Article XXXVI
The Divine Institution of Civil Authority
God has established civil government to restrain lawlessness and promote the advancement of His kingdom.
We believe that because the human race is corrupt, our good God has appointed kings, princes, and civil authorities. He intends for the world to be governed by laws and civil order, so that human lawlessness may be restrained and everything among people may be conducted in good order. For this purpose, He has placed the sword in the hands of the civil authorities to punish evildoers and protect those who do good. Their duty is not only to preserve and oversee civil order, but also to uphold the sacred ministry, to remove and destroy all idolatry and false worship of God, to overthrow the kingdom of the Antichrist and advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and to have the word of the gospel preached everywhere, so that everyone may honor and serve God as He requires in His Word.1
Our Duty Toward Governing Authorities
Believers are called to honor, obey, and pray for their leaders while rejecting those who seek to disrupt God's established social order.
Furthermore, everyone—regardless of rank, condition, or position—must submit to the civil authorities, pay their taxes, treat them with honor and respect, and obey them in everything that does not conflict with the Word of God. They must also pray for them, asking the Lord to guide them in all their ways, so that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and integrity. And on this point, we reject the error of the Anabaptists and other rebels, and more generally of all those who seek to cast off authorities and civil rulers, overthrow justice, establish common ownership of property, and disrupt the honorable order God has established among people.2
Read the original Latin
Nous croyons que notre bon Dieu, à cause de la dépravation du genre humain, a ordonné des Rois, Princes, et Magistrats; voulant que le monde soit gouverné par lois et polices, afin que le débordement des hommes soit réprimé, et que tout se fasse avec bon ordre entre les hommes. Pour cette fin il a mis le glaive dans les mains du Magistrat pour punir les méchants, et maintenir les gens de bien: et non seulement leur office est de prendre garde et veiller sur la police, mais aussi de maintenir le sacré ministère, pour ôter et ruiner toute idolâtrie et faux service de Dieu; pour détruire le royaume de l'antéchrist et avancer le royaume de Jésus-Christ, faire prêcher la Parole de l'Évangile partout, afin que Dieu soit honoré et servi de chacun, comme il le requiert par sa Parole. De plus chacun, de quelque qualité, condition, ou état, qu'il soit, doit être soumis aux Magistrats, et payer les tributs; les avoir en honneur et révérence, et leur obéir en toutes choses qui ne sont point contraires à la Parole de Dieu; priant pour eux en leurs oraisons, afin que le Seigneur les veuille diriger en toutes leurs voies, et que nous menions une vie paisible et tranquille en toute piété et honnêteté. Et sur ceci nous détestons l'erreur des Anabaptistes et autres mutins, et en général de tous ceux qui veulent rejeter les autorités et Magistrats, et renverser la justice, établissant communautés de biens, et confondant l'honnêteté que Dieu a mise entre les homes.
Notes
The Belgic Confession companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit