Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Politics?
23 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Politics in the Bible
What does the Bible say about politics? Browse 15 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Politics
- 1Deuteronomy 15:7
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
KJV - 2Psalms 12:8
“The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. men: Heb. of the sons of the men”
KJV - 3Psalms 33:12
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
KJV - 4Proverbs 29:2
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. in: or, increased”
KJV - 5
- 6Daniel 2:21
“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”
KJV - 7Daniel 6:4
“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”
KJV - 8Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
KJV - 9Matthew 14:3
“For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.”
KJV - 10Matthew 20:20
“Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.”
KJV
Subtopics of Politics
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Politics? (7 Verses)
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
“The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. men: Heb. of the sons of the men”
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. in: or, increased”
“If a ruler hearken to lies , all his servants are wicked.”
“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”
“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Politics? (16 Verses)
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
“For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.”
“Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.”
“Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”
“And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.”
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
“For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.”
“And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.”
“And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,”
“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”
“But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
“Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.”
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. ordained: or, ordered”
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: conversation: or, we live or conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven, or, for obtaining heaven”
“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Politics
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about politics. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about politics and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about politics is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on politics needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about politics with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about politics, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Politics?
You have studied 23 verses about politics. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.