The Newell Lectureship in Biblical Studies at Anderson University continues to serve as a valuable space for thoughtful engagement with Scripture and contemporary ethical questions. In this lecture, Dr. John J. Collins, Holmes Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale University, addresses the relationship between human rights and divine command—a topic that sits at the intersection of theology, ethics, and modern cultural discourse.
Collins explores whether modern concepts of human rights can be directly grounded in biblical texts, or whether they emerge from a different moral framework altogether. Rather than forcing a simple alignment, he carefully examines how biblical ethics function within a system where moral authority is rooted in divine command. This raises important questions about how Christians today should understand justice, obligation, and the dignity of the individual.
The lecture challenges listeners to think critically about how contemporary language around rights interacts with the authority of Scripture. It also invites a deeper consideration of how theological tradition has shaped ethical thinking over time, and what it means to faithfully interpret biblical texts in a modern context.
The Newell Lectureship has long brought leading scholars to Anderson University to contribute to these kinds of conversations, offering both academic depth and practical relevance for the life of the church.
We encourage readers to watch the full lecture through the official YouTube publication below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kPDTt0tDg4&t=3s
You can explore more lectures in this distinguished series through Anderson University’s Newell Lectureship in Biblical Studies page:
https://anderson.edu/theology-christian-ministry/newell-lectureship-in-biblical-studies/
This article is provided as a brief introduction to the lecture. All video content and original presentation materials belong to the speaker and to Anderson University, which hosts the Newell Lectureship in Biblical Studies.
