02.04.03 Significant Writings & Truth

The Romans found significance in the writings of Greek and Roman philosophers and poets, to whom truth was relative. This philosophy of thinking was revived in the 1960s by Anglican priest Joseph Fletcher with what is known as Situational Ethics.  His theory was that moral Christian principles can be occasionally set aside for the better good of any situation.^[1]

To the Jews, the Scriptures were of ultimate significance because these were the inspired Word of God given to man to teach him how to live. To the Jews, truth was not relative, but was established by the decrees of God. All their decisions were based on Scripture and its interpretation (the Oral Law) and they believed they had to live in obedience to their Scripture.

However, the Greeks and Romans could not understand how God could direct men to live. To them, the gods had the same passions, vices, and problems experienced by humanity. Consequently, the worldview and related writings between the Jewish people and their Greek and Roman neighbors were vastly different.

[1]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situational_ethics Retrieved September 16, 2012.