Biblical Roots in the Revolution

The Bible was a great influence to the American people during the time of the Revolution. Of all the literature written during this time, specifically looking at political science literature, a study found that over ⅓ of the quotations in the readings were quoting Scripture. This is astounding given the very influential works during this time. The Bible is quoted more often than any other work by another author or English school of thought that were popular at the time. Of all the Scripture that was quoted, the study observed that Deuteronomy was the most cited. This might have been due to its summarative nature of the first five books of the Bible and its references to civil laws and calling to stay faithful. The Bible was seen as the foundation for civil law that came from Moses. Two principles emerged during the Revolution that also have biblical ties, liberty and justice. 

Liberty 

One of the main themes permeating colonial America at the time of the Revolution was the idea of liberty. Liberty from Parliament, King George III, and the taxes that were being laid upon them. Some no doubt took to heart the story of God rescuing Israel from slavery and they saw themselves as Israel and the king as Pharaoh. They wanted to be liberated just as Israel was. The biblical idea of liberty is that things are restored to their original state of creation. This is why passages from Leviticus 25 about the year of Jubilee are inscribed on the liberty bell. The year of Jubilee was about setting free those who were slaves and restoring land to its original owner; it was a year of liberation. Many Americans saw themselves as wanting to be liberated from English rule. The idea of freedom comes from the Bible and this was one of their main influences for how they viewed and portrayed the revolution. 

Justice

Another theme was justice. The colonists simply wanted representation in Parliament after the heavy taxes the British government laid upon them. They wanted equality and justice in government. This belief was inspired by the Bible itself given the opening words to the Declaration “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”. They viewed God as being the foundation for the rights and justice they longed for. The founders didn’t create a nation that had complete liberty and justice as slavery still remained but it was a start. The narrative and laws of the Torah became the story they saw themselves living out and the foundation for a successful nation. Justice was at the core of the Mosaic law and the founders saw these principles as the foundation for which their government would be established. God’s law calls for justice for the poor and the falsely accused but also for those who are guilty. The founders wanted a government structured around fair representation so that no group could overpower another. 

Based on these principles alone, we can see that the founders took ideas from Scripture and believed them to be guiding principles as they set out to disassemble their current role in history and forge a new nation.