Georg Lorenz Bauer’s <b> <i>Biblische Moral des Alten Testaments</i> </b>: The First »Old Testament Ethics«?

Abstract Georg Lorenz Bauer (1755–1806) is known for coining the term »historical-critical« and writing one of the first works of Old Testament theology, but he is hardly remembered for publishing what is arguably the first independent work of Old Testament ethics. His two-volume Biblische Moral des Alten Testaments (1803) still ranks among the most extensive publications on the subject. This article situates Bauer’s work within the history of OT ethics research, arguing that it was the first of its kind, while providing an overview of its contents, methodology, and reception.