"Christ is the Lord of All” and "Authorities are Ordinances of God”: Two Principles Governing the Church and State Relationship in the Early Christianity

“Christ is the Lord of All” and “Authorities are Ordinances of God”: Two Principles Governing the Church and State Relationship in the Early Christianity

Nathan K. N.G.

The church and state relationship was governed by two principles in early Christianity. The first one was “Christ is the Lord of All”. Based on this principle, the early Christians withdrew from all social practices violating biblical faiths and engaged in every good works pleasing to Him. The second principle was “Authorities are Ordinances of God”. This meant that all earthly authorities, no matter political or private, were directly or indirectly ordained by God. Christians should respect and obey them as a means to obey the Lord. Thus, focusing on the heavenly rewards, early Christians accepted their fate including political persecution without any revolt. This article ends with four reflections on the meanings of these beliefs for the church today