Christian ethics is a branch of Christian theology that defines virtuous behavior and wrong

behavior from a Christian perspective. Systematic theological study of Christian ethics is

called moral theology.

Christian ethics developed during Early Christianity as Christianity arose in the Holy Land and
other early centers of Christianity while Christianity emerged from Second Temple Judaism.
[citation needed] Consequently, early Christian ethics included discussions of how believers
should relate to Roman authority and to the empire.[citation needed]

The Church Fathers had little occasion to treat moral questions from a purely philosophical
standpoint and independently of divine revelation, but in the explanation of Christian doctrine
their discussions naturally led to philosophical investigations.

The seven Christian virtues are from two sets of virtues. The four cardinal virtues are
Prudence, Justice, Restraint (or Temperance), and Courage (or Fortitude). The cardinal virtues
are so called because they are regarded as the basic virtues required for a virtuous life. The
three theological virtues, are Faith, Hope, and Love (or Charity).

Prudence: also described as wisdom, the ability to judge between actions with regard to
appropriate actions at a given time

Justice: also considered as fairness, the most extensive and most important virtue[21]

Temperance: also known as restraint, the practice of self-control, abstention, and moderation
tempering the appetition

Courage: also termed fortitude, forebearance, strength, endurance, and the ability to confront
fear, uncertainty, and intimidation

Faith: belief in God, and in the truth of His revelation as well as obedience to Him (cf. Rom
1:5:16:26)[22][23]

Hope: expectation of and desire of receiving; refraining from despair and capability of not
giving up. The belief that God will be eternally present in every human's life and never giving
up on His love.

Charity: a supernatural virtue that helps us love God and our neighbors, the same way as we
love ourselves.

One of the purposes of the Bible is to teach us how to live a life that is
pleasing to God (Col. 1:9–10; 1 Thess. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:17). Because it is the
Word of God, the Bible is a higher authority in ethics than tradition,
reason, experience, expected results, or subjective perceptions of
guidance.

The Ten Commandments (Hebrew: ‫עֲשֶׂ ֶרת הַדִּ בְּרֹות‬, Aseret ha'Dibrot), also known as the
Decalogue, are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a
fundamental role in Judaism and Christianity. The commandments include instructions to
worship only God, to honour one's parents, and to keep the sabbath, as well as prohibitions
against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, adultery, theft, dishonesty, and coveting. Different
religious groups follow different traditions for interpreting and numbering them.

Most traditions of Christianity hold that the Ten Commandments have divine authority and
continue to be valid, though they have different interpretations and uses of them.[73] The
Apostolic Constitutions, which implore believers to "always remember the ten commands of
God," reveal the importance of the Decalogue in the early Church.[74] Through most of
Christian history the decalogue was considered a summary of God's law and standard of
behaviour, central to Christian life, piety, and worship.

You shall have no other Gods but me.

You shall not make for yourself any idol, nor bow down to it or worship it.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

You shall remember and keep the Sabbath day holy.

Respect your father and mother.

You must not commit murder.

You must not commit adultery.

You must not steal.

You must not give false evidence against your neighbour.

You must not be envious of your neighbour's goods. You shall not be envious of his house nor
his wife, nor anything that belongs to your neighbour.

Christianity is specially adapted for speculative treatment by reason of its possessing a point of
internal unity which combines both idea and fact, God and man, and therefore concentrates in
itself the power to overcome all contrasts.