Scripture References: Created Order

Scripture References

Genesis

Genesis

God declares that creation is 'good'

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Genesis 1:3, 7

The created world reflects God's rationality, beauty and coherence

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Genesis 1:3, 7

Further reflection on the simillarities between God's attributes and the order seen in the world

Genesis 1:26

God makes humans in his image to rule over and steward creation

Genesis 1:29-30

God gives plants to human beings for sustenance

Genesis 3

The fall introduces chaos and evil into the world

Genesis 11

The sin of Babel was the refusal to disperse throughout the earth; being given multiple languages enabled humans to do this

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 6:4

Israel's creed declares that God is one

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Job

Job 38:6–7

The stars sing and angels shout for joy at creation

Psalm(s)

Psalm(s)

The psalms testify to variety and profusion of God's creation

Psalm(s)

The psalms contain much wisdom about rituals in worship

Psalm(s) 19

The natural world cries out to God in praise

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Psalm(s) 119

This psalm focuses on the law given at Sinai as a source of moral instruction

Proverbs

Proverbs

Proverbs contains wisdom about using rituals in life and society

Song of Songs

Song of Songs

The lovers in the Song of Songs transcend rationality

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Isaiah

Isaiah 55:12

The natural world cries out to God in praise

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 31:33

An external source of law is needed in society since God's law is not (perfectly) written on human hearts

Hosea

Hosea 6:6

Sacrifice and rituals do not necessarily bring about the mercy, justice, and virtue that God desires

Micah

Micah 6:8

Micah's statement that God requires us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him is a good foundation for Christians wishing to act within human legal orders

Matthew

Matthew 8:5-10, 13

Jesus commended a Roman soldier as an example of strong faith

Matthew 13:31-33

The parables of the yeast and mustard seeds indicate that Jesus saw the growth of the kingdom as gradual and organic, not revolutionary

Matthew 22:37–40

Jesus' command to love God and neighbours

Matthew 22:39

God's commands to love him and love our neighbours cannot be separated

Mark

Mark 2:27

Jesus' comment about the Sabbath being made for humans shows that human flourishing is prior to commandments in a Christian ethic

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Mark 12:17

Jesus did not seek to use violent, political means to bring about his goals; he refused to condemn Caesar explicitly

Mark 12:30-31

God's moral law is summarised in the commandment to love God and love one's neighbours

Luke

Luke 1:46-55

Mary's song announces that Jesus' ministry will disrupt oppressive hierarchies and move marginalised people to the centre

Luke 6:20-26

Jesus' beatitudes are socially disruptive, announcing woe to those who are dominant and satisfied

Luke 12:22-30

Jesus' statement about not worrying appeals to God's provision within nature

John

John 1

Jesus is the logical ordering principle of creation; freedom is living in line with this ordering

John 1:3

Jesus is the rational divine mind behind the order in creation

John 3:16

God's love extends beyond human beings to encompass the cosmos

John 6:15

Jesus refused an attempt to overthrow Roman rule with violence

John 8:32

The truth sets us free

Romans

Romans 1:5

Apostleship is given by Christ, rather than being something a person can claim due to their own status

Romans 1:20–27

Paul's moral teaching builds on an argument from nature, which is influenced by Stoic philosophy

Romans 2:14–15a

Gentiles show an awareness of God's law without having heard it, showing it is written on their hearts

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Romans 2:14–15a

This passage about natural law indicates the possibility of a fruitful exchange between worldviews; we have something to learn from other perspectives

Romans 2:14–15a

Paul appeals to natural law

Romans 3:23

All humans are affected by sin and its effects on our ability to discern truth

Romans 3:23

The universality of sin means we must be careful to look beyond our own ideology when seeking truth

Romans 5:8

Paul speaks of God as being love

Romans 8

The natural world cries out to God in longing for its deliverance

Romans 8:28–30

God's sovereign will predestines but does not predetermine

Romans 13

God requires those in government to serve the people and the common good

Romans 13

Magistrates are servants of God; their authority is subordinate to God's authority

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11:4–16

Paul's moral teaching builds on an argument from nature, which is influenced by Stoic philosophy

1 Corinthians 11:8–9

Paul connects his argument from nature with a reading of the Old Testament

1 Corinthians 11:14–15

Paul's claim that it is natural for men to have short hair and women to have long hair appears to be normalising the practices of his own cultural context

1 Corinthians 12

Paul's theology of the body of Christ has a profoundly equalising effect

1 Corinthians 12–14

The giving of spiritual gifts irrespective of the recipients' social status has a profoundly democratising effect on the church

1 Corinthians 12:12–25

Paul's analogy of the body to describe the church entails both equality and hierarchy

Galatians

Galatians 1:14

Paul's persecution of Christians illustrates the danger of having religious zeal without love

Galatians 2:19

Baptism signifies the believer's dying and rising with Christ

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Galatians 3:28

Paul teaches that all members of Christ's body are equal and are one

Ephesians

Ephesians 5:22–6:9

The household codes borrow from Roman morality

Philippians

Philippians 2:5–7

Christianity commands those in any kind of authority to act with service and humility, like Jesus

Philippians 3:6

Paul's persecution of Christians illustrates the danger of having religious zeal without love

Colossians

Colossians 1:15–17

Jesus is the rational divine mind behind the order in creation

Colossians 3:18–4:1

The household codes borrow from Roman morality

1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 4

God's will is for our salvation and sanctification

1 Timothy

1 Timothy 2:11–14

Paul's moral teaching builds on an argument from nature, which is influenced by Stoic philosophy

1 Timothy 2:13–15

Paul connects his argument from nature with a reading of the Old Testament

Philemon

Philemon 1:15–16

Paul urges Philemon to receive his slave Onesimus as a brother, which means to treat him as an equal

Philemon 1:16

Paul urges Philemon to receive his slave Onesimus as a brother

James

James 2:14

Faith that divides belief from practice is misguided