Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum Testamentum

Our study undertakes to explore the Old and New Testament roots of the rule of law. It shows that the roots go back to the Mosaic laws and the organization of the ancient Jewish state based on them, an ancient state based primarily on laws. It points out that from the aspect of state and legal theo...

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Main Author: István László Mészáros
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: STS Science Centre Ltd. 2024-06-01
Series:Journal on European History of Law
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Online Access:https://journaloneuropeanhistoryoflaw.eu/index.php/JEHL/article/view/273
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author István László Mészáros
author_facet István László Mészáros
author_sort István László Mészáros
collection DOAJ
description Our study undertakes to explore the Old and New Testament roots of the rule of law. It shows that the roots go back to the Mosaic laws and the organization of the ancient Jewish state based on them, an ancient state based primarily on laws. It points out that from the aspect of state and legal theory, the uniqueness of the Mosaic laws lay in the presentation of the supremacy and primacy of the law. This principle was reflected in the fact that no one, neither the king nor any leaders, could set themselves above the law. In addition, according to the specific laws concerning Israel’s kings, the exercise of royal power was even more confined within the framework of the law. We argue that the principle of governance bound by law is part of the social teaching of both the Old and the New Testaments. All of this – in interaction with the related elements of ancient Greek-Roman political philosophy – played a prominent role in the fact that it was the Judeo-Christian culture where the idea of the rule of law spread and became the basic principle of the political and legal system of the states belonging to this circle.
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spelling doaj-art-dd99205a8f8247a8bb105c57ba5f01e92025-08-20T04:02:14ZdeuSTS Science Centre Ltd.Journal on European History of Law2042-64023049-90892024-06-01151Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum TestamentumIstván László Mészáros0Department for Legal History, Faculty of Law, University of Pécs, Hungary; Szent Pál Theological Academy, Budapest, Hungary Our study undertakes to explore the Old and New Testament roots of the rule of law. It shows that the roots go back to the Mosaic laws and the organization of the ancient Jewish state based on them, an ancient state based primarily on laws. It points out that from the aspect of state and legal theory, the uniqueness of the Mosaic laws lay in the presentation of the supremacy and primacy of the law. This principle was reflected in the fact that no one, neither the king nor any leaders, could set themselves above the law. In addition, according to the specific laws concerning Israel’s kings, the exercise of royal power was even more confined within the framework of the law. We argue that the principle of governance bound by law is part of the social teaching of both the Old and the New Testaments. All of this – in interaction with the related elements of ancient Greek-Roman political philosophy – played a prominent role in the fact that it was the Judeo-Christian culture where the idea of the rule of law spread and became the basic principle of the political and legal system of the states belonging to this circle. https://journaloneuropeanhistoryoflaw.eu/index.php/JEHL/article/view/273Mosaic LawTorahDecaloguethe Law of the King in Deuteronomythe Torah of the KingLex Rex
spellingShingle István László Mészáros
Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum Testamentum
Journal on European History of Law
Mosaic Law
Torah
Decalogue
the Law of the King in Deuteronomy
the Torah of the King
Lex Rex
title Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum Testamentum
title_full Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum Testamentum
title_fullStr Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum Testamentum
title_full_unstemmed Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum Testamentum
title_short Elements Establishing the Principle of the Rule of Law in the Vetus Testamentum and the Novum Testamentum
title_sort elements establishing the principle of the rule of law in the vetus testamentum and the novum testamentum
topic Mosaic Law
Torah
Decalogue
the Law of the King in Deuteronomy
the Torah of the King
Lex Rex
url https://journaloneuropeanhistoryoflaw.eu/index.php/JEHL/article/view/273
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