{"id":540,"date":"2015-06-17T10:13:46","date_gmt":"2015-06-17T15:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/?page_id=540"},"modified":"2016-09-05T15:32:46","modified_gmt":"2016-09-05T20:32:46","slug":"sources-of-law-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/?page_id=540","title":{"rendered":"Sources of Law, 1: The Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bible does not focus primarily on matters of secular (i.e., non-religious) law, but what it does say about law had a great influence on later legal systems in many parts of the world. The excerpts below also show that ancient Hebrews took the existence of a sophisticated legal system for granted. They also suggest that the Bible\u2019s lessons for social norms are complex. On the one hand, many passages emphasize respect for authority and acceptance of traditional social hierarchies that kept slaves, servants, the poor, and women in subordinate roles. On the other hand, other passages recognize the need for treating all people fairly and for avoiding the corruption that wealth and power make possible. A few passages also point to an underlying equality among all people.<\/em><\/p>\n

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  1. The Ten Commandments are the most well-known legal rules found in the Bible (see <\/em><\/em>Exodus 20:1-17 and <\/em><\/em>Deuteronomy 5:6-21). Four of these mandates became enduring features of most secular law, namely those that prohibit murder, adultery, theft, and the giving of false testimony against one\u2019s neighbor. Four others are purely religious mandates (worship no other gods; do not make or bow down to any idols; do not misuse God\u2019s name; keep the Sabbath holy); and two state social ideals more than precise legal rules (honor your father and mother; do not covet your neighbor\u2019s house, wife, servant, ox, or donkey).<\/em><\/em>
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  2. The First Judges<\/em>: \u201cMoses\u2019 father-in-law said to him: \u2026You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers\u2026 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves\u2026 So Moses\u2026chose able men from all Israel\u201d (Exodus<\/em> 18:17-24).
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  3. Truthful & Just Testimony<\/em>: \u201cDo not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness\u2026 When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit\u2026 Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge\u2026 Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent. Do not oppress a foreigner\u201d (Exodus<\/em> 23:1-9).
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  4. Judging Fairly<\/em>: \u201cDo not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly\u201d (Leviticus<\/em> 19:15). \u201cAppoint judges and officials\u2026[who] shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. Follow justice and justice alone\u201d (Deuteronomy<\/em> 16:18-20). \u201cThe wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice\u201d (Proverbs<\/em> 17:23).
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  5. Number of Witnesses<\/em>: \u201cOne witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses\u201d (Deuteronomy<\/em> 19:15). \u201cBut if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses’\u201d (Matthew<\/em> 18:16).
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  6. Avoiding Lawsuits & False Testimony (Old Testament)<\/em>: \u201cDo not go hastily to court, for what will you do in the end, if your neighbor puts you to shame? If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another\u2019s confidence, or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear\u2026 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor\u201d (Proverbs<\/em> 25:8-12, 18).
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  7. Avoiding Lawsuits (New Testament)<\/em>: \u201cIf any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord\u2019s people? Or do you not know that the Lord\u2019s people will judge the world? \u2026But instead, one brother takes another to court\u2014and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?\u201d (1 Corinthians<\/em> 6:1-9).
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  8. God Appoints Rulers<\/em>: \u201cSamuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward\u201d (1 Samuel<\/em> 16:3). \u201cWhen all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel\u201d (2 Samuel<\/em> 5:3). \u201cI have found David my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him\u201d (Psalm<\/em> 89.20). \u201cBy me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles\u2014all who rule on earth\u201d (Proverbs<\/em> 8:15-16).
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  9. Subjection to Authority<\/em>: \u201cLet everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted\u2026 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong\u2026 For the one in authority is God\u2019s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God\u2019s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God\u2019s servants\u201d (Romans<\/em> 13:1-6).
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  10. Law is for Lawbreakers<\/em>: \u201cWe know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers\u2014and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine\u201d (1 Timothy<\/em> 1:8-10).
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  11. No Need to Change One\u2019s Social Status<\/em>: \u201cPilate then\u2026summoned Jesus and asked him, \u2018Are you the king of the Jews?\u2019 \u2026Jesus said, \u2018My kingdom is not of this world\u2026\u2019 (John<\/em> 18:33, 36). \u201cEach man must remain in that condition in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave\u2026 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called\u201d (1 Corinthians<\/em> 7:20-22, 24). \u201cSlaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ\u201d (Ephesians <\/em>6:5).
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  12. Men and Women: The Curse<\/em>: \u201cTo the woman [the Lord] said, \u2018I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.\u2019 Then to Adam He said, \u2018Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree\u2026, cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life\u2019\u201d (Genesis<\/em> 3:16-17).
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  13. Women Subordinate to Men (New Testament)<\/em>: \u201cBut I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman\u2026\u201d (1 Corinthians<\/em> 11:3). \u201cThe women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves\u2026 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church\u201d (1 Corinthians<\/em> 14:34-35). \u201cWives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church\u2026 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything\u201d (Ephesians<\/em> 5:22-24). \u201cA woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing\u2014if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety\u201d (1 Timothy<\/em> 2:11-15). \u201cYou husbands\u2026, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life\u201d (1 Peter<\/em> 3:7).
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  14. Equality<\/em>: \u201cFor by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit\u201d\u00a0(1 Corinthians<\/em> 12:13). \u201cSo in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith\u2026 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus\u201d (Galatians<\/em> 3:26-28). \u201c[In this new life] there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all\u201d (Colossians<\/em> 3:11).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The Bible does not focus primarily on matters of secular (i.e., non-religious) law, but what it does say about law had a great influence on later legal systems in many parts of the world. The …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":524,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/540"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=540"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1139,"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/540\/revisions\/1139"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/users.ssc.wisc.edu\/~rkeyser\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}