Thread on "biblical justice."

1. If you haven't distinguished divine and human justice, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./1

2. If you haven't distinguished different covenants and their different stipulations for justice, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice. (And yes, there are more than two biblical covenants)./2

3. If you haven't distinguished just actions, from a virtue (or virtues) of justice, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./3

4. If you haven't discussed how demands of justice track human roles (e.g., Kings do this; parents do this; preachers do this), you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./4

5. If you haven't discussed divine commands, natural law and how both relate to one other AND virtues, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./5

6. If you haven't treated "the tongue," you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./6

7. If you haven't treated oppression--highlighting its many forms--you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./7

8. If you haven't treated excommunication, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./8

9. If you haven't treated how justice AND mercy collaborate--in divine and human cases--you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./9

10. If you haven't treated Christ receiving all authority, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./10

11. If you haven't discussed the need to have special concern for the marginalized, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./11

12. If you haven't discussed how persons of the Trinity "work" to make the redeemed just, you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./12

13. If you haven't discussed how those outside the covenant community can act justly--sometimes even more justly than those within that community--you haven't offered a biblically adequate account of justice./13

There's more to say, but I must stop (work to do).

Perhaps "adequate" isn't the right word. Perhaps I should've said "comprehensive."

Yeah: Comprehensive seems more appropriate.

Anyway, I hope this list helps its readers grow in justice.

Saludos.

Okay--I've changed my mind.

In some cases "adequate" is more appropriate than "comprehensive"; in others, the opposite is true.

Three cheers for complexity!