Article 1.2 – Biblical Principles: Basis for America’s Laws and Government during Our Founding

Biblical Principles: Basis for America’s Laws and Government during Our Founding

This document shows more evidence that America was founded on Biblical principles!

Principle Source	Legal Document	Bible
Sovereign authority of God, not sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man	Mayflower Compact Declaration Constitution currency oaths mention of God in all 50 state constitutions Pledge of Allegiance	Ex. 18:16, 20:3 Dt. 10:20 2 Chron. 7:14 Ps. 83:18, 91:2 Isa. 9:6-7 Dan. 4:32 Jn. 19:11 Acts 5:29 Rom. 13:1 Col 1:15-20 1 Tim. 6:15
Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life	Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths)	Ex. 20:1-17 Dt. 30:19 Ps. 119:142-152 Pr. 14:34 Isa. 5:20-21 Jn. 10:10 Rom. 2:15 Heb. 13:8
Rule of law rather than authority of man	Declaration Constitution	Ex. 18:24-27 Dt. 17:20 Isa. 8:19-20 Mat. 5:17-18
All men are sinners	Constitutional checks and balances	Gen 8:21 Jer. 17:9 Mk. 7:20-23 Rom. 3:23 1 Jn. 1:8
All men created equal	Declaration	Gen. 1:26 Acts 10:34, 17:26 Gal. 3:28 1 Peter 2:17
Judicial, legislative, and executive branches	Constitution	Isa. 33:22
Religious freedom	First Amendment	1 Timothy2:1-2
Church protected from state control (& taxation), but church to influence the state	First Amendment	Dt. 17:18-20 1 Kgs. 3:28 Ezra 7:24 Neh. 8:2 1 Sam. 7:15-10:27, 15:10-31 2 Sam. 12:1-18 Mat. 14:3-4 Lk. 3:7-14, 11:52 Acts 4:26-29
Republican form of government and warnings against kings but in favor of Godly rulers	Constitution	Ex. 18:21 Dt. 1:13 Jud. 8:22-23 1 Samuel 8 Pr. 11:14, 24:6
Importance of governing self and family as first level of governance	First Amendment Second Amendment Ninth Amendment Tenth Amendment	Mat. 18:15-18 Gal. 5:16-26 1 Cor. 6:1-11 1 Tim. 3:1-5 Tit. 2:1-8
Establish justice	Declaration	Ex. 23:1-9 Lev. 19:15 Dt. 1:17, 16:19-20, 24:17-19 1 Sam. 8:3 2 Sam. 8:15 1 Kings 3:28, 10:9 Mic. 6:8 Rom. 13:4
Fair trial with witnesses	Sixth Amendment	Ex. 20:16 Dt. 19:15 Pr. 24:28, 25:18 Mat. 18:16
Private property rights	Fifth Amendment	Ex. 20:15-17
Biblical liberty, Free enterprise	Declaration	Lev. 25:10 Jn. 8:36 2 Cor. 3:17 Gal. 5:1 James 1:25 1 Peter 2:16
Creation not evolution	Declaration	Gen. 1:1
Biblical capitalism not Darwinian capitalism (service and fair play over strict survival of the fittest)	Anti-trust laws	Ex. 20:17 Mat. 20:26 25:14-30 2 Thes. 3:6-15 1 Pet. 2:16
Importance of the traditional family	State sodomy laws few reasons for divorce	Ex. 20:12-14 Mat. 19:1-12 Mk. 10:2-12 Rom. 1:18-2:16 1 Cor. 7:1-40
Religious education encouraged	Northwest Ordinance	Dt. 6:4-7 Pr. 22:6 Mat. 18:6 Eph. 6:4,
Servanthood not political power	Concept of public servant	Ex. 18:21 Rom. 13:4 Php. 2:7
Sabbath day holy	"Blue laws"	Ex. 20:8
Restitution	Restitution laws	Lev. 6:1-5 Num. 5:5-7 Mat. 5:23-26

Source: Primarily Faith Facts, a non-denominational ministry focused on Christian apologetics and theology, with a few additions.  

http://www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/the-bible-and-government