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Political Ethics in the Christian Community: From the Teachings of Jesus to Contemporary Challenges
Krzysztof Bieliński
Abstract
This study explores the New Testament foundations of Christian political ethics and their relevance to contemporary political morality. The analysis is divided into three main thematic areas. First, it examines Jesus’ political position in the historical context of the first century, with particular attention to his three views of power and his teaching on the relationship between divine authority and political power, as illustrated in the famous episode of the tribute to Caesar. Second, the investigation focuses on the political ethos of the early Christian communities, privileging the Gospel of Luke as the primary source for understanding their social practice. This approach highlights how these communities developed an alternative model to the prevailing system of patronage, based on welcoming the marginalized, rejecting social prestige, and criticizing power structures that undermined human dignity. The Gospel of Luke is particularly significant because it presents Jesus as an agent of social change who cares for marginalized people and criticizes the injustices of the authorities, setting him in the context of Roman oppression. Finally, the study establishes a link between these New Testament roots and the fundamental principles of contemporary political morality, emphasizing the need to desacralize power, maintain the autonomy of individual conscience in discerning between service to the community and idolatry of the state, and to perceive politics as a service of charity and solidarity. The article concludes by emphasizing that Christian political ethics, founded on the dignity of the person and directed toward the common good, represent a fundamental resource for promoting politics that genuinely serves humanity.
Keywords:
Christian political ethics, Kingdom of God, Relationship between Church and State, Common good, Social inclusion of marginalized peopleDetails
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