CHRISTIAN ETHICS BIBLIOGRAPHY
Robert V. Rakestraw
Items with * are quite valuable for starting your ethics library.
Specific areas of ethical conduct are not covered in this bibliography.

*    Adeney, Bernard T. Strange Virtues: Ethics in a Multicultural World. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1995.

    Very important work to break us out of our common monocultural approach to ethics, by a theology and ethics teacher in Indonesia.
*    Atkinson, David J. and David H. Field, ed. New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1995.
    A major (918 pp.) evangelical volume on all of the basic issues. The best work of its kind. Use this volume and Harrison to complement Childress and Macquarrie.
    Bahnsen, Greg L. Theonomy in Christian Ethics. 2nd edition. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1984.
    The most significant volume arguing for the application of Old Testament law in national life today.
    Beach, Waldo and H. Richard Neibuhr. Christian Ethics: Sources of the Living Tradition. New York: John Wiley, rev. 1973.
    Important selections from key thinkers throughout Church history.
    Birch, Bruce C. and Larry L. Rasmussen. Bible and Ethics in the Christian Life. Revised and expanded edition. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1989.
    Not an evangelical work, but helpful in asking the right questions.
*    Childress, James F. and John Macquarrie, ed. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986.
    The most important single volume on mainstream Christian ethics today. Practically no evangelical contributors, but quite helpful for history and analysis.
*    Clark, David K. and Robert V. Rakestraw, ed. Readings in Christian Ethics, Vol. I: Theory and Method. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994; and Readings in Christian Ethics, Vol II: Issues and Applications. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996.
    Significant articles and book-portions, with introductions, case studies, annotated bibliographies, and glossary for each chapter.
*    Davis, John Jefferson. Evangelical Ethics: Issues Facing the Church Today. 2nd edition. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1993.
    A major work by a careful, biblical thinker.
    Erickson, Millard J. Relativism in Contemporary Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1974.
    Very good analysis and reponse to ethical relativism, with Erickson's own proposed method for handling issues.
*    Feinberg, John S. and Paul D. Feinberg, ed. Ethics for a Brave New World. Wheaton: Crossway, 1993.
    Thorough, up-to-date study of many "hot" issues, but brief on ethical theory.
    Frankena, William K. Ethics. 2nd edition. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
    Excellent introduction to ethics as a philosophical discipline.
*    Geisler, Norman L. Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989.
    Graded absolutism approach; helpful on many issues. A considerable improvement over his earlier work, Ethics: Alternatives and Issues (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).
*    Grenz, Stanley J. The Moral Quest. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1997.
    Very helpful introduction to the discipline of Christian ethics, from a biblical, philosophical, theological, and historical perspective. Not a detailed discussion of the issues themselves, but lays a solid foundation for that discussion.
*    Harrison, R.K., ed. Encyclopedia of Biblical and Christian Ethics. Revised edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1992.
    Very helpful evangelical work, providing important biblical materials.
    Henry, Carl F.H., ed. Baker's Dictionary of Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1973.
    A handy guide to concepts and issues from A to Z. Old but still useful.
    ________. Christian Personal Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1957.
    A massive theoretical work; theological ethics by a major thinker.
*    Holmes, Arthur F. Ethics: Approaching Moral Decisions. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1984.
    Excellent philosophical-biblical introduction to ethics from a clear evangelical perspective.
    Hughes, Philip E. Christian Ethics in Secular Society. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1983.
    A reliable and useful survey of contemporary issues in the light of Scripture, but often too brief on specific topics to be very helpful.
    Hynson, Leon O. and Lane A. Scott, eds. Christian Ethics. Anderson, IN: Warner, 1983.
    An insightful collection of articles from Wesleyan scholars, dealing with some biblical and theological foundations, and especially with contemporary issues.
*    Jones, David Clyde. Biblical Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
    Solid biblical approach, mostly on ethical theory and principles, with final two chapters on marriage and divorce.
*    Kaiser, Walter C., Jr. Toward Old Testament Ethics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983.
    Treats most every ethical question you will have from the O.T., but not always as fully as you would like.
    Kantzer, Kenneth S., ed. Applying the Scriptures. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987.
    Helpful papers on contemporary ethical issues.
    Long, Edward Leroy, Jr. A Survey of Christian Ethics. New York: Oxford University Press, 1967.
    An accurate and valuable guide to the major Christian ethicists and ethical motifs from the Church Fathers to the 1960s.
    ________. A Survey of Recent Christian Ethics. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
    Covers major thinkers and movements in the fifteen years following the author's previous survey.
    Longenecker, Richard N. New Testament Social Ethics for Today. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984.
    A brief but important attempt at laying a hermeneutical foundation for the use of the N.T. in Christian social ethics.
    Lutzer, Erwin. The Necessity of Ethical Absolutes. Grand Rapids/Dallas: Zondervan/Probe, 1981.
    A persuasive case for moral absolutism.
    McQuilken, Robertson. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics. Revised edition. Chicago: Moody, 1992.
    Mature wisdom by a highly respected evangelical educator. A revised but shorter (334 pp.) edition of the 1989 Tyndale House edition (547 pp.).
    Mott, Stephen. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
    Major treatment of the biblical foundations for social ethics.
*    Murray, John. Principles of Conduct. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957.
    Excellent study of biblical foundations for ethics from a non-conflicting absolutist position.
*    Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.
    Very helpful introductory textbook on Christian ethical theory and practice. Useful for both college and seminary students.
    Ramm, Bernard L. The Right, the Good, and the Happy. Waco: Word, 1971.
    Readable treatment of both theory and issues.
    Ramsey, Paul. Basic Christian Ethics. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1977.
    First published in 1950, this highly influential work is by a neo-evangelical Methodist who for many years was the leading Protestant ethicist in North America.
    Smedes, Lewis B. Mere Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.
    Highly nuanced treatment of the second half of the Decalogue, from an evangelical generalist position.
    Stoeckle, Bernard, ed. The Concise Dictionary of Christian Ethics. New York: Seabury, 1979.
    A helpful, though brief, European contribution to the field. Some valuable articles.
*    Stott, John. Decisive Issues Facing Christians Today. 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990.
    Excellent discussion of some critical social-ethical issues, emphasizing the Christian's role in society.
    Thielicke, Helmut. The Ethics of Sex. Translated by John W. Doberstein. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1964.
    By the same author, but translated and edited by William H. Lazareth, are Theological Ethics: Foundations and Theological Ethics: Politics (both from Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1966 and 1969 respectively). This massive trilogy (the latter two volumes are about 700 pages each) is very useful, but not always compatible with evangelical convictions. According to JAAR, "Thielicke is the most thorough Protestant ethicist of our time, with wit, finesse, versatility, and depth."
*    Trull, Joe E. Walking in the Way: An Introduction to Christian Ethics. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997.
    Very helpful discussion of Christian ethical theory and some of the pressing issues in ethics.
    White, R.E.O. Biblical Ethics. Atlanta: John Knox, 1979.
    Two chapters on O.T. materials and ten chapters on N.T. ethics. Good synthesis.
    ________. Christian Ethics: The Historical Development. Atlanta: John Knox, 1981.
    Differs from Beach and Neibuhr in that White's volume is primarily his summary and analysis of major ethicists from N.T. times to the present. Very well done.
*    Wogaman, J. Philip. Christian Ethics: A Historical Introduction. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993.
    Excellent one-volume history of Christian ethics. Superb coverage of major thinkers, movements, and issues from the early church to the present.
     
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