POLITICS IN THE BIBLE

By Steven B. Smith
 Report Outline
What are the two elements that Compare and contrast
Share with us some ways of
make up the Western Athenian politics from politics
reading the Bible.
intellectual tradition? in the Bible.

Compare and contrast King

How does the Biblical
David with Aristotle’s
narrative see politics? Good or
megalopsychos and Plato’s
bad?
philosopher-king.
What are the two elements that
make up the Western intellectual
tradition?
Br. Maximilian Evardoni, Br. Gerard Mapalo TOCarm,
Wesley Kim Soguilon
What are the two
elements that make up
the Western
intellectual tradition?
The two elements that make up
Western intellectual tradition are
the following: The one that was
derived from the Philosophical
tradition of Greece, and the one
that was derived from the Bible.
They are also called as “Athens”
and “Jerusalem” respectively.
However, they are not enough to
encapsulate the whole western
intellectual tradition.
These two strands are also considered the
two polarities at which the Western
tradition has revolved. Jerusalem being
“the city of faith”, and Athens being “the
city of Philosophy.”

Athens, being the “City of Philosophy” has

a reputation of being the embodiment of
rationality, democracy and science, while
on the other hand, Jerusalem, being the
“City of Faith”, embodies morality, love
and faith.
 To say that Athens is the “City of Philosophy”
means that, more than anything else, it elevates
human reason as man’s greatest need. Such reason
is used to examine our lives and thus, to make it
flourish and to cultivate it. By our own reason can
we make our lives worth living.

One the other hand, to say that Jerusalem is the

“city of Faith” in Western intellectual tradition
means adherence to the Divine law. God provides
man laws to obey. Obedience is the attitude that
the bible advocates.
 Share with us some ways of
reading the Bible.
Br. Saw Min Henry OP, Sr. Loribelle Ribleza SJSM, Br. Ian
Manuel Rivera MMHC
It can be read as a book of wisdom
providing timeless lessons on life’s
most difficult problems.

It can be read as a holy book given by

God to Moses and handed down by
Moses to the patriarchs in a line of
unbroken tradition.
It can be read as a historical work providing archaeological and anthropological information
about the world of the ancient Near East or it can be read, as a political book providing a
matchless account of the beginnings of humanity, the creation of the first family, the rise of
civilization, and the eventual separation of humanity into distinct peoples and nations.
Adding on to what the author suggested, we have to read the bible with
curiosity and ask questions such as "Who said this? Was it God?“, "Why did
the woman disregard God's command?“, "Why did God wish to monopolize
this knowledge for himself alone?”
 Compare and contrast Athenian
politics from politics in the Bible.
Br. Godfrey Lopido, Br. Angelo Borillo, Br. Oliver Juntado,
MMHC
 Athenian Politics
◦ Man is the political animal,
intended for life in the city;
◦ His virtues are the virtues
necessary for citizenship and
statecraft.
◦ Fortification or creation of ideal
cities, states and political
authority.
◦ Grounded on Philosophy.
Biblical Politics
◦ The Bible extols pious and
humble men.
◦ Suspicion of cities, states, and
political authority.
◦ It presents not a philosophy
but a code of law.
A. Eve bears the characteristics of a philosopher, and
what made her become such a philosopher? Her natural
curiosity, an openness to experience and a desire to learn.
She is eager to learn and bear knowledge without limits
just like the former and latter philosophers.

B. After killing Abel, Cain was forced to roam into the

world. From there he founded the first city, and in his line
of family, they bring the invention of tools and
instruments necessary for civilized life. This is similar to
the foundational principle of a city of Socrates where
citizens perform necessary roles in order to build such a
city.

C. Cities that are said to have urban life and civilization:

Mesopotamian city of Ur and Mizriam-or Egypt.
D. The idea of Socrates having his daimon as a naysayer that
protects him from injustice shows commonality to that of a prophet
in the Bible. Prophets are important to the biblical contribution to
political thought; they acquire conscience to leaders and kings like
David. They are as important as how Socrates views the unexamined
life is not worth living, and through the examination of life, he draws
ideas in how to contribute on the politics.

E. Idolatry in the sense of money, fame, health, status, or anything

else is present to every society. The idea of idolatry may not be the
same in being as it is in the Bible, but they have the same attributes
to how people view them. Things like money are shown to be the
fetish of men, they draw men away from God and starts
worshipping this type of idol. The Bible warns us not to do it so.

F. The institution of kingship, and the cry of the people to be ruled

by a king is present to both politics. “The wish to be governed ‘like
all the nations’ is taken by God to be rebuke of his authority.”
Compare and contrast King David
with Aristotle’s megalopsychos and
Plato’s philosopher-king.
Br. Marco Lorenzo OP, Br. Denver Colegado OP, Br. John
Rey Membela MMHC
 King David
A loving friend to Jonathan.
Aristotle’s Megalopsychos
A megalopsychos or a
Megalopsychia (the greatness
of soul) also translated as
pride, or magnanimity, is a
virtue Aristotle attributes to
the good person regarding his
claim to be worthy of great
things, namely, honour.
Plato’s Philosopher-King
A philosopher king is a ruler
who possesses a love of
wisdom, as well as
intelligence, reliability, and a
willingness to live a simple
life. Such are the rulers of his
utopian city Kallipolis.

Possessing erotic love for A person with pride or a

Bathsheba. person who thinks themselves
worthy of honour and great
things.
Love for a problematic
offspring, Absalom.
He is Passionate (he possesses
drives such as courage, love,
lust, anger, etc.)
 King David Aristotle’s Megalopsychos Plato’s Philosopher-King
Saw his unworthiness, but Possessing virtue. Meaning
amidst seeing such, he still doing what is expected of him
possessed in him toughness at the proper time, place,
and pragmatism necessary for manner, and circumstance.
kingly rule.
A man of great heart and of Also known as, Great souled
shrewd judgement. man
At some point he did what is
necessary. But also at some
point in his reign he did things
that are considered foolish and
not well thought of.
He has tremendous
resourcefulness, cunning and
intelligence.

A poet and a warrior.

 Similarities
David is like a philosopher king, but not fully, though he did not
engage really in philosophy. What made him similar to this is because
he was a poet and had the heart of a warrior.
 
He also falls in the category of a great souled man. Because he saw
himself, amidst all his unworthiness, worthy to receive honors and
other great things.
 
King David can be categorized to both philosopher king by Plato and
Great- souled man by Aristotle, but not fully, due to some aspects in
him that does not fit well with what it means to be a philosopher king
and a great-souled man.
How does the Biblical narrative see
politics? Good or bad?
Br. Vinze John Rey C. Tapayan, MMHC, Fr. Emer de Atras,
MMHC, Fr. Honoratus Pigai
1. The struggle between good and evil is the
theme of the next great biblical
drama, the story of the brothers Cain and
Abel. It is the line of Cain that brings the
invention of the tools and instruments
necessary for civilized

2. As with the brothers Romulus and Remus

and the founding of Rome
through an act of fratricide, the biblical
message is clear: politics and the
arts of civilization are built upon crime.

3. The danger with the state and political rule

is the ever present temptation of idolatry.
THANK YOU!