‘U zult volmaakt zijn’. Het karakter van God als norm voor moraal volgens Mattheüs 5:48

Samenvatting

In moral debates, the church appeals to biblical commandments, principles and paradigms, but also to the character of God. This article explores the character of God as such a moral standard by explaining the background and meaning of Matthew 5:48: ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (NIV), as found in the tradition of the gospels, the Old Testament, and Judaism.