Divine command theory is a meta-ethical theory which proposes that an action’s status as morally good is equivalent to whether it is commanded by God. The theory asserts that what is moral is determined by what God commands, and that for a person to be moral is to follow His commands. Divine command theory entails voluntarism about the will of God – that is, the view that God wills something only because He wills it. This is in contrast to intellectualism about God’s will, the view that God wills something because He knows it to be good. In Christianity, the divine command theory has a long history. The biblical basis for divine command theory comes primarily from passages in both Old and New Testaments that reference God’s commands and injunctions on morality.
According to divine command theory, morality stems from God. God’s commands constitute morality and God’s nature is the good. There is much biblical support for divine command theory in that God is presented as the ultimate Law-Giver who has laid down objectively valid moral laws for humanity to follow. Obeying these commands is seen as mandatory in living a moral life. The Bible affirms that God is necessarily good, loving, just and perfectly holy. Therefore, His commands must also necessarily reflect those attributes. Additionally, God is presented as having authority over humanity as Creator and Lord. Thus, He has the right to command humans how they should live and behave.
Key Biblical Support for Divine Command Theory
1. Morality Defined by God’s Commands and Nature
There are many verses that point to morality being based in God’s divine commands and nature. For example, 1 John 3:4 states that sin is defined as lawlessness, which can be understood as going against God’s moral law.
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4)
Psalm 119:142 says that God’s righteousness is an eternal righteousness, and His law is truth.
“Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.” (Psalm 119:142)
This affirms that morality reflects God’s own righteous nature. Additionally, in the Old Testament, the Ten Commandments represent God handing down objective moral laws for humanity to follow. The first four commandments outline moral duties in relation to God, while the last six outline duties towards other human beings.
2. Moral Obligation to Obey God’s Commands
The Bible also establishes humanity’s moral obligation to obey God’s commands because of His position as Lord and Creator. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 asks rhetorically what God requires but to fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him with all your heart and keep His commandments.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Deuteronomy 30:15-16 also outlines the choice before humanity to follow God’s commands in order to prosper or refuse and perish.
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.” (Deuteronomy 30:15-16)
In the New Testament, Jesus states that if you love Him you will keep His commandments (John 14:15). Love for God thus requires obedience to His moral commands.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
3. Moral Authority as Creator and Lord
Verses such as Revelation 4:11 establish God as Creator who deserves all glory, honor and power. This grounds His claim of authority over humanity.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)
As Lord, God also has the right to issue commands over His own Creation. Deuteronomy 10:14 states that heaven and earth belong to the Lord. As owner, He has the right to require obedience from His subjects.
“Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” (Deuteronomy 10:14)
Analysis of Key Issues in Divine Command Theory
Divine command theory raises important philosophical issues, including:
1. Arbitrariness
One issue is whether divine command theory makes morality arbitrary. If there are no external standards that God’s commands are based on, then it seems whatever God commands is good simply because He commanded it. This leads to the accusation that morality becomes arbitrary – murder would be obligatory if God commanded it. In response, some divine command theorists distinguish between God’s essential nature and His will. God’s commands must necessarily flow from His intrinsically good nature.
2. Disagreement about God’s Commands
Another issue is the complexity in interpreting God’s commands, especially when there is disagreement between religious traditions. For instance, some believe capital punishment is mandated by God, while others see it as incompatible with God’s mercy. Disagreement makes it difficult to discern the content of God’s commands. In response, divine command theorists may argue that natural law or moral conscience allows discovery of the universal elements of God’s commands.
3. Secular Ethics
Some argue that morality requires a secular foundation that individuals of all religions or no religion can agree upon. Divine command theory offers no resources foragreed upon secular ethics between people of different faiths or atheists. In response, divine command theorists often argue that atheistic foundations for morality are ultimately arbitrary or subjective in the absence of God.
4. Obedience for Self-Interest
The Euthyphro dilemma raised by Plato questions whether obedience to God’s commands is good because it is in our self-interest, or whether God’s commands make actions good in themselves. If obedience is only good due to self-interest, then morality becomes a form of egoism. Most divine command theorists want to safeguard the objectivity of ethics, so argue obedience is good in itself.
5. Can God Command Evil?
A difficult issue is whether God could command evil things, like torture or genocide, and they would thus become obligatory. Most divine command theorists deny this based on God’s intrinsic goodness. Others, however, recognize God’s freedom to command horrendous things without contradiction.
Modifications and Alternatives to Divine Command Theory
There are some key modifications to divine command theory as well as alternative positions:
1. Natural Law Theory
Natural law theory holds that morality consists of norms of conduct discoverable through human reason and conscience. Our rational faculties allow us to discern self-evident ethical truths implanted by the Creator. Revelation clarifies these standards but is secondary.
2. Divine Motivation Theory
Divine motivation theory argues God’s commands give us moral motivation to obey, but His commands do not define morality itself. God commands what is already right based on His nature.
3. Divine Will Theory
Divine will theory is a voluntarist position holding that God does not command what is moral, but whatever God wills is necessarily good and moral.
4. Theological Voluntarism
Theological voluntarism argues that moral obligations are dependent solely on God’s commands. But God’s nature is also essential to Him, and thus He cannot command evil.
5. Theological Intellectualism
Theological intellectualism proposes that God’s commands and morality are based in His necessary rational nature. His commands reflect His intrinsic reason and goodness.
Conclusion
In summary, divine command theory grounds morality in the commands and nature of God. There are various strengths, but also challenges in consistently working out the theory. Most Christians hold some form of modified divine command theory that avoids counterintuitive implications while retaining the role of God as Lawgiver. The Bible affirms morality ultimately depends on God, even if there is debate about the reasons for His commands. Divine command theory articulates this vision of an ethics that is theistically based while recognizing human obligation to obey God’s commands as Creator and Lord.