The Ethics of Grace - (T&t Clark Enquiries in Theological Ethics) by Paul Martens & Michael Mawson (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This volume draws together leading theologians and Christian ethicists from across the globe to critically engage with and reflect upon Gerald McKenny, widely acknowledged as one of the most original and important Christian ethicists working today. The essays highlight the significance of McKenny's interventions with a range of important debates in contemporary theological ethics, ranging from analyses of the Protestant conception of grace to bioethics and medicine. The Ethics of Grace is the first volume to facilitate critical engagements with a number of key themes in McKenny's work, not in the least his interpretation of Karl Barth. Among the contributions, Jennifer Herdt discusses McKenny's Barthian interest in the relationship between nature and grace; Angela Carpenter uses his Barthian understanding of grace and human action as a framework to discuss Jonathan Edwards; Stanley Hauerwas pushes McKenny's theology beyond Barth. Economic, political, and technological themes are also discussed in depth, for instance in Robert Song's chapter on the phenomenology of biotechnological enhancement. Reaching far beyond the work of Gerald McKenny, this multifaceted volume is a high-level resource for students and scholars of theological and philosophical ethics"--

Book Synopsis

This volume draws together leading theologians and Christian ethicists from across the globe to critically engage with and reflect upon Gerald McKenny, widely acknowledged as one of the most original and important Christian ethicists working today. The essays highlight the significance of McKenny's interventions with a range of important debates in contemporary theological ethics, ranging from analyses of the Protestant conception of grace to bioethics and medicine.

The Ethics of Grace is the first volume to facilitate critical engagements with a number of key themes in McKenny's work, not in the least his interpretation of Karl Barth. Among the contributions, Jennifer Herdt discusses McKenny's Barthian interest in the relationship between nature and grace; Angela Carpenter uses his Barthian understanding of grace and human action as a framework to discuss Jonathan Edwards; Stanley Hauerwas pushes McKenny's theology beyond Barth. Economic, political, and technological themes are also discussed in depth, for instance in Robert Song's chapter on the phenomenology of biotechnological enhancement.

Reaching far beyond the work of Gerald McKenny, this multifaceted volume is a high-level resource for students and scholars of theological and philosophical ethics.

Review Quotes

Gerald McKenny has, without doubt, been amongst the finest Protestant ethicists of recent times in the English-speaking world. This is an outstanding collection of engagements with his work, which beautifully mirror the scholarly breadth, analytical rigour, and above all the deep intellectual generosity that have marked his own writing.


Theological ethicists owe a tremendous debt to Gerald McKenney; the following work is a modest response to that debt. As the introduction notes, he has been a "patient and gracious" reader of others' while at the same time presenting an ethics of grace attentive to nature. I'm tempted to say that he offers the best version of a Reformed ethic available today, but the ecumenical and theological diversity of the authors and chapters demonstrate that such a sentiment is far too limiting. Mawson and Martens are to be commended for bringing attention and honor to the importance of McKenney's work.


This is a thrilling book to read. Working at the creative boundary between ethics and grace, its comprehensive coherence, lively discussion, and probing analysis offers more than standard edited volumes. Its critical and respectful dialogue with McKenny is a fitting tribute to a scholar whose influence is broad and deep.

About the Author

Paul Martens is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Baylor University, USA.

Michael Mawson is Senior Lecturer in Theology at Charles Sturt University, Australia.