Foreword
Abbreviations
Prologue: Ten to Eight
Acknowledgments
I: A Schema for Bridging Biblical Studies and Christian Ethics
1 Emerging Consensus
2 Reading Scripture through the Lens of Virtue
II: Exegeting and Interpreting the Ten Commandments in Exodus
20:2-17 for Ethical Living
3 The Decalogue in History
4 Some Preliminary Questions
5The First Commandment in 20:2-6
6 The Second Commandment in 20:7
7 The Third Commandment in 20:8-11
8 The Fourth Commandment in 20:12
9 The Fifth Commandment in 20:1
10 The Sixth Commandment in 20:14
11 The Seventh Commandment in 20:15
12 The Eighth Commandment in 20:16
13 The Ninth Commandment in 20:17
14 The Tenth Commandment in 20:17
III: Exegeting and Interpreting the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12
for Ethical Living
15 The Beatitudes in History
16 Some Preliminary Questions
17 The First Beatitude in 5:3
18 The Second Beatitude in 5:4
19 The Third Beatitude in 5:5
20 The Fourth Beatitude in 5:6
21 The Fifth Beatitude in 5:7
22 The Sixth Beatitude in 5:8
23 The Seventh Beatitude in 5:9
24 The Eighth Beatitude in 5:10-12
Conclusion: A Radical Invitation to All
Epilogue: West to East
Glossary of Chinese Terms
Yiu Sing Lúcás Chan (1968–2015) taught at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, a graduate school of Santa Clara University.
Chan, a Jesuit from Hong Kong, seeks to bring together biblical
studies and Christian ethics through the vehicle of Christian
virtue ethics, and illustrates his approach with reference to the
Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. After an eleven-page prologue,
Chan develops his schema for bridging biblical studies and
Christian ethics. Then through the lens of virtue ethics, he
examines each of the Ten Commandments according to Exod 20:2-17,
and each of the Beatitudes in Mt 5:3-12. For each of the
Commandments and the Beatitudes, he starts with the original
meaning of the text and explores its significance for contemporary
Christian moral living through a hermeneutics of virtue ethics. At
the end of the book he discusses the possible reception of the core
Christian virtues of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes for
Confucian society out of his conviction that interfaith or
cross-cultural ethics begins with very specific texts and needs to
be both text-based and interpretive. J. F. Keenan and D. J.
Harrington have provided a three-page foreword.
*New Testament Abstracts*
This is an important contribution to Catholic and Christian ethics
that works to bridge the key sources of Scripture and systematic
ethical reflection. Too often scholars either explore the biblical
perspectives on ethics alone or take a more philosophical approach
to ethics, but not the two together. Chan, who is on the faculty of
Trinity College in Dublin, focuses on two key biblical texts that
have had enormous influence on Christian ethics—the Decalogue and
the Beatitudes. He probes these biblical sources through the lens
of "virtue" ethics, an approach to ethical reflection that has to
come to the forefront in recent years. This approach does not focus
just on identifying moral principles but also considers the issues
of character formation, Christian practices, and habits of virtue.
Chan wants not only to bring sound biblical exegesis to these key
biblical texts but to consider their practical meaning for an
ethical Christian life.
*The Bible Today*
In The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes: Biblical Studies and
Ethics for Real Life, Yiu Sing Lúcás Chan, a Jesuit from Hong Kong
who trained at Boston College, seeks to build bridges between the
two disciplines with the help of Christian virtue ethics. The key
questions of virtue ethics are, Who am I? What is my goal? and How
do I achieve that goal? Done in the Christian key, we are children
of God in search of eternal happiness with God through Christ. The
cultivation of the appropriate virtues, attitudes and dispositions
is the major task of Christian virtue ethics.
*America: The Jesuit Review of Faith & Culture*
The work is thoroughly an outcome of a scholarly work. The effort
that the author has rendered to bring out such an excellent work is
praiseworthy. . . . The work is a landmark to bridge the gap
between biblical studies and moral theology. The work will be
really an asset to the scriptural based ethics.
*Bible Bhashyam: An Indian Biblical Quarterly*
In this fine study Yiu Sing Lúcás Chan focuses on the Decalogue and
the Beatitudes as formative of virtuous community and character. It
makes a significant contribution to the important conversation
about the relation of Scripture and Christian Ethics not only
because these Biblical passages surely count among the most
important and influential biblical passages for Christian Ethics
but also because of its innovative use of the virtue tradition as
the mode of exposition. Moreover, the epilogue comparing his
exposition to the Confucian tradition is a brief but important
contribution to comparative ethics. It's a good book, and I welcome
it.
*Allen Verhey, Duke Divinity School*
Lucas Chan skillfully brings together biblical exegesis and ethical
theory in this excellent book. He is a bridge builder across
cultures, east and west, and confessional differences, Catholic and
Protestant. Yet the truly masterful achievement of Chan’s work is
the ability to cross over and back between biblical scholars and
moral theologians to develop a biblical ethic that is insightful
and wise.
*Kenneth R. Himes, OFM, Boston College*
Lúcás Chan combines responsible exegesis with sophisticated ethical
theory in a way that is all too rare in studies of biblical ethics.
Rooted in Catholic tradition, he draws on Calvin as well as Aquinas
and even interacts with Confucianism. This is a stimulating and
important contribution to the study of biblical values.
*John J. Collins, Holmes Professor of Old Testament, Yale
University*
This book constitutes a major step forward in the blending of
biblical studies and ethics. Moreover, it brings together scholarly
research, wisdom, and practical insights for our daily lives. It
offers treasures for any reader seeking paths for moral and
spiritual growth.
*Margaret A. Farley, Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Christian
Ethics, Yale University Divinity School*
Ask a Question About this Product More... |