Top Ten Books on Christian Ethics and Morality

Sources

1. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 39: How, asks the Apostle, on this principle, can God judge the world? If the sins of men not only in fact promote the highest end, but if a man in sinning has the purpose and desire to coöperate with God in producing the greatest amount of happiness, how can he be condemned? If virtue or holiness is right simply because it tends to produce the greatest happiness, and if sin also tends to the same result, then the man who sins with a view to the greatest good is just as virtuous as the man who practices holiness with the same end in view. It ”
2. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — INTERPOLATED. (part 8): and the first two books of that work are designed to establish a perfect harmony between the Old Testament and the New, proving Christ to be the substance and sum of both. Cyprian may have foreseen the perils menacing the Church from the school of Plotinus, already rising, and which soon sent forth the venomous Porphyry. He was but a presbyter when he wrote this excellent defence of the faith; and his earnest pastoral care for his pupil is shown by his addition of a third book, entirely practical. The catechetical system”
3. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 14: man to be sought in Christ. 7. The Law given, not to retain a people for itself, but to keep alive the Hope of Salvation in Christ until his Advent. 8. Exposition of the Moral Law. 9. Christ, though known to the Jews under the Law, yet only manifested under the Gospel. 10. The resemblance between the Old Testament and the New. 11. The difference between the two Testaments. 12. Christ, to perform the Office of Mediator, behoved to become man. 13. Christ clothed with the true substance of Human Nature. 14. How two natures constitute ”
4. Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 4:8: Summary of all his exhortations as to relative duties, whether as children or parents, husbands or wives, friends, neighbors, men in the intercourse of the world, &c. true--sincere, in words. honest--Old English for "seemly," namely, in action; literally, grave, dignified. just--towards others. pure--"chaste," in relation to ourselves. lovely--lovable (compare Mar 10:21; Luk 7:4-5). of good report--referring to the absent (Phi 1:27); as "lovely" refers to what is lovable face to face. if there be any virtue--"whatever virtue there is"”
5. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 142: Church doctrine of original or concreated righteousness, and of infused grace. The Bible does indeed teach that God created man in his own image in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. But this holiness was a permanent state of mind the character of a person, a suppositum , or individual subsistence; and not the character of an act which is good or bad according to the motives by which it is determined. If God creates holy acts, He is a Holy Being, but the acts have no moral character apart from their efficient cause or author. F”
6. Introduction “Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Introduction, section 71: MLA Style Kirby, Peter. "Historical Jesus Theories." Early Christian Writings . http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/1clement-hoole.html . Gospels Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Letters of Paul Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Letter to the Hebrews General Letters James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Gospels Gospel of Thomas Egerton Gospel Gospel of Peter Oxyrhychus 840 Gospel of Mary Epistula Apos”
7. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — BOOK XXII. (part 25): the example of Abraham begetting a son from Hagar, in defence of his own sinful passion for his wife's handmaid, ought to be corrected not by carting only, but by severe scourging, that he may not suffer the doom of adulterers in eternal punishment. This indeed is a comparison of great and important subjects with trifles; and it is not intended that a peculiar usage in speech should be put on a level with a sacrament, or a solecism with adultery. Still, allowing for the difference in the character of the subjects, ”
8. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 56: the whole Christian Church. We trust that this language will not be attributed to a self-confident or dogmatic spirit. We recognize no higher standard of truth apart from the infallible word of God, than the teachings of the Holy Spirit as revealed in the faith of the people of God. It is beyond dispute the doctrine of the Church universal, that Adam was created holy; that his moral character was not self-acquired. It is no less the doctrine of the universal Church, that men, since the fall, are born unholy; and it is also included in the”
9. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 111: CONTINUES FREE FROM EVERY TAINT BOOK SECOND. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE REDEEMER, IN CHRIST, AS FIRST MANIFESTED TO THE FATHERS, UNDER THE LAW, AND THEREAFTER TO US UNDER THE GOSPEL. ARGUMENT. CHAPTER 1. - THROUGH THE FALL AND REVOLT OF ADAM, THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE MADE ACCURSED AND DEGENERATE. OF ORIGINAL SIN. CHAPTER 2. - MAN NOW DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM OF WILL, AND MISERABLY ENSLAVED. CHAPTER 3. - EVERY THING PROCEEDING FROM THE CORRUPT NATURE OF MAN DAMNABLE. CHAPTER 4. - HOW GOD WORKS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN. CHAPTER 5. - THE ARGUMEN”
10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 111: § 3. The Moral Theory. A third general theory concerning the work of Christ is that which rejects all idea of expiation, or of the satisfaction of justice by vicarious punishment, and attributes all the efficacy of his work to the moral effect produced on the hearts of men by his 567 character, teachings, and acts. On this account it is usually designated the “moral view of the atonement.” The assumption is that there is no such attribute in God as justice; i.e ., no perfection which renders it necessary, or morally obligatory, that sin ”
11. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 151: Heretical Doctrines on the Person of Christ. 6. Doctrine of the Reformed Churches. 7. Lutheran Doctrine. 8. Later Forms of the Doctrine. 9. Modern Forms of the Doctrine. Chapter IV. The Mediatorial Work Of Christ. 1. Christ the only Mediator. 2. Qualifications for the Work. 3. The Threefold Office of Christ. Chapter V. Prophetic Office. 1. Nature of the Prophetic Office. 2. How Christ executes the Office of a Prophet. Chapter VI. Priestly Office. 1. Christ is truly, not figuratively, a Priest. 2. Christ our only Priest. 3. Definition of ”
12. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 111: God; and consequently it changes the nature of religion. Christianity is one thing if Christ is a sacrifice for sin; and altogether a different thing if He is only a moral reformer, an example, a teacher, or even a martyr. We need a divine Saviour if He is to bear our iniquities, and to make satisfaction for the sins of the world; but a human saviour is all that is needed if the moral theory of the atonement is to be adopted. Gieseler says, what every Christian knows must be true without being told, that 573 the fathers in treating of th”
13. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 10.--THAT THE EXCELLENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS ABOVE ALL THE SCIENCE OF PHILOSOPHERS. (part 2): and Greeks, and Egyptians, who gloried in the name of wisdom; but concerning this we will dispute with them afterwards. With respect, however, to that wherein they agree with us we prefer them to all others namely, concerning the one God, the author of this universe, who is not only above every body, being incorporeal, but also above all souls, being incorruptible--our principle, our light, our good. And though the Christian man”