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                                           Legal Document                                         Bible Source

Sovereign authority of God, not          Mayflower Compact, Declaration                   Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2

Sovereignty of the state, or                of Independence, Constitution,                       Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa.

Sovereignty of man                             currency, oaths, All 50 state                           9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts

Constitutions, Pledge of                                  5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col. 1:15-20, 1

Allegiance                                                        Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral               Declaration of Independence (“unalienable    Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:

values, fixed standards, absolute       rights of life, liberty, etc., “self-evident”           142-152, Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21,

truth, sanctity of life                             truths)                                                             Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15

Rule of Law rather than                      Declaration of Independence and                   Ex 18-24, Dt.17-20, Isa.8:

authority of man                                  Constitution                                                     19-20, Mat. 5:17-18

All men are sinners                             Constitutional checks and balances,              Gen. 8:21, Jer. 17:9, Mk. 7:

separation of powers                                      20-23, Rom. 3:23, 1 Jn 1:8

All men are created equal (equal        Declaration of Independence                          Acts. 10-34, 17:26, Gal. 3:28

opportunity, not equal outcomes!)

Judicial, legislative and                       Constitution                                                     Isa. 33:22

Executive branches

Religious Freedom                         Constitution, First Amendment                       1 Tim. 2:1-2

Church protected from state              Constitution, First Amendment                       Dt. 17:18-20, 1 Kgs. 3:28, Ezra

control & taxation, but church                                                                                     7:24, Neh. 8:2, 1 Sam. 7:15-

to influence the state                                                                                                   10:27, 15:10-31, Mat. 14:3-4, Lk.

3:7-14

Republic – Electing leaders                Constitution, Article 4, Section 4                     Ex. 18:21, Dt. 1:13, Jud. 8:22, 9-6

Importance of governing self and       Constitution: First, Second, Ninth, and           Mat. 18:15-18, Gal. 5:16-26, 1

family as first level of governance      Tenth Amendments                                        Cor. 6:1-11, 1 Tim. 3:1-5, Tit.

2:1-8, 1 Tim. 5:8

Right of self-defense                           Constitution, Second Amendment                  Ex. 22:2, Lk. 11:21, Neh. 4:11,

4:18

Establish justice                                  Declaration of Independence                          Ex. 23:1-9, Lev. 19:15, Dt. 1:17

Fair Trial with witnesses                     Constitution, Sixth Amendment                       Ex. 20:16, Dt. 19:15, Pr. 24:28

Private property rights                                    Constitution, Fifth Amendment                        Ex. 20:15, 17, Jer. 32:9-15

Biblical liberty, Free enterprise           Declaration of Independence                          Lev. 25:10, Jn. 8:36, 2 Cor. 3:17

Creation, Not evolution                       Declaration of Independence                          Gen. 1:1

Principle                                          Legal Document                                          Bible Source

Biblical capitalism, not Darwin’s                      Anti-Trust laws                                    Ex. 20:17, Mat. 20:25:14-30,

capitalism (service & fair play,                                                                                    2 Thes. 3:6-15, 1 Pet. 2:16

not strict survival of the fittest!)

Importance of the traditional                           State sodomy laws, few reasons       Ex. 20:12, Mat. 19:1-12,Mk.

family                                                               for divorce                                           10:2-12, Rom. 1:18, 2:16

Religious education encouraged                    Northhwest 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

Uniform Immigration laws                               Constitution, Article 1, Sec. 8              Lev. 19:34

President natural born citizen                         Constitution, Article 2, Sec. 1              Dt. 17:15

Witnesses & Capital Punishment                    Constitution, Article 3, Sec. 3              Dt. 17:6

Provision against attainder                             Constitution, Article 3, Sec. 3              Ez. 18:20

Instructions for Judges                                                                                               2 Chr. 19:6-7, Ezra 7:25

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