The closest term in the Old Testament to the word ethics is doctrine.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not stated
• D. Both

Answer: (B)

Ethics is about how we ought to act—what counts as right and wrong in our conduct. In the Old Testament, the guiding material for such conduct is seen in the law, instruction, and commandments given to God’s people. These are the moral and social rules that shape behavior toward God and toward others, such as how to treat neighbors, the poor, and outsiders, as well as the proper worship and justice within the community. The term “doctrine”, by contrast, signals a set of beliefs or theological propositions about faith, which is not the primary way the Old Testament frames moral guidance. So the closest OT idea to ethics is the law/instruction that directs action, not a doctrinal belief system. That’s why the statement isn’t correct.