Abstract:
The central question concerning how mission and ethics are related arises within the context
of the understanding of ethics itself and in this way often leads back to the familiar ‘indicative
and imperative’ model. This oversimplified approach, however, is ultimately inadequate for
the Pauline ethic in general and for the particular problem concerning mission and ethics. In
this article, 1 Corinthians 9 was drawn upon as an example for the ‘implicit ethics’ model,
a model which allows for a more nuanced presentation of the grounds and justification for
behaviour and action. Through this approach it became clear that the proclamation of the
Gospel does not have to be ‘unethical’; rather, it could be located and understood within the
realm of the Pauline reflection on conduct. This, in turn, justified speaking of an ‘ethic of
missions (activity)’ in Paul.
