It is indisputable that the Christian must know the position of the New Testament in relation to the civil one. Is there any basic principle given in the New Testament to guide the Christian in his behavior toward civil government.
History of the State
Needless to say, it is impossible for the Christian to avoid this problem. In primitive St,ate, the family was ruled by the father as king and priest.
Definition of Terms
The authority of the state is offered to the civilian government in the belief that its will is a will that accomplishes the purpose for which the state was created. The state to bim is the collective moral person formed by the entire body of citizens.
Method of Approach
Importance of Knowing· the Background
Roman Administration
In accordance with their custom, the Romans turned local government over to the leaders of the Jewish people. 2 The Roman army of the days of the Empire was divided into two distinct parts: the.
An Examination of the Attitudes of the
The Attitude of the Sadducees
The Attitude of the Pharisees
Behind the stubbornness of the Pharisees was a deep-rooted desire for Israel's independence. Carr when he says that the attitude of the Pharisees required that they make no terms with Rome or any other foreign power.
The Attitude of the Scribes
Naturally, it fell to the scribes, especially skilled in the knowledge of the law, to take the lead in its practical administration. 1 S0,ribes' professional employment was first and foremost related to law and thus to justice.
The Attitude of the Essenes
If the entire feet of their teaohings are considered, they may be antagonistic to the Roman oil government. They lived mainly in villages and avoided cities because of the immorality of the inhabitants there.
The Attitude of the Herodians
2 A view of the origin of the party will also be decisive for the perception of its character. Their ideal was a national one, differing from the ideal of the Zealots as royalist from demoratic.
The Attitude of the Zealots
Life ~ Works of Flavius Josephus, it is applied to the patriots in the days of the Maccabees. 3 From the date of the procurator's arrival in Palestine, the Jews began to discover it.
The Attitude of lithe People of the
1 They were unwilling to wait for a slow transformation of society AS the means by which a new world would come about. The remarkable thing about the attitude of these people is that they were easily convinced by the other groups. Their lack of originality did not stop them from following men who led violent movements.
In our study of the political attitudes of the several Jewish parties, we have seen how the Romans gained the upper hand and exercised control over the people of Palestine. Their conquest brought to all 1. Although the different parties of the oppressed people reacted to their conquerors in different ways, the population as a whole protested. The restless feeling of the Jews towards their political superiors ensured ambitious reactionaries at least a small following at all times.
The Four Gospels
Doctor Robertson's opinion is that they show a wonderful reticence in what they do not say compared with the Apocryphal Gospels of later times. He attempted to draw attention to the situation of the people for whom the books were written, so that it became relevant to pay attention to their needs just as it was relevant to emphasize the messages of books which were the author's attempt to meet their needs." 2 It has been shown that the Gospels were produced in the midst of a conflict between the Christian Church and the Synagogue Truth and historical accuracy are characteristic of the books dealing with the life of Christ.
Apparent contradictions occur, most of which are easily explained, while the more difficult apparent contradictions are better understood with the help of recent archaeological information. 34;There is a growing belief among scholars that Mark is the earliest gospel, followed by Matthew, then Luke, then John,n says Dr. Robertson.
The Synoptics
Although the first three books of the New Testament are very similar, there are distinct differences between their presentations. 6 This is observable in all relations, in the editorial changes of the Markan souroe, and in. Doctor Riddle says this is a basic element of the evangelist's point of view, while Mark uses Jesus and the.
Dimont points out that it is impossible to read passages in the Gospel of Matthew where the Pharisees are mentioned without understanding that the author is one. Jerusalem and the temple are highlighted by the author of Luke instead of the polemic between Jesus and. A study of Luke and Acts together is required to understand the full presentation of Luke.
The Gospel of John
Schurer, Emil, ~ history of the Jews in the time of Jesus Christ, div-.-I~vol. In the world order, Pilate had the authority he claimed to have. Thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament come from the pen of Paul.
In the thirteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, Paul deals with the affairs of the civil government current at that time. 3 Compliance with the claims of the imperial cult became a test of loyalty to the Empire.
An Analysis of Jesus t Attitude
Toward Jewish Civil Government
Like other sacred tributes, it had to be in the early Hebrew or Tyrian (Phoenician) standard. 4 "He consciously conformed to the obligations of the old order, although he taught a select disciple. I can say, on the basis of these results, that Jesus approved of the Jewish legal system.
The scribes and the Pharisees had tried to make the ideals of God's kingdom fit their own. However, he laid the blame on those persons who repeated the words of the law without love. First, the assumption of these titles is a usurpation of the rights of God and Christ.
Toward Roman Civil Government
Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem on a state mission when Jesus was born, 1. 4 A review of the literature belonging to this period reveals how deep and 1. W., The Political and Social Significance. Ezekiel foretold the Coming Shepherd of GOD's 2 flocks; and Daniel spoke of the Anointed One.
The New Testament reader is often surprised by Jesus' practice of withdrawing from the public announcement that immediately follows. III It cannot be said that the general attitude of the Jews is expressed in that of Peter. The main reason for Jewish hatred was the domination of the Romans over the chosen people.
As Revealed in the Acts, Chapters
2 He said that he died to the law that he might live to God. The apostle of the Gentiles assumed a friendly attitude toward the Roman government, which he never concealed. Ramsay suggests that it is safe to assume that Paul was careful to adhere to demonstrable law and custom when he claimed to be a citizen of Tarsus when he described himself to the tribune.
4 According to the strict interpretation of Roman law, "civitas" displaced all other citizenships. 5. 34; A man who was once a Roman citizen could be said to have changed his citizenship and belonged to a single great family of Rome.1I 1 W. From Acts 21:33 to the end of the book, the apostle Paul is a prisoner. from Rome.
As Revealed in the Epistles of Paul
To understand Paul's letters, we need to know Luke's account of the apostle. The paucity of material dealing with civil government prohibits a detailed study of the development of Paul's attitude toward the empire and his empire. Years of experience softened the apostle's attitude and made him think more about sacrifice.
Paul's direct references to the civil government and to the relationship of the Christian to it, if few, are. 4 Up to the writing of this letter, the Roman Empire has never appeared in the character of a persecutor, nor has it even tolerated persecution in others. In Romans 13:8-10, Paul summarizes everything he said in the first seven verses of the chapter.
As Revealed in the General Epistles
The apostle sought to command private citizens to be subject as long as the government ruled. The brevity of Paul's teaching on civil government in no way causes us to overlook the directness of his speech. The duty of civil obedience, Peter exhorts, has as its motive “the sake of the Lord.11 4 God's will is to promote the happiness of human life, and civil society contributes to this goal.
34 Though you are free in all outward matters (for you are a Christian) and you should not be compelled by law to be so. Therefore, it is the duty of a Christian to obey all the laws of the government under which he lives, if they are not contrary to the will of God. 4 Nevertheless, the author of the book did not change his attitude towards the civilian government because of the possibility of persecution.
As Revealed in the Apocalypse
Revelation of John reviving the traditional hatred of the Jews for the Imperial government of Rome. 5 Christians of Smyrna, another important center of the Imperial cult, were told that they would soon. In presenting this thesis, it has been recalled that the words of the New Testament have a direct relationship with the thoughts and movements of the times in which they were written.
The writers of the books were more concerned with the inner life of man than with external relationships. If we use the New Testament recognition of the indispensability of civil government as a basis, we conclude that man must have laws to govern his own. The readers of the New Testament are exhorted to honor and respect rulers, not because of their character, but because of their relation to the divine purpose of the ages.
