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The purpose of this study is (1) to analyse the work ethical theories of six contemporary protestant theologians: Emil Brunner, JH Oldham, Tor Aukrust, Erthur Rich, Günter Brakelmann and John Atherton, and (2) to propose an alternative Christian work ethical theory. The study deals with the kinds of support which can be given for work ethical recommendations, a theory of the meaning of work and a constructive social ethical theory as well as the question of how Christian work ethics relates to humane work ethics.

In the first part of the study, it is argued that the six theologians base their work ethical theories upon different theories of human nature and different parts of a Christian system of belief. They disagree about whether ethics is based upon common human experience.

The second part of the study is devoted to the critical examination of the views of the theologians with reference to certain criteria for a reasonable ethical theory. Thereafter follows a social ethical theory, based upon a reakistic view of humans, common human experience, and the doctine of creation and eschatology. This theory in turn provides a basis for a theory on the meaning of work in which the doctrine of vocation is revised and combined with insights from Marxist and psychological theories of work.