State-Church relationship – a biblical neotestamentary argumentation
State-Church relationship – a biblical neotestamentary argumentation

Summary/Abstract: The biblical basis of political theology is generally known because it is the foundation of any Christian theory on the relationship between secular and spiritual power. The interpretation of the biblical reference points—their reading in context—remains essentially patristic. Thus, the word of the Saviour in the Sermont on the Mount, according to which “you cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt. 6, 24) is completed by the explanation “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s!” (Matt. 22, 21); it does not refer to hatred against money or political power, but to the balance of the christian who uses money without becoming its servant. Therefore, he submits to the state, but is only absolutely obedient to God: “We must obbey God rather than human beings” (Acts 5, 29). This means that faith bring us an inner authority which avoids any outside discretionary domination. The obedience to the ordinances of temporal dominion is an act of kindness to those allowed by God (e.g. Romans 13, 1-7). The Christian can not protest permanently against the world because the world is held, managed and endured for better and for worse by the One who built it. The role of the Christian and the Church is precisely to testify to divine providence. This is why Christians pray for authorities and for those who are high governors (1 Tim. 2, 1-2). This supliant intercession does not mean uncritical legitimacy of temporal power, it is a permanent reminder of its Providential source. The Christian is not politically and economically passive. He is active among other people.

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