Article 4.1 – Four Walls of Godly “Governmental” Jurisdiction

Definition – government – Direction, regulation, control, restraint.  (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

There are four distinct jurisdictions – limits within which each government power may be exercised – according to Webster:

First – SELF-GOVERNMENT – Men are apt to neglect the government of their temper and passions.

Second – FAMILY GOVERNMENT – The exercise of authority by a parent or householder.  Children are often ruined by a neglect of government in parents.

Third – CHURCH GOVERNMENT – The persons or council who direct the ministries and ordinances of the church. 

Fourth – CIVIL GOVERNMENT – That form of fundamental rules and principles by which a nation or state is governed; a constitution by which the rights and duties of citizens and public officers are prescribed and defined.

Within the Civil Government there are three levels – Federal – State – Local.  Each of these also have their own distinct jurisdictions – Constitutional limits within which their power to direct, regulate, control or restrain may be exercised. This is described in the Tenth Amendment:  The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Below are the biblically described details and boundaries – jurisdictional realms – of SELF & FAMILY – CHURCH – CIVIL – government:

            SELF – FAMILY                                                                CHURCH                                                                CIVIL          

Marriage – Exodus 22:16-17                                     Public ministry of the Word of God –             Ministry of justice –

Raising children – Ephesians 6:1-4                                        1 Timothy 4:1-2                                                          Romans 13:1-4

Property ownership – Leviticus 25                             Public ministry of worship – 1 Timothy 2                   Ministry of military defense –

Business ownership – Leviticus 25                             Ministry of ordinances (communion,                                      Numbers 31:3

Inheritance – Leviticus 25                                                       baptisms, etc.) – 1 Corinthians 11

Education – Deuteronomy 6:7-9                                 Ministry to those who do not have family –

Welfare – 1 Timothy 5:8                                                         1 Timothy 5:3-16

Health – Taking care of the sick, elderly, etc.

     1 Tim 5:4, 8, 10, 16

    Deut. 15:7, 8, 11

   Deut. 14:28-29