What Does the Bible Say About Freedom Government?

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Galatians 5:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Romans 13:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Acts 5:29 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 Peter 2:13-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

1 Peter 2:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Titus 3:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

John 8:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Romans 13:3-4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 6:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

John 18:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Joshua 24:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

1 Peter 2:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ...

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Romans 13:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

John 19:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

John 15:1-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ...

Mark 7:1-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ...

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 26:52-54 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

Matthew 22:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Matthew 5:38-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Isaiah 9:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Proverbs 29:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.

Proverbs 29:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

Proverbs 29:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Proverbs 16:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 8:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1 Samuel 8:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” ...

Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

Leviticus 19:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

Exodus 20:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

46 Bible Verses about Freedom Government

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 5:29 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:13-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:3-4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 18:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Joshua 24:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 19:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:1-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 7:1-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 26:52-54 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:38-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 9:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 9:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 8:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 8:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)