A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7
As a two-tiered ethic is typically articulated, all Christians are required to live the commandments, but only some live the counsels. As a result, a kind of minimalistic ethic grows up around the laity, whereas religious are called to a higher holiness. After Vatican II’s universal call to holiness...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Moral Theology |
| Online Access: | https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/24530-a-defense-of-the-command-counsel-distinction-based-on-matthew-19-and-1-corinthians-7 |
| _version_ | 1797654196161347584 |
|---|---|
| author | John Meinert |
| author_facet | John Meinert |
| author_sort | John Meinert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As a two-tiered ethic is typically articulated, all Christians are required to live the commandments, but only some live the counsels. As a result, a kind of minimalistic ethic grows up around the laity, whereas religious are called to a higher holiness. After Vatican II’s universal call to holiness, two-tiered ethics no longer makes sense, and moral theologians do not speak of commands and counsels. To use the command/counsel distinction would seem to bring back two-tiered ethics and all that is assumed to be bad about pre-Vatican II ethics. The purpose of this paper is to defend the command/counsel distinction. I argue that, though the rise of two-tiered ethics is related to the use of the command/counsel distinction historically, the connection is only true if one assumes a morality of obligation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:55:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb729e94602f46beafe0fdebc7ebfd59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2166-2851 2166-2118 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:55:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Moral Theology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb729e94602f46beafe0fdebc7ebfd592023-10-20T17:33:54ZengThe Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.Journal of Moral Theology2166-28512166-21182021-06-0110SI1A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7John MeinertAs a two-tiered ethic is typically articulated, all Christians are required to live the commandments, but only some live the counsels. As a result, a kind of minimalistic ethic grows up around the laity, whereas religious are called to a higher holiness. After Vatican II’s universal call to holiness, two-tiered ethics no longer makes sense, and moral theologians do not speak of commands and counsels. To use the command/counsel distinction would seem to bring back two-tiered ethics and all that is assumed to be bad about pre-Vatican II ethics. The purpose of this paper is to defend the command/counsel distinction. I argue that, though the rise of two-tiered ethics is related to the use of the command/counsel distinction historically, the connection is only true if one assumes a morality of obligation.https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/24530-a-defense-of-the-command-counsel-distinction-based-on-matthew-19-and-1-corinthians-7 |
| spellingShingle | John Meinert A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 Journal of Moral Theology |
| title | A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 |
| title_full | A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 |
| title_fullStr | A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 |
| title_short | A Defense of the Command/Counsel Distinction Based on Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 |
| title_sort | defense of the command counsel distinction based on matthew 19 and 1 corinthians 7 |
| url | https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/24530-a-defense-of-the-command-counsel-distinction-based-on-matthew-19-and-1-corinthians-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnmeinert adefenseofthecommandcounseldistinctionbasedonmatthew19and1corinthians7 AT johnmeinert defenseofthecommandcounseldistinctionbasedonmatthew19and1corinthians7 |