Rediscovering Natural Law in Reformed Theological Ethics

THE FOUNDATIONS OF REFORMED THEOLOGICAL ETHICS

Is the knowledge of good and evil written in the human heart? Can natural knowledge contribute anything to Christian doctrine? While these questions have historically been connected to natural law, 20th-century Protestant theologians' excessive reliance on revelation, the influence of theological liberalism, and Karl Barth's theological ethics have overshadowed this historical connection.

Stephen Grabill attempts the difficult task of re-integrating natural law into Reformed Protestant theology by appealing to the leading theologians of the Reformation era, such as John Calvin, Peter Martyr Vermigli, Johannes Althusius, and Francis Turretin, who revisited and refined the traditional understanding of this important doctrine. Rediscovering Natural Law in Reformed Theological Ethics calls for a fresh look at this vital element in the history of Christian ethical thought as a key element in the development of a theological ethical system.

"This book, with its meticulously documented source material, will be especially valuable for legal scholars seeking to address natural law from a Reformation perspective. Given the current renewal of interest in the relationship between Christian theology and legislation, Rediscovering Natural Law in Reformed Theological Ethics is a very important work." William S. Brewbaker III — Journal of Law and Religion.