Old Testament Ethics: A Paradigmatic Approach

by Waldemar Janzen

Janzen attempts to persuade readers of the predominance of story over law as the ethical and exemplary center to the ethics of the Hebrew Bible. (Christian)

248 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1994

Reviews

[Ricardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ethical approach made by the author, helps those who seek to understand the moral and ethic of old time Israel, to get a more social and actual analysis. Taking upon subjects like the priesthood ethic model or episodes as Phineas zealous wrath, Waldemar Janzen brings us forth to a new perspective of the hebrew people. Those who desire tho conciliate the Law and Grace within the Bible, should take a look at this book, as it provides us a helpful insight.

[G. Mark James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A canonical critical approach that situates ethics within stories as paradigms (as opposed to principles or abstract concepts). He asserts that the familial paradigm (with the 3 concepts of life, land, and hospitality) is the foundational paradigm in OT ethics and it is supported by the priestly, royal, sapiential (wisdom), and prophetic paradigms. In the NT, these paradigms coalesce into the person and work of Jesus and the Kingdom of God paradigm.
These paradigms are supported by looking at various narratives to see how they establish boundaries and content for the paradigms. While the thought of stories as ethics is good and challenging, ultimately his approach comes across as pick and choose. Perhaps a better approach would see how the OT narratives reveal the principles of the Decalogue. Nevertheless I do believe he is correct that there should be an ethical angle taken into account when we read and preach OT narrative.