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Savior or Servant? Putting Government in Its Place
A survey of the history of Christian political thought, including a study of scriptural bases and current discussions. This book argues for limited government based on an enduring foundation.
Savior or Servant? Putting Government in Its Place is an attempt to define the role of the state: Shall it be a minister or a Messiah? Using ancient but timeless information, David W. Hall has surveyed the Bible and arrived at a coherent theology of the state. This study succeeds in identifying the responsibilities that the civil state is mandated to do, permitted to do, and prohibited from doing. Along the way, it is discovered that all political schemes and issues are fraught with theological... read more --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
405 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 1996
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December 19, 2020
What does the Bible say about civil government? More than you likely think. David Hall writes from a simple and reliable premise: “God who created the state has also revealed how it should operate. . . [and] the Creator of the state knows best how it works and its limitations.” This leads to a deep study of what God’s word teaches about civil government. Going beyond Romans 13, David Hall expounds the Bible’s teaching on the state, whether explicit or implicit, from Genesis to Revelation.
This systematic study of the state is the main section of the book, but there are two other major sections as well. First, a historical survey of political philosophy, focusing primarily on Christian thought. And, second, an illusive section made up of two chapters, one on qualified absolutism and the Roman Catholic view of politics, and then a second on “Systematic Considerations”, addressing pressing political questions. As a bonus, there is an appendix thrown in that discusses the “Escalation of Rights”, which discusses our modern preoccupation with “rights” and offers a biblical critique.
I’m confident I will return to this book often. It is a great resource for the church.
This systematic study of the state is the main section of the book, but there are two other major sections as well. First, a historical survey of political philosophy, focusing primarily on Christian thought. And, second, an illusive section made up of two chapters, one on qualified absolutism and the Roman Catholic view of politics, and then a second on “Systematic Considerations”, addressing pressing political questions. As a bonus, there is an appendix thrown in that discusses the “Escalation of Rights”, which discusses our modern preoccupation with “rights” and offers a biblical critique.
I’m confident I will return to this book often. It is a great resource for the church.
June 23, 2022
Most excellent book that documents the historical Christian position on the place of civil government. Much needed in our day of rampant statism.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews