Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8200 The character of the believer  »  8240 ethics  »  8243 ethics, social

Scripture sees ethics as embracing the life of society as a whole, and not simply individual relationships.

The benefits of social ethics

Proverbs 14:34 See also 2 Samuel 23:3-4; Psalm 2:10-12; Proverbs 11:11; Proverbs 16:12; Proverbs 25:5; Proverbs 28:2; Proverbs 29:4; Isaiah 54:14

Believers are to behave ethically in society

Praying for rulers

1 Timothy 2:1-2 See also Ezra 6:10; Psalm 20:9; Psalm 72:1

Submitting to the authorities

Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14 See also Exodus 22:28; Deuteronomy 17:12; 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Kings 21:10; Proverbs 24:21; Ecclesiastes 8:2; Acts 23:5; Romans 13:5; 1 Peter 2:17

Paying taxes

Matthew 22:21 pp Mark 12:17 pp Luke 20:25 See also Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:28; Nehemiah 10:32; Matthew 17:27; Romans 13:6-7

Specific areas of social concern

Promoting justice

Deuteronomy 16:19-20; Micah 6:8 See also Exodus 23:8; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 27:19; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 10:1; Isaiah 56:1; 1 Timothy 5:21

Helping the poor

Deuteronomy 15:7-9 See also Leviticus 25:35,39; Deuteronomy 24:12; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 19:21 pp Mark 10:21 pp Luke 18:22; Luke 11:41; Luke 12:33; Romans 12:13; Galatians 2:10; James 2:3-4

Feeding the hungry

Deuteronomy 26:12 See also Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:22; Isaiah 58:10; Matthew 15:32 pp Mark 8:2-3; Luke 3:11; Romans 12:20; Proverbs 25:21

Protecting the vulnerable

Psalm 82:3-4; James 1:27 See also Exodus 22:22; Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 25:25; Deuteronomy 24:17; Psalm 41:1; Proverbs 23:10; Isaiah 58:7; Jeremiah 22:3,16; Acts 20:35

Peacemaking

Matthew 5:9 See also Proverbs 12:20; Romans 12:18; Romans 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; James 3:17

Showing concern for the environment

Genesis 2:15 See also Genesis 1:26-28; Leviticus 25:2-5; Nehemiah 10:31; Psalm 115:16

See also

4203  earth, the
5255  citizenship
5257  civil authorities
5341  hunger
5359  justice
5376  law, purpose of
5446  poverty
5577  taxation
6700  peace