughout Genesis, the centrality of ethics in the narrative is emphasized. The symbolism of these stories is dense, but the focus is primarily on ethical themes rather than technical details. These stories seek to build an understanding of the biblical covenant, which is a covenant and a narrative driven by the moral order of the universe. The covenant presents five points: the sovereignty of God, the role of man as God's agent over creation, the function of God's law as the standard for judgment, the predictable two-fold sanctions of the law, and inheritance or disinheritance. These stories reinforce these points through their depiction of the consequences of ethical living and the importance of obedience to God's ethical system.

In many ways, the Psalms retell the stories of Genesis from an ethical perspective. Each chapter further emphasizes the importance of adhering to God's ethical system. They present the idea that obedience to God leads to prosperity, while disobedience leads to ruin. The Psalms also depict God as a righteous judge who punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. This reinforces the idea that moral choices play an instrumental role in the progress of history through the consequences they bring.

The prophets, particularly Isaiah and Jeremiah, further expand on the theme of ethics in the development of history. They present God as a just and holy judge who will punish the wicked and bring about justice for the righteous. Many songs and poems in their books support the concept of national consequences for disobedience to God's ethical system. Nations that turn away from God will be punished, while those who remain faithful will be blessed.

In the New Testament, Jesus further emphasizes the importance of ethical living and the consequences of disobedience. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches the importance of inner righteousness rather than outward actions, and emphasizes the importance of living according to God's ethical system. Christ taught that those who believe in him will imitate his virtues, leading to a life of infinite fulfillment. This results in the kingdom of heaven coming to earth in the life of God's people. Ultimately, biblical history ends with the final judgment, which places a priority on the choices that have guided one's life.

To sum up, the Bible teaches that the cosmic conflicts of history are ethical. The central narrative of the text is based on the consequences of choosing between good and evil, right and wrong, lawful and unlawful. The narrative is supported by the five points of the covenant: the sovereignty of God, the agency of man to rule in God's image, the objective law of God being the central principle for living right, the absolute justice of the divine, and the idea that the meek inherit the earth. Throughout each story and passage in the Bible, the issues of life are presented as ethics first with technical details second in importance. God is presented as a soverign lawgiver, and a just and holy judge who punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. The key emphasis of the scriptures rests on living in accordance with God's standards and principles. Holy judgement from God according to these principles is both the beginning, driving force, and end of history. In the Biblical narrative, there is no doubt that ethics are the most crucial factor in the direction and development of history.