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Government
Administration of Law • Bureaucracy • Governments • Politics • State • State Officials
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Dictionaries
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Government
Government The biblical records give fragmentary information about political forms, institutions, and procedures for the governing of the body politic. Although they give detailed legislation, which may be classified as civil or judicial, for the nation of Israel itself, one must infer from meager and
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)
Government
government, the administration of society by those in power. The form of government in the Bible varies: village assemblies, heads of familial and tribal associations, intertribal judges, theocratic kings, and emperors with their representatives (prefect or procurator or subordinate king) or local councils
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Law, Administration of
LAW, ADMINISTRATION OF. The ninth commandment indicates the existence of a system of jurisprudence at an early date in Israel. Perjury, or bearing false witness in a legal trial (Ex 20:16), is here viewed as destructive of this essential aspect of society.The first biblical reference to the administration
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Government
Government. †Although the Bible presents a variety of political institutions, detailed information is often fragmentary and inferential. Nonetheless, government is consistently understood in the context of God’s covenant and of his sovereignty over the world.Theocracy (Gk. theokrátia “God rules”),
Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith
Government, Civil
Government, CivilJohn Calvin’s understandings of church and state took practical shape through his leadership of the Genevan church in relation to the city’s governing body, the Council. The church and the Council were separate bodies and their duties did not ordinarily overlap. Together, Calvin held,
Politics
PoliticsPolitics is the process by which groups of people make choices of their leaders and the use of their collective resources. Thus, John Calvin was among the most political of theologians, for he relied for reformation of church and society, not upon individuals, “however high their social status
Polity
PolityA particular form of government. The Latin and Greek roots of the word “polity” carry connotations of community, organization, and citizenship. There are three distinct types of church polity: episcopal, congregational, and presbyterian, each with distinguishing characteristics. Episcopal polity
Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Governments
Governments—(1 Cor. 12:28), the powers which fit a man for a place of influence in the church; “the steersman’s art; the art of guiding aright the vessel of church or state.”
Harper’s Bible Dictionary
Government
Governmentgovernment, the administration of society by those in power. The form varies greatly with village assemblies, heads of familial and tribal associations, intertribal judges, theocratic kings, and worldly emperors with their representatives (procurator or subordinate king) and local council
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Government
GOVERNMENT — earthly authority; those who rule over others in order to keep society stable and orderly. Only God is the sovereign ruler of all. When human governments exalt themselves above God, they go beyond their legitimate function in society (Dan. 5:31). In Bible times God exercised government through
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT<guv’-ern-ment>: The government of the Hebrews varied at different periods, of which we may distinguish seven:1. the nomadic period, from the Exodus to the entrance into Palestine;2. the period of transition from nomadic to civil life;3. the monarchy;4. the period of subjection to
Compton’s Encyclopedia
government
governmentAny group of people living together in a country, state, city, or local community has to live by certain rules. The system of rules and the people who make and administer them is known as a government. Especially at the national level, a government can be a massive system that encompasses
cabinet government
cabinet governmentAlthough there are many constitutional democracies in the world today, most are organized in ways that mirror the governments of either the United States or the United Kingdom. One component of government that is common to both types is a cabinet, or a body of advisers to the chief
municipal government
municipal governmentMany countries have three levels of government—national, regional (state or provincial), and local. Another term for local is municipal, derived from a Latin term suggesting a walled city. A municipality is a city, town, or village that is self-governing. In some cases a county can
bureaucracy
bureaucracyThe administrative apparatus of all governments, from the local to the national level, is called bureaucracy. The term refers to a type of organization characterized by a staff of officials working under uniform rules and procedures and a clear structure of command. The word combines the
constitution
constitutionEvery government has an organizational structure that defines the specific responsibilities of its public officials. Some officials make the laws, others see to their enforcement. Taxes must be collected and revenues spent. There must be provision for preserving the domestic peace and providing
Key passages
Mt 22:15–22

Then the Pharisees went and consulted so that they could entrap him with a statement. And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care what anyone thinks, …

Ro 13:1–7

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except by God, and those that exist are put in place by God. So then, the one who resists authority resists the ordinance which is from God, and those who resist will receive …

1 Ti 2:1–2

Therefore, I urge first of all that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, on behalf of kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Pe 2:13–17

Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king as having supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good. For the will of God …

See also
Topics & Themes
Government, Politics and National Identity