The two previous editions
of An Introduction to Biblical Ethics were written solely by Robertson McQuilkin, the third president of Columbia
International University. The third edition is coauthored with Paul Copan who
teaches philosophy and ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University and is a former
student of McQuilkin.
This third edition has the
subtitle Walking in the Way of Wisdom. This
subtitle is drawn from the title of a philosophy of religion book Loving
Wisdom: Christian Philosophy of Religion written
by Copan in which he articulates the coherence of the Christian metanarrative
of God, creation, fall, redemption and re-creation
The aim of their book is to provide the reader with a summary of biblical ethics on
many topics in a single volume. The current edition
addresses questions never considered when McQuilkin’s previous editions were
released, such as gay marriage.
The strengths of
this book is that gives practical solutions to a variety of topics such as
homosexuality, abortion, politics in general the relationship between Church/State in particular, and a
host of other practical issues such as dating, the importance of the Christian
home, sexual ethics, etc. Helpful are additional reading suggestions provided
by the authors at the end of each chapter.
On most the
authors can speak with unanimity. The former student, however, has not adopted
his professor’s views entirely, and so - importantly - the reader will find
sections of the text marked ‘McQuilkin’s view’ and ‘Copan’s view’ so that their
respective approaches may be seen.
One such area of
divergence concerns the roles of men and women. Copan defends the egalitarian
view. This opens the way for accepting women in office. I strongly disagree
with Copan here and with any hesitation side with McQuilkin in his
complementarian view. He states rightly that the subordinate role of the wife
in marriage in founded and the creation order and cannot be seen as a result of
the fall. The fall has leads to disabuse by husbands and men in general of
their God given position.
Neither the Old
Testament nor the New Testament teaches an abrogation of the creation order. In
their use of their authority husbands are called to reflect Christ in his
headship over his church. So we can say that the creation order is in a certain
sense intensified in the New Testament. I would state that the egalitarian view
does not take seriously the full authority of the Scriptures in this matter.
Our own context becomes the prism through with Scriptural data are interpreted.
Another area of
divergence between the two authors concerns economic systems. They generalize
that - in this era at least – ‘capitalism’ and ‘socialism’ are the two major
economic systems in play. McQuilkin approaches them as both lacking express
Biblical warrant, though his harshest criticisms seem reserved for the former.
He believes the
best approach is to recognize the biblical theme of protecting the poor from
oppression. Alluding to Leviticus 25, he warns about a view of capitalism that
allows the permanent enrichment of a few and the perpetual expense of the
exploited. As a result, there can be no unlimited right of private property.
Copan’s view is
much more openly supportive of free markets, sharply critical of socialism, and
quick to note the empirical efficacy of free markets and the enforcement of
property rights and equality before the law (Leviticus 19:15) for mitigating
poverty globally. Here again I side more with McQuilkin than with Copan.
It seems to me
very difficult to combine the moral principles underlying the Mosaic legislation
with an unbridled free market system, although I admit that we can make here
less directions inferences from Scripture in this era than in the case of gender
roles. Rounding out this chapter, McQuilkin and Copan unite again to discuss
the church’s obligation to the poor as people in God’s image. And that is
certainly the case.
My main
reservation with this book is Copan’s view on gender roles. Leaving that aside
the authors clearly show that the Biblical world view still is as relevant as
ever and that it can be applied to many of the pressing ethical issues of our
present day culture.
Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan, An Introduction
to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom, Downers Grove, Illinois
2014; ISBN 978-0-8308-2818-0; hardcover 667 pp., price $45,--