Civil Service

The biblical material on civil service addresses both the obligations of those in governmental authority and the duties of subjects toward governing institutions. The Mosaic law provided comprehensive regulations for civil governance: kings were forbidden to multiply horses, wives, or gold (Deut. 17:16-17), were required to write a personal copy of the law and read it daily (Deut. 17:18-20), and were to administer justice without favoritism (Deut. 16:18-20). Judges and officials were to be appointed in every town and to pursue justice with complete impartiality (Deut. 16:18-19).

Daniel, Joseph, and Nehemiah provide models of faithful service within pagan or post-exilic governmental structures without compromising covenant loyalty. Daniel's administrators could find no corruption or negligence in him (Dan. 6:4). Nehemiah refused the governor's food allowance as an economic burden on the people (Neh. 5:14-18). The NT epistles teach submission to governing authorities as divinely ordered for the restraint of evil and the maintenance of order (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; Titus 3:1), while Acts demonstrates that obedience to God supersedes human authority when the two conflict: 'We must obey God rather than men' (Acts 4:19; 5:29). Believers are called to pray for rulers (1 Tim. 2:1-2) and to be exemplary citizens where possible (1 Pet. 2:15).