Politics are a prevalent theme in the Bible. Throughout the text, multiple references to political situations, leadership qualities, and how followers should behave in the context of government systems are interspersed. This summary aims to explore these diverse facets within the Bible’s examination of politics.
What does the Bible say about Politics?
The Bible offers numerous examples and perspectives on the topic of politics. Emphasizing righteousness, justice, compassion, honesty, and respect for authority are some key themes that consistently appear in the Bible’s political discourse. Unlike modern preoccupations with party affiliation or political alignment, the Bible focuses on the qualities of a good leader to guide politico-societal functioning.
Where do Political Examples Surface in the Bible?
Political scenarios are prevalent in both the Old and New Testaments. A few representative examples include the institution of kingship in Israel, the political maneuverings of Esther to protect her people, the prophet Daniel’s service in foreign kingdoms, and even Jesus Christ’s dealings with various political entities during his Ministry. Regardless of the nature or complexities of the laities, these examples focus on the virtues that followers ought to embody.
Who are the Political Figures in the Bible?
Many well-known Biblical figures held political positions or operated in political spheres. For example, Joseph served as Pharaoh’s second-in-command in Egypt, Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, and David ruled as King over Israel. In the New Testament, Pontius Pilate, Herod the Great, and the Apostles also stand out as political figures. Each not only played important roles in their respective political contexts but also contributed to the thematic threads about political ethics in the Bible.
Why does the Bible Engage with Politics?
The Bible engages with politics to guide believers’ actions and attitudes in the context of governance and power structures. Moreover, it underscores the supreme sovereignty of God over human affairs, including politics. It emphasizes the duty of believers to participate in their community’s governance with righteousness, be it through directly taking up roles of leadership, or by participating as responsible citizens. The Bible’s engagement with politics is a broad reminder for the faithful to uphold justice, truth, and respect for others, regardless of political leaning or governance style.
When does the Bible Advocate Political Involvement?
The Bible advocates for positive political involvement and instructs believers to honor and respect earthly authorities. However, it also reverberates with the teaching that these authorities should not supersede God’s law. It encourages readers to bear in mind that while leaders are to be obeyed, ultimate sovereignty belongs to God. As such, the Bible guides believers towards principled involvement, steering clear of blind or unscrupulous allegiance to political entities.
Below is our full list of bible verses on politics (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Politics
Romans 13:1-7
“1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Morality Sovereignty
1 Timothy 2:1-2
“1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Titus 3:9
“9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”
Related Themes: Arguing Division Debating Quarreling
Acts 5:29
“29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Obedience Morality Pleasing God
Psalm 33:12
“12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Related Themes: Patriotism Purity
Matthew 22:17-21
“17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
“7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”
Related Themes: Homelessness Money Finances
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
“11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”
Philippians 3:20
“20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
Related Themes: Glorification Hope Strangers Afterlife
Daniel 2:21
“21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Seasons Discernment Omnipotence
Matthew 28:18
“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence Purpose Authority Loneliness
Matthew 6:24
“24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
1 Peter 2:17
“17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Reverence Respect Fear
Proverbs 29:2
“2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Related Themes: Humility Pride Voting Leadership
Proverbs 14:34
“34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Related Themes: Voting Righteousness Morality
Proverbs 29:12
“12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
Related Themes: Gossip Manipulation Leadership
Psalm 109:8
“8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.”
Proverbs 21:1
“1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Reputation Omnipotence Justice
Titus 3:1
“1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
John 18:36
“36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Related Themes: Arguing Fighting Patriotism Homelessness
Hosea 4:6
“6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Related Themes: Repentance Humility Healing Prayer Revival
Jeremiah 29:7
“7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”
Deuteronomy 17:12-20
“12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.14 When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”
Related Themes: Killing
John 19:11
“11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
Related Themes: Sovereignty All Sins Being Equal Voting
Psalm 94:20-21
“20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.”
2 Samuel 15:2-6
“2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”
2 Samuel 20:16-22
“16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.”
Mark 12:13-17
“13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”
2 Timothy 2:24-25
“24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
Related Themes: Criticism Patience Arguing Repentance Gentleness
