Ch:2 Ethics CLASS Notes

9/3/25

Fall’s Effects of Humanity

• Pain in Childbearing (v.16)

  • “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children…”

  • Motherhood remains a blessing, but now it comes with physical suffering and struggle.

  • Human relationships are also strained — “thy desire shall be to they husband, and he shall rule over thee.”

• Toil and Hardship in Labor

  • God tells Adam: “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.”

  • Work, which was originally joyful stewardship (Gen. 2:15,) becomes painful toil.

  • Thorns and thistles symbolize resistance and frustration in creation.

• Mortality (v.19)

  • “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

  • Death enters the human experience

Falls effects on Human Nature

• Loss of innocence - Man became aware of in and shame.

• Corruption of the Will - Instead of desiring God, man now has a natural bent toward sin (Jer. 17:9)

• Enslavement to Sin — Humanity is in bondage to sinful desires (John 8:34; Rom. 7: 18-19).

• Separation from God — Spiritual Death entered (Eph. 2:1 - 3)

Falls Effects on Creation

• Creation Subjected to Vanity (v.20)

  • “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.”

  • Nature itself was frustrated and broken due to man’s sin.

  • Decay, natural disasters, disease, and futility are reminders of sin’s curse.

• Bondage of Corruption (v.21)

  • “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God”

  • The present state of creation is one of corruption, subject to death and disorder.

  • Yet there is hope — creation will one day be freed and renewed.

• Creation Groaning (v.22)

  • “ For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”

  • Like a woman in labor, creation longs for deliverance and restoration.

  • This connects directly back to Genesis 3:16 — groaning is the fruit of the Fall.

Future Hope Romans 8:23

• Believers also groan, waiting for “the adoption, to wit, the redemption if our body.”

• Just as creation will be renewed, our bodies will be transformed at Christ’s return.

• The curse will be lifted, and a new heaven and new earth will be established (Rev. 21:1-5)

Fall and the Distortion of Ethics

• God’s Mora; Order Before the Fall

  • Humanity was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), reflecting holiness, righteousness, and truth.

  • God gave Adam and Eve a moral command (Gen. 2:16 - 17), showing Hos authority to define right and wrong.

• How the Fall Distorted Ethics

  • Moral Autonomy - Adam and Eve sought to “be as gods". knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). This reflects man’s attempt to redefine morality apart from God.

  • Self - Centeredness — Instead of loving God and neighbor, fallen man pursues self interest (2 Tim. 3:2 - 4)

  • Cultural Effects — Societies reflect fallen ethics: Violence, oppression, relativism (Gen. 4; Rom. 1:21 - 32).

The Fall and Christian Ethics

• Why This Matters for Ethics

  • Christian Ethics is not simply about good behavior; it is rooted in God’s holiness and his work of redemption.

  • Since the Fall, humans cannot live righteously on their own (Rom. 3:10 - 12)

  • Ethics must be based on redemption in Christ, not in fallen human reasoning.

Deontological approach

• Categorical imperative: is something that all people must do if they are acting according to a maxim (or principle) that they believe would guide all people to do the right thing.

  • Act according to ethical principles that you can will be universally followed.

  • Act According to principles that you could will to be universal laws of nature

  • Act so as to treat human beings always ends, never as mere means

• Definition: ethical model which says that ethical choices are governed by objective, absolute, universal rules or principles and a selfless commitment to duty

  • Example: “Never lie” is the rule, so lying is always wrong - even if it would save a life.

  • Problem: Duty becomes the highest standard instead of God.

• Biblical evaluation

  • God calls us to obedience but obedience flows from love and relationship not duty alone (John 14:15)

  • The pharisees were strict rule followers but missed the heart of the law (Matthew 23:23)

  • The letter of the law without the Spirit leads to bondage (2 Corinthians 3:6)

• Why it’s faulty

  • Elevates law above the Lawgiver

  • Can lead to legalism and lack of compassion

  • Ignores God’s purposes and motives behind commands

Consequentialist Approach

• Ethical model which says that ethical choices are governed by the results or ends they will achieve. The proper end is that which achieves the greatest amount of good. The good is often happiness, as defines by the individual or by society.

• Example: Lying is acceptable if it produces a good outcome, like saving a life

• Problem: The standard of right and wrong is human calculation of results not God’s Word

• Biblical Evaluation

  • Scripture condemns doing evil that good may come ( Romans 3:8)

  • King Saul spared the best of the Amalekite flocks for sacrifice, reasoning it would produce a good result - but God called it rebellion ( Samuel 15 : 22-23)

  • The end never justifies the means when the means violates God’s commands

• Why its Faulty

  • Makes human wisdom the measure of morality

  • Justifies sin if it seems beneficial

  • Ignores God’s sovereignty - He controls outcomes (Proverbs 19:21)

What is Virtue Ethics Approach

• Rooted in Aristiotl’s Philosophy

• Emphasizes the character of a person over the rules or consequences

• Key Idea:

  • A good life is achieved by cultivating virtues (courage, honesty, temperance)

• Goal:

  • To become a virtuous person “ Who naturally does what is right)

Strength of Virtue Ethics

• Encourages moral character development instead of just rule following

• Recognizes the importance of motives and inner life

• Values practical wisdom (knowing what to do in real situations)

Faults of Virtue Ethics

• Subjectivity of Virtues

  • Different Cultures define virtues differently

  • Who decides what counts as a virtue

• No clear moral standard

  • Virtue Ethics does not provide concrete answers to tough moral dilemmas

  • Example: is lying ever virtuous to protect someone?

• Focus on human Effort

  • It assumes humans can cultivate virtue apart from God’s grace

  • Leaves out the reality of sin and human depravity

• Lacks a supreme authority

  • Aristotle grounded virtue in reason and human flourishing, not God’s will

  • Without God, virtues become relative

Biblical Response to Virtue Ethics

• Human Character Matters, but scripture gives a higher foundation

• Galatians 5:22-23

  • True Virtue flows from the Holy Spirit, not merely human effort

• Isaiah 64:6

  • Human Virtue alone is insufficient before God

• Micah 6:8

  • Virtue Without Humility before God misses the mark