Word In Life Study Bible
FAMILY, STATE, AND CHURCH: THREE INSEPARABLE INSTITUTIONS
Gen.2:23
The family is the primary institution established by God (Gen. 2:23). Before there were any nations, cities, or other human communities, there was a family. Logically and chronologically, family comes first.
But when the world’s first family began to break down because of sin, God established the state. After Cain killed Abel (4:8), his judgment and punishment came from God (4:9–15). There was no court of law or other governmental authority to deal with the case. But when God placed a mark on Cain as a peace-bond, He gave a law to prevent other members of the family from killing Cain (4:15). This rule of law was the beginning of the state. As in the case of the family, however, it was not long before sinful people began to corrupt the state as well (4:23–24).
But a third institution can also trace its beginnings to the early days of the world. After righteous Abel was buried, Adam and Eve had another son named Seth. This man and his son Enosh were linked with an increasing tendency of people to “call on the name of the Lord” (4:26). This kind of commitment to righteousness was preserved in Noah (6:8), and continued later with Abraham, through whom God promised to bless “all the families of the earth” (12:1–3).
The promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He has brought the blessing of salvation from sin. But He has also brought the blessing of a community based on a common faith, known as the church (Eph. 2:14–22).
Ideally, these three institutions—the family, based on biological unity; the state, based on geographical unity; and the church, based on spiritual unity—are intended to reinforce each other and be mutually dependent. Each one needs the other two to function in an effective, godly way. Otherwise, all three suffer. Yet when one institution is struggling or breaking down, the other two need to offer support and assistance, though they cannot replace it.
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
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