Reformed Ethics: Created, Fallen, and Converted Humanity (Volume 1)

Herman Bavinck’s four-volume Reformed Dogmatics is one of the most important theological works of the twentieth century. Leading Bavinck expert John Bolt edited that work, which has received wide acclaim. Now Bolt has edited a recently discovered manuscript from Bavinck, in print for the first time, which serves as a companion to Reformed Dogmatics. Reformed Ethics follows the same method and explores the ethical and spiritual dimensions of key doctrines beyond those of Reformed Dogmatics. It mines the moral teachings of the early church and medieval and Puritan spirituality while addressing a variety of topics, offering scholars, pastors, and students Bavinck’s mature reflections on ethical issues. This book is the first of three planned volumes.

Contents

Introduction to Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Ethics by Dirk van Keulen and John Bolt
Introduction
1 Historical Overview of Christian Ethics
2 Terminology
3 Division and Organization of Ethic
4 Foundation and Method of Ethics
Book I: Humanity before Conversion
1. Essential Human Nature
5 Human Beings, Created in God’s Image
6 The Content of Human Nature
7 Human Relationships
2. Humanity under the Power of Sin
8 The Devastation of the Image of God in Humanity
9 The Organizing Principle and Classification of Sins
3. The Self against the Neighbor and God
10 Sins of Egoism in the Narrow Sense
11 Sins against the Neighbor
12 Sins against God
4. The Fallen Image of God
13 The Image of God in Fallen Human Beings
5. Human Conscience
14 The Conscience
6. The Sinner and the Law
15 The Law
16 Natural Morality
Book II: Converted Humanity
7. Life in the Spirit
17 The Nature of the Spiritual Life
18 The Origin of the Spiritual Life
19 The First and Basic Activity of the Spiritual Life
8. Life in the Spirit in the Church’s History
20 Mysticism, Pietism, and Methodism
9. The Shape and Maturation of the Christian Life
21 The Shape of the Christian Life: The Imitation of Christ
22 The Growth of the Spiritual Life
10. Persevering in the Christian Life
23 Security and Sealing
11. Pathologies of the Christian Life
24 Diseases of the Spiritual Life and Their Roots
12. Restoration and Consummation of the Christian Life
25 Means of Restoration
26 Consummation of the Spiritual Life; Meditation on Death
Indexes