Intervarsity Press
379 pp. (November 2000)
ISBN: 0830815686

What is ethics?

Why should Christians care?

Beginning with these basic questions, Stanley Grenz masterfully leads his readers into a theological engagement with moral inquiry. In The Moral Quest he sets forth the basics of ethics, considers the role and methods of Christian ethics in particular, and examines the ethical approaches of the Old Testament, the Gospels and Paul. He introduces the foundational theological ethics of Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Luther and the Reformers. And he concludes with an evenhanded discussion of modern and contemporary Christian ethicists, including Albert Ritschl, Walter Rauschenbusch, Karl Barth, James Gustafson, Paul Ramsey, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr., Gustavo Gutiérrez, Rosemary Radford Ruether, Stanley Hauerwas, Carl F. H. Henry and Oliver O'Donovan.

Clear, concise, and well apprised of relevant literature, Grenz (a theologian recognized for the excellence of his own theological and ethical work) provides in this book a first-rate introduction to Christian ethics. The Moral Quest will well serve students, pastors and interested laypersons alike.

Endorsements

"The Moral Quest . . . Deserves reading by every Christian leader."
Christian Week, Book Supplement

"This book fills a large gap in the literature on Christian ethics."
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"The Moral Quest is the finest statement of Christian theological ethics to appear in a long time. It is simultaneously biblical and philosophical, while primarily driven by a rich and coherent trinitarian, eschatological and communitarian theological/moral vision. This is not the book to read if one wants exposure to mountains of technical data concerning the controversial moral issues of our time; instead, it is the book to read before ascending those mountains."
David P. Gushee, Union University

"Grenz's impressive breadth in interpreting the wide gamut of Christian ethicists, orienting readers to the field in his usual wise and balanced way with clarity and smooth readability, makes this book a solid choice for introducing Christian ethics."
Glenn H. Stassen, Fuller Theological Seminary