Edexcel GCE A level Religious Studies - A Spotlight on … - 6.2 How should we live?

Oct 20, 2026

Edexcel GCE A level Religious Studies Spotlight focuses on 6.2 “How should we live?” by examining New Testament ethics. It explains how Jesus’ ethical teaching is shaped through the Gospel writers and Pauline theology, contrasts Jesus’ authority with Jewish law, and highlights differences between the letter and the spirit of moral duty. The material also considers love as the commandment’s core, the Golden Rule, and applies these ideas to questions about contemporary Christian codes of living.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Topics: What students need to learn

The person and authority of Jesus

Jesus did not seek to abolish the Law - the letter and the spirit

Inner and outer purity

Edexcel GCE A level Religious Studies # A Spotlight on … ## How should we live? This section of the Specification requiresstudents to understand the main themes ofJesus’ ethical teaching, and to contrast thatteaching with the ethical views of the Jewishcommunity atthe time. It also askscandidates to understand the relationshipbetween Jesus’teaching andthe moralpaths taken by Christians today. | | Introduction | | | --- | --- | --- | The term ‘New Testament’ itself suggests a new understanding of the covenantbetween God and his people, and with that comes a new understanding of theethical code. It is rooted in the Christian understanding of the nature of Jesushimself. It appears he claims the authority to challenge or reinterpret certain aspectsof Jewish law, for example in the Sermon on the Mount. However, it is alwaysimportant to remember that the ethical teaching of Jesus comes through the prismof the Gospel writers and of Pauline theology. These choose to present Jesus inaspecific light, asthe Messiah for example, or asthe incarnate son of God. | Topics | What students need to learn | | | --- | --- | --- | | 6 | 6.2 | How should we live? (10) | | Scientific and | b) The relationship of the teaching of Jesus to that of | | | Historical-critical | Judaism atthe time. Interpretations ofthis material for | | | challenges, | today, including religious and secular views, andthe | | | ethical living and | impact on Christian codes of living, including equality and | | | the works of | pluralism. With reference to the ideas of I H Marshall and | | | scholars | F Matera. | | There area number of themes that might be considered, including: • The significance of beliefs in the nature of Jesus • A distinction between the letter andthe spirit of the moral law • Visible actions and inner intentions • Who is my neighbour? Edexcel GCE A level Religious Studies Spotlight on...Replica theoryPage 1 of 7 A Spotlight on … ### 6.2 How should we live? | | The person and authority of Jesus | | | --- | --- | --- | An essential factor in understanding New Testament ethics isthe Christian beliefin the nature of Jesus. Whereas the Jews were interpreting a text, Jesus’ discipleshave come to believe that Jesus was the living embodiment of the will of God.He seems to confirm this when he seeksto reframe the understanding of theLaw. He says, quoting Leviticus,‘You have heard it said, “An eye for an eye...”, butI sayto you...’ (Matthew 5:38-39) . Arguably, claiming an authority greater thanthat of Moses can only come directly from God. This belief in the nature of Jesusalso suggests that he embodies what it is to be moral, and his example offorgiveness (Luke 15), compassion (Luke 6:36-38 & 7:13), and self-sacrifice asevidenced in his passion and death, for example, become important ideas inChristian ethics. Recent scholars who might be looked at on this topic include DietrichBonheoffer, who focused on creating a concrete ethic based on the person ofChrist such as in Volume 6 (Ethics) of his collected works, or, for example,Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics, Fontana 1968. A contrast can be found in thewritings of Frederick Nietzsche who criticised this self-effacing Christianmorality, which he called a‘slave morality’ . See, for example, Nietzsche,Friedrich, On The Genealogy of Morals, New York: Vintage Books, 1967 Resource | | Jesus did not seek to abolish the Law - the letter andthe spirit | | | --- | --- | --- | However, Jesus also said (in Matthew 5:17-20) that he did not come to abolishthe Law nor prescribe a completely new ethical code, but‘fulfil it’with aninterpretation better aligned with the will of the Father. This purpose was likelyto put him into conflict with the religious authorities. Historically, Jews have heldthe Torah as unchanging law, and many of the Jews of Jesus’time would haveobjected to the notion of ethical development. One important focus of Jesus’ new a

FAQs

What is the main focus of specification section 6.2 “How should we live?”

It requires understanding the main themes of Jesus’ ethical teaching and comparing them with Jewish ethical views at the time. It also examines the link between Jesus’ teaching and moral paths taken by Christians today.

How does the document explain Jesus’ authority regarding the Law?

It presents Jesus as reframing the understanding of the Law, with examples such as “You have heard it said… but I say to you…” from Matthew 5:38-39. It suggests that claiming authority beyond Moses comes directly from God.

What does the document mean by the “letter” and the “spirit” of the Law?

It emphasizes a distinction highlighted by Jesus’ criticisms of hypocrisy and burdens placed on people, and reinforces the contrast with Paul’s statement that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” This challenges an approach that treats the precise execution of the letter as the only way to avoid sin.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by WPS_1790064749