The Dominion Covenant

An Economic Commentary on the Bible #1

by Gary North

[From back cover] This is the first volume of a multi-volume economic commentary on the Bible - the first one ever published - and will provide biblical answers to these questions, and dozens more:

Why is Genesis 1:14-18 more hated by humanists than Genesis 1:1?
Why was Darwin successful in winning converts when others had failed?
Why did God never intend that Adam should rest on the seventh day?
Why did Adam refuse to rest on the first day as a principle of life?
Why is gold money? (After all, you can't eat gold.)
Why does socialism increase pollution?
Why do pagan cultures have high interest rates?
Why does the Bible say that growth can be a blessing?
Why is population explosion morally required?
Why is the Social Security System going broke?
How old was Jacob really when he left home? (you'll hardly believe it.)
What does the Bible teach about personal financial planning?

Modern economic thought is humanistic to the core, whether conservative, libertarian, Keynesian, or Marxist. All schools of thought begin with the presupposition that man is the measure of all things, and man's mind is capable, apart from biblical revelation to interpret the world correctly. This is why modern economic theory is in the process of disintegration.

This book sets forth the biblical foundations of economics. It offers the basis of the total reconstruction of economic theory and practice. It specifically abandons the universal presupposition of all modern schools of economics: Darwinian evolution. Economics must begin with the doctrine of creation.

What does the Bible require of men in the area of economics and business? What does the Bible have to say about economic theory? Does it teach the free market, or socialism, or a mixture of the two, or something completely different? Is there really an exclusively Christian approach to economics?

What you’re about to read represents a self-conscious effort to rethink the oldest and most rigorous social science in terms of the doctrine of creation. Every social science requires such a reconstruction. The ""baptized humanism"" of the modern Christian college classroom must be abandoned by all those who take seriously God's command that Christians go forth and subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28). We must begin with the doctrine of creation if we are not to end in total chaos. This is the central message of this book. God's curse of the ground (Genesis 3:17-19) made scarcity an inescapable aspect of man's existence. This is the specific economic starting point for Christian economics. Apart from these fundamental presuppositions, economics is inescapably irrational and self-contradictory.

This book was originally titled: The Dominion Covenant: Genesis

Genres: Economics, Theology

512 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1982

About the author

Gary North received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside. He served on the Senior Staff of the Foundation for Economic Education, in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, and was the president of the Institute for Christian Economics. Dr. North’s essays and reviews have appeared in three dozen magazines and journals, including The Wall Street Journal, National Review, The American Spectator, and others.

Reviews

[Orrin Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary North, in my opinion, is the clearest writer on how Biblical Law and Economic theory mesh together. Few people have the depth understanding that North does in either of these vital subjects, let alone both of them. Above all, however, is how he combines his knowledge with unflagging discipline to write commentaries that highlight the economic aspects of God's Word revealed in the Bible. The Dominion Covenant was one of the first North books I read and started me on an intellectual journey to understand my Bible in a new light. This led into further study with the Austrian economist who, although many are secular authors, capture many points economically that God previously revealed in the Bible. North is a treasure of truth in a sea of lies and I appreciate his efforts to shine Light in a dark world.

For instance, North's explanation on the Austrian marginal revolution and Mises's theories of monetary policies are second to none. Dominion Covenant is the first in the series of Biblical Commentaries and a great place to start on your journey to unpack Biblical and Economic truths. I highly recommend anything North writes for even when one disagrees with him, he makes a person think deeper about the underlying principles at stake.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not approach this book as an exegetical commentary. It’s nothing of the kind. North begins with the presupposition that all ancient (and modern gnostic) cosmologies die upon the rock of the speaking, self-contained God. From there he shows that such disciplines as economics can’t consistently exist in a random universe which worships the chaos gods.

Economic Value: Objective and Subjective

“The doctrine of imputation lies at the heart of creation” (37). It is objectively good because it conforms to God’s decree. It is subjectively good because God, the speaking subject, announced it as good.

Marginalist revolution in economics: acting men impute value to scarce economic resources. See diamond-water paradox. We never buy “water in general” or “diamonds in general.” Men do not trade indeterminate aggregates (North 40).


From there he gives reflections upon different moments in Genesis. They are good and wise, though I wouldn’t use them in my sermon. The book ends with several book-length (!) appendices.

Godly Deception

Everyone gives Rahab trouble for her lie (even though James says she was justified for that very act). But as North points out, her lie is irrelevant, analytically speaking. She committed high treason and no one bats an eye at that (184-185).

Jael lies, too. In fact, she violated her husband’s international treaty with Sisera. She lied to him and drove a spike through his head. Rather than anguishing over the “Nazis at the door question,” the Holy Spirit, speaking through Deborah, says “Most blessed of women is Jael” (Judg. 5.24)

Nuggets

*Any serious claim to godhead must maintain the unity of the Godhead. Since man is god, he must be made to unite. We see this with covenant-breaking man and the United Nations. Man, collective man with the scientific elite at the top, must be unified.

* Pagan cosmology, both ancient and modern, is committed to the chain of being. God is part of this chain.

*Evolution requires several leaps in being. One, to get the process of life started. And another leap to develop consciousness distinct from the atoms bumping into each other.

*Cyclical views of time are connected with ancient chaos rituals. In doing so, the participants engage in a drama of the creation of the world from the unformed (and hence chaotic) hyle. It is a demonic power from below.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely fantastic book. It really opened my eyes to the broader picture of Christianity and expanded my theology like nothing before it. Though this book is written largely from an economic perspective it has some really great theology in it as well.

Dr. North builds the foundation to understanding economics from the Christian perspective. The Bible really does have all the answers for life, including economics!!!

[Jeremy]

Here's is North's 31-volume commentary on economics in the Bible.

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author of this book is insane.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book on biblical view of economics. It deals with some major principles and disputes in the field, all the while viewing everything through the lens of scripture.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. North is always thought-provoking, often insightful.