Daniel L. Dreisbach

LibraryThing, Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers, Daniel L. Dreisbach, Oxford University Press, 2017, 2.27.17

Theme: the influence of the Bible on the founding era
Type: nonfiction historical research with conclusions
Value: 1-
Age: college
Interest:1-
Objectionable:
Synopsis/Noteworthy:

4 basic argument: Bible knowledge/reading was so pervasive, people thought in terms of KJV 6, 7, 49, 229, 231
23 right/wrong known only by the book-Abe Lincoln, 49-John Adams, 50-founders tutored from pulpit
27 highest literacy rates in recorded history were in America (which “promoted education more generally”)
28 interpret for self “Alister E. McGrath’s words, ‘Christianity’s dangerous idea’ [was that it was the right of the individual to interpret the Bible for himself rather than be forced to submit to ‘official’ interpretations]”
29 shaped English language “The language of the English Bible over time transcended regional dialects and linguistic variations and promoted a common tongue throughout the British Isles.” 73 “the English of the KJV was the lingua franca of 18th century America”
31 KJV – as pure literature  Greek/Hebrew (originals) “from the point of view of pure literature the Bible is better in English than it is in Greek or Hebrew”
34 laws required possession “Some colonial laws even required households to possess a copy of the Bible”
41 nations flourish according to reverence for Bible/read Bible in schools—Benjamin Rush
51 entertainment value (et al) Elias Boudinot president of Continental Congress “…were you to ask me to recommend the most valuable book in the world, I should fix on the Bible as the most instructive, both to the wise and ignorant. Were you to ask me for one, affording the most rational and pleasing entertainment to the inquiring mind, I should repeat, it is the Bible: and should you renew the inquiry, for the best philosophy, or the most interesting history…”
60 Francis Hopkinson, signer of Declaration, New Jersey jurist, America’s first native-born musical composer
66 our founding document, some see Bible as more than Constitution, great political textbook of the patriots
67-8 need for self-gov’t, possible only thru religion, people must be both educated and religious 101, 146, 147, 148, 149-50, 170
84 Hebrew-republican gov’t “The Hebrew commonwealth, they believed, was republican in form, committed to political liberty and the rule of law, and characterized by representative government and the voluntary consent of the governed. God had authorized the popular selection of the form of government, a specific government administration, and the civil magistrates who served in that administration. The Hebrews had a federal arrangement with a centralized government and multiple regional (tribal) governments. Their government also included multiple distinct, separated branches of civil government, including a chief magistrate, legislature, and judiciary. It also had a multi-tiered judicial system providing the appeals.”
85 Scripture as authority source “Interestingly, the Bible was cited at the Constitutional Convention as authority in support of or opposition to specific provisions… [Franklin] informed his audience in unambiguous language that his source was ‘Scripture,’ and then quoted a specific biblical text.”
110 submission texts “The two most cited biblical texts in support of the doctrines of unlimited submission or passive obedience and nonresistance are Romans 13:1-7 and I Peter 2:13-17.”
97, 99 Micah 6:8 was most popular text
113-123 history of resistance community, beginning with Reformers! 122, 126-7
118 much thought and publication on right to resist tyrants, most famous and influential was The Vindiciae, Contra Tyrannos 119 “The English political philosopher John Locke was familiar with the Vindiciae and the more expansive resistance literature of which it was a part.” 120 “The political theory advanced in the Vindiciae can be summarized briefly: legitimate political order in all civil states is based on two contracts (or national covenants)…”
122 “A private person who draws his sword against the prince is guilty of sedition no matter how just his cause may be… …not only be anarchy but also the deception that comes from one’s willingness to confuse one’s private interests for God’s will.”
122-3 Lex Rex
124 choice of community “Thus the authority of princes is divine in origin, but in granting (or withdrawing) the office to a particular individual, God acts through the choice of the community.” 146 “Virtue is the spirit of a Republic; for where all power is derived from the people, all depends on their good disposition.”
125 levels of resistance, Rutherford: defense by words, then flight, then passive and finally active disobedience, (K’s) evocate (to God), educate, supplicate (to man), negotiate, litigate, evacuate, pugillate!
128 Jonathan Matthew sermon “[Reverend Jonathan] Mathew’s sermon, entitled ‘A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers,” was described by historian Bernard Bailyn as ‘the most famous sermon preached in pre-Revolutionary America.’”
145ff Pro. 14:34 “Whether [America’s independence] will prove a Blessing or a Curse, will depend upon the Use our people make of the Blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If thy are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary Character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt a them as a Nation. Reader!, whoever thou art remember this; and in thy Sphere, practice Virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.” Patrick Henry 148 “God calls nations, as well as individuals, to righteousness. … A nation’s greatness ultimately depends on its relationship with the Almighty, not on political, economic, or military might.” 149 “… [also] with the desires of the heart and a right relationship with the Divine.” 158 “…the true greatness of a nation is not measured by military divisions or gross domestic product; rather, a nations’ greatness is found in her character.”
152 punishment only in this life
153 characteristics of a nation “Government should promote liberty, virtue, legal equality, and due process; and it should oppose injustice resulting from favoring the rich and powerful over the poor and weak, aligning with wicked actors, accepting bribes and false testimony and the like.” “A righteous nation is endorsed by God and identifies itself with God. The true pursuit of the righteous nation is a right and faithful relationship with God. An often-cited biblical text in support of this proposition was Leviticus 26:12: ‘I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people.’”154
154 godliness of people changes neighborhood “Could we see a people in general, humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, in the evils that are come upon us—could we see a general disposition in them, to break off from their sins by righteousness, and from their iniquities by turning to the Lord—could we see practical piety and religion prevailing among all ranks of men—how much would the prospect brighten up?” “...a good constitution, and a code of just laws in each state, form a conspicuous part of national righteousness… To this we add, that another interesting part of national righteousness consists in a thorough execution of the laws. … Men should not govern the laws, but the laws should govern men.” 157 “Let us for a moment, admit the supposition, that the doctrines of Christianity were firmly believed…”
158 greatness of a nation See above 145ff
166ff Pro. 29:2 righteous rulers
168 Pro. 28-29 manual for magistrates
174 Christian duties to cg “The election sermons dispensed specific advice on how righteous citizens should be involved in civil government, especially in sustaining righteous rulers. First, the believer is instructed to pray for those in authority… Second, pious citizens should participate in the selection of civil magistrates to the extent permitted by the political process… Third, the righteous citizen is instructed willingly to honor, obey, and support those in positions of civil authority… Finally, citizens must willingly and cheerfully pay tribute (that is pay their taxes)…”
179 difficult to draw lines between church-state “By the end of the eighteenth century, this was becoming increasingly delicate topic, not because the clergy had come to doubt the value and utility of public religion, but because of growing uncertainty about the best and appropriate way for civil magistrates to promote public religion. The religiously diverse, newly independent American communities were beginning to embrace emerging principles of religious liberty and to redefine traditional establishmentarian arrangements between church and state, and there was increasing debate about the prudential and legal role of civil magistrates in promoting religion, especially in preferring some religious sects or denominations over others.” 182
190 difficult to define liberty “Liberty was a difficult word to define; it had no fixed, uncontested meaning. Although not easy to define, it was an essential term in the founding generation’s political lexicon because liberty is what they said they yearned for…” “The argument advanced here is that, in their struggles with Great Britain, patriotic Americans were drawn to the NT rhetoric of Christian liberty to express their yearning for political liberty, even though they knew their critics viewed this as a misappropriation of Scripture [Gal. 5:1; II Cor. 3:17; Jn. 8:36]…” 190-200, 200 “Liberty meant the prerogative to act, will, or choose (that is, self-determine); it also meant release from obligation, servitude, or constraint. Eighteenth-century conceptions of liberty regarded tyranny and licentiousness as the twin antithesis to liberty…”, 201 “The pursuit of liberty in the political context meant, for many Americans, freedom form arbitrary rule and the liberty found in the rule of law, due process of law, and constitutional governance.” 203 “Liberty is ordered, community-deferring, and consistent with ‘universal moral standards mediated by divine revelation and the authoritative interpretive capacity of congregation and community.’” [You can do and create whatever you want, within God’s boundaries (e.g., Ten Commandments); e.g., Elias’ joke about his make-believe friend in Spanish class vis a vis Eph 5:4 (good humor).
207ff G Washington inauguration 210 “Washington deftly used religio-political language, rooted in religious experience of the American people, to promote a collective identity, to forge a viable national community, and to express a coherent national purpose and destiny.”
211ff every man sits “under his vine and under his fig tree”—this was GW’s favorite scriptural phrase; see below
224
220 GW’s hospitality “It has been estimated that during the seven years between 1768 and 1775 roughly 2,000 people were entertained at Mount Vernon, many of whom stayed for days on end and visited repeatedly. In April 1774, a typical month, an average of four to five guests joined the Washington’s every time they sat down to dinner.”
226-7 USA as it represents GW’s favorite scriptural phrase
231 liberal arts needed (no specific quote, just awareness of need for general background to be able to engage in this dialogue and to preserve and expand our liberties)
231 thesis (summary, model of academic restraint!) “The Bible, I have argued, made substantial contributions to the political culture of our founding era. My thesis, however, is not that the Bible is the key to understanding the American founding. Nor do I contend that the Bible is the primary source to which patriotic Americans turned to give content and definition to their political, legal, and constitutional projects. I leave it to others to debate that proposition. Nevertheless, the Bible was the most authoritative, accessible, and familiar book in eighteenth century America, and it was an important source that Americans studied for insights into law, politics, civil government, and many other activities of human society.”
233 confusing self with God “There is a danger that pious citizens will fall for the deception that comes from confusing one’s personal interests for God’s will.”

Daniel Dreisbach, Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers, pgs 211ff.
Chapter 10, Under Our Own Vine and Fig Tree

211ff George Washington, like most gentlemen of his time and social standing, was well acquainted with the eloquent prose of the English Bible and often alluded to it in his writings. No biblical passage is referenced more frequently in his voluminous papers than the ancient Hebrew blessing and prophetic vision of the New Jerusalem, in which every man sits safely “under his vine and under his fig tree” (Micah 4:4 [I Kings 4:25]). This was the great Virginian’s favorite scriptural phrase. The image of reposing under one’s own vine and fig tree vividly captures the agrarian [farming] ideals of simplicity, contentment, domestic tranquility, and self-sufficiency.

A survey of Washington’s papers reveals that he quoted this phrase on nearly four dozen occasions during the last half of his life. Most, but not all, references were made in private letters, anticipating a retirement to Mount Vernon, his beloved home on the south bank of the Potomac River. Washington, it should be noted, was not alone among his contemporaries in his attraction to this Hebrew blessing. Even Martha Washington borrowed the phrase in her correspondence.

…the very thought of Mount Vernon soothed his burdened soul. It was a retreat, a sanctuary, a tranquil island in a bitter sea. It was where he was most relaxed, though certainly not idle. It was where he died on December 14, 1799, at aged sixty-seven and, pursuant to his wishes, was buried. In life and death, it was his vine and fig tree.

The millennial vision of the New Jerusalem in Micah 4:4 distills, with striking beauty and brevity, the highest aspirations of humankind. Few passages in all of Scripture, indeed, in all of literature, have so eloquently captured the human longing for peace and prosperity.

Perhaps to make the unrealistic seem possible to his audience, the prophet Micah recalled “the only period in Israel’s history free from hostilities,” in which, according to I Kings 4:25, “Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.”

This passage was a reminder of what is possible when God’s people draw near to the Almighty on His holy mountain, study His ways, walk in His paths, and submit to His judgment. It has continued to inspire hope for peace and harmony among the nations of the world.

The vine and fig tree are also a metaphor for hospitality and good neighborliness.

Washington’s hospitality did not falter despite the overwhelming crush of visitors. “It has been estimated that during the seven years between 1768 and 1775 roughly two thousand people were entertained at Mount Vernon, many of whom stayed for days on end and visited repeatedly. In April 1774, a typical month, an average of four to five guests joined the Washingtons every time they sat down to dinner.” In a letter written late in life to his step grandson, the former president reported that “we have scarcely been alone a day for more than a month, and now have a house full.” Until the end of his days, neighbors, friends, and strangers alike found hospitality under Washington’s vine and fig tree.

Significantly, the human element in the biblical phrase is always cast in the singular—"every man” under his own vine and fig tree. It is an atomistic idea of freedom, the individual (and, perhaps, his family) standing alone, longing to be left alone in peace and security. . . .

In any case, the vine and fig tree can be viewed as a metaphor for the rule of law and limited government.

Micah 4:1-4 is one of the most cherished and hopeful passages in all of Scripture and, indeed, all of literature.

In a broader, more important sense, many of his fellow citizens, countless strangers clamoring to immigrate to America, and, perhaps, Washington himself came to regard America as a vine and fig tree in a troubled world. . . . She offered protection from a dangerous world and the opportunity to work hard and enjoy the fruits of one’s labor.

Life under one’s own vine and fig tree was—and is—a visual representation of the American dream.… (altro)