Updated 2/17/2025

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What the Bible Says About Civil Government

by Paul T. Butler

(photo 1994)

There are very few resources available that offer a good Biblical exegesis on the subject of civil government. Paul Butler did an exceptionally thorough job of Biblical research in his book What the Bible Says About Civil Government (1990, College Press) and has granted his permission to make this work available. Used copies of the hardback book are periodically available from amazon.com. Paul Butler died Jan 20, 2017 (obit).

Please email comments or questions regarding Biblical principles for civil government. See "correspondence" listed below for a summary of discussion on this topic.

• Dedication

• Introduction

• Chap 1 - The Origin of Civil Government

• Chap 2 - The Purpose of Civil Government

• Chap 3 - The Form of Civil Government

• Chap 4 - Crime and Punishment

• Chap 5 - War

• Chap 6 - Participation of Believers

• Chap 7 - Taxation

• Chap 8 - Private Ownership of Property

• Chap 9 - Public Welfare

• Chap 10 - Civil Disobedience

• Chap 11 - International Relations

• Chap 12 - Church and State

• Epilogue

• The Providence of God in the Colonization of America!

• Bible Preachers - Forerunners of Freedom

• An Assembly of Demigods

• Bibliography

• American Political Science Association