Christianity and the state in the first century

This dissertation studies the New Testament perspective of the Christian's attitude and duty towards the State. In it the first chapter is devoted to an investigation of the political attitude of Jesus of Nazareth as can be recovered from his reported actions and pronouncements concerning the Roman government of his day and his instructions to his followers about violence and their duties towards the State. Special attention is paid to the reasons for his crucifixion. In the second chapter an exegetical study is made of the apostle Paul's teachings about the State in Romans 13:1-7; and the third chapter is an exegetical discussion of Revelation 13 in which John assumes a very negative attitude towards the State. In the final short chapter the author draws the conclusion that as early as the first Christian century the attitude of the Church towards the State was to a large extent determined by the State's treatment of the Church. Although a definite difference is evident between the attitudes of Paul and John towards the State, they agree with Jesus that the State has a definite place in the divine order of the universe. This fact requires of the Christian and other citizens to give loyally to the State what it needs for its existence, to submit to its authority and obey just laws, to pray for those in authority, reject violence, resist any religio-ideological claims or injustices of the State, and participate in the prophetic role of the Church in relation to the State.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Religious Studies

Year dc:date.issued

1985

Author dc:creator

• Titus, Stephanus Jacobus

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14405

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/14405