Executive Summary

This white paper proposes the framework for a business school curriculum built on the dual pillars of biblical morality and a robust defense of free markets. The school aims to prepare graduates who are not only technically competent but also ethically grounded, able to balance entrepreneurial freedom with responsible corporate citizenship. By integrating scriptural principles with rigorous training in finance, economics, management, and innovation, the program addresses the growing demand for leaders who can reconcile profit-making with stewardship, justice, and social trust.

1. Introduction

In the 21st century, business education faces a dual crisis:

Ethical erosion: Corporate scandals, exploitative labor practices, and predatory finance erode public trust. Market skepticism: Rising populism and statism challenge the legitimacy of free markets.

A curriculum rooted in biblical morality—emphasizing honesty, stewardship, justice, and human dignity—paired with a robust defense of market institutions can provide a compelling alternative. Business leaders trained in this tradition will combine entrepreneurial dynamism with covenantal responsibility, ensuring that wealth creation is aligned with human flourishing.

2. Foundational Principles

2.1 Biblical Morality in Business

Human Dignity: Genesis affirms the imago Dei, grounding respect for workers, consumers, and stakeholders. Stewardship: The parables of talents and stewardship require responsibility with resources, not waste or exploitation. Justice and Honesty: Biblical injunctions against false weights and measures highlight fairness in transactions. Covenantal Responsibility: Businesses must view themselves as accountable to God, society, and future generations.

2.2 Free Markets as a Moral Framework

Voluntary Exchange: Free markets honor personal choice and mutual benefit. Innovation and Stewardship: Freedom incentivizes resource efficiency and wealth creation. Checks on Power: Market competition limits monopolistic or coercive dominance.

2.3 Corporate Citizenship

Beyond Compliance: True responsibility means not just following regulations but actively seeking social good. Community Investment: Firms should strengthen families, local institutions, and civil society. Environmental Stewardship: Respecting creation is an outgrowth of biblical stewardship.

3. Curriculum Structure

3.1 Core Theological-Ethical Foundations

Biblical Economics and Moral Law: Survey of scriptural teachings on wealth, debt, property, and justice. Business Ethics in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: Case studies on honesty, stewardship, and covenant. Theology of Work and Vocation: Understanding business as a divine calling.

3.2 Core Market and Economic Competence

Principles of Free Market Economics: Adam Smith through Hayek and Friedman, integrated with biblical critique. Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Startup strategy, venture capital, and innovation ecosystems. Corporate Finance and Stewardship: Balancing profit motives with fiduciary and ethical duties. Global Trade and Biblical Cosmopolitanism: Markets as facilitators of cross-cultural exchange and peace.

3.3 Corporate Citizenship and Social Responsibility

Responsible Leadership and Governance: Board ethics, shareholder vs. stakeholder debate. Sustainable Business Models: Aligning profitability with environmental and social stewardship. Philanthropy and Covenant Economics: Designing corporate giving aligned with biblical justice.

3.4 Applied Skills and Professional Practice

Negotiation and Covenant-Building: Trust-based negotiation strategies. Organizational Behavior and Servant Leadership: Shaping corporate culture through humility and vision. Legal Frameworks for Business: Corporate law, contracts, and regulatory compliance through a biblical lens. Capstone Practicum: Students develop business plans demonstrating free-market innovation and responsible citizenship, defended before faculty and industry mentors.

4. Pedagogical Approach

Case-Based Learning: Biblical case studies alongside modern business dilemmas. Cross-Disciplinary Faculty: Economists, theologians, ethicists, and practitioners co-teach. Experiential Engagement: Internships with ethically oriented firms, NGOs, and market-oriented think tanks. Community Service Requirement: Linking business education to local service projects.

5. Outcomes

Graduates of this program will:

Think Biblically about economic and corporate decisions. Defend Free Markets as moral and effective frameworks for prosperity. Practice Responsible Corporate Citizenship, ensuring that enterprises strengthen, rather than corrode, social trust. Lead with Integrity, becoming ambassadors for a moral economy.

6. Conclusion

In a time of economic uncertainty and moral compromise, a business school anchored in biblical morality and free market principles offers a unique corrective vision. It equips leaders who can reconcile profitability with purpose, freedom with responsibility, and global competitiveness with local stewardship. This curriculum does not merely prepare students for careers; it prepares them for faithful leadership in the marketplace of the 21st century.