Did the founding fathers use the Bible to create the Constitution?
Asked by: America Gutmann | Last update: February 6, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (14 votes)
Yes, the Founding Fathers used the Bible extensively as a source of moral, political, and philosophical ideas, though they didn't copy it directly into the Constitution; the Bible influenced their concepts of human nature, republican government, virtue, and liberty, shaping the broader political culture and discourse during which the Constitution was created. While secular thinkers like Locke and Montesquieu were also crucial, biblical themes and principles were pervasive in their writings, speeches, and the era's political literature, even informing their understanding of self-interest and the need for checks and balances.
Was the US Constitution written based on the Bible?
No, the U.S. Constitution is not directly based on the Bible, as it's a secular document with no religious references, but its principles of natural law, republicanism, and limited government were influenced by Judeo-Christian ethics and thinkers who drew from biblical ideas, alongside Enlightenment philosophy. While founders like Jefferson used broader terms like "Creator," many incorporated biblical concepts of morality and law into their political framework, even while establishing a secular government.
Did the founding fathers use the Bible?
The American founders read the Bible. Their many quotations from and allusions to both familiar and obscure scriptural texts confirm that they knew the Bible from cover to cover. Biblical language and themes liberally seasoned their rhetoric.
Did all 613 laws come from God?
Yes, the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism are traditionally considered to have been given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, forming the core of the Torah, though the Bible doesn't explicitly state the number 613; Jewish tradition, particularly Maimonides' work, compiled and enumerated them from the texts of the Torah, with the Ten Commandments serving as a summary of these broader laws. The exact list and interpretation vary, with some laws being ceremonial, moral, or judicial, and not all are applicable today.
Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Several U.S. Presidents did not use a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (used no book at his first swearing-in), and Lyndon B. Johnson (used a Catholic missal), with Calvin Coolidge also noting he didn't use one, adhering to Vermont tradition. The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, allowing for these variations, often signifying a belief in secularism or responding to unique circumstances.
Did the Founding Fathers want God, the Bible and prayer to be part of our government?
Did Trump take his oath on the Bible?
Yes, Donald Trump swore the oath of office on a Bible during his first inauguration in 2017, using both his family Bible and the historic Lincoln Bible, but he did not place his hand on a Bible during his second inauguration in January 2025, though it's not a legal requirement and the oath itself remains valid.
What did Trump take out of his Bible?
The Trump Bible was also noted to be missing Constitutional amendments 11–27.
What is the difference between the 10 commandments and the 613?
The 10 Commandments are the core moral principles given by God at Mount Sinai, while the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) are the entirety of God's laws in the Torah, including those for priests, sacrifices, and daily living, with the 10 Commandments serving as foundational summaries for the broader set, representing essential moral and ethical guidance for all people, whereas the 613 cover specific religious and civil laws for ancient Israel, with Jewish tradition seeing all 613 derived from the core 10. Christians often focus on the 10 moral laws, viewing them as fulfilled in Jesus and emphasized through love, while Jews follow the 613 as a comprehensive guide to life, incorporating the essence of the Ten.
What laws came from the Bible?
The Ten Commandments are the most well-known legal rules found in the Bible (see Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21). Four of these mandates became enduring features of most secular law, namely those that prohibit murder, adultery, theft, and the giving of false testimony against one's neighbor.
When did the 10 commandments get removed?
"For 150 years, the Ten Commandments were displayed and taught in public schools, but in 1980, a Supreme Court decision ended mandatory postings. " 'When we removed the Ten Commandments, we did...
What did Stephen Hawking say about God?
Stephen Hawking stated that science offers better explanations for the universe's origins than religion, concluding there is no God or divine creator, and that the universe arose spontaneously from nothing according to physical laws, not divine will, seeing no need for a higher power to set things in motion. While initially suggesting God might have set the laws, he later clarified he was an atheist, believing the simplest explanation is no God and that humans invented God to explain the unexplainable, which science now addresses.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about Jesus?
Benjamin Franklin admired Jesus's moral teachings, calling His system "the best the world ever saw," but had doubts about His divinity, though he didn't dogmatize on the matter, focusing instead on Jesus's ethics of doing good as exemplified in his own 13 virtues, blending classical wisdom with Christian principles for a practical, virtuous life. He valued the actions and morals of Jesus (like humility) over strict dogma, seeing revealed religion as less important than virtuous conduct for societal good.
What did Albert Einstein say about Christianity?
Albert Einstein viewed traditional Christianity and organized religion as "childish superstitions" and "primitive legends," rejecting the concept of a personal God who rewards and punishes, but expressed deep awe for the universe's rational structure, aligning with a cosmic religious feeling often linked to Spinoza's God, a non-personal divine harmony. He described himself as an agnostic and was uncomfortable with being labeled an atheist, preferring to focus on ethical principles and the mystery of existence rather than dogma.
Why is Matthew 17:21 left out of New Bibles?
Matthew 17:21 is missing from many modern Bibles because it doesn't appear in the earliest and most reliable ancient manuscripts, leading scholars to believe it was a later addition, likely copied from Mark 9:29 into the Gospel of Matthew by scribes, though some versions include it as a footnote or bracketed text to acknowledge its presence in later manuscripts like those used for the King James Version (KJV).
Why is 777 the number of God?
The number 777 symbolizes divine perfection, completion, and holiness, deriving its meaning from the biblical significance of the number 7 (representing God's perfect creation in six days, plus a day of rest) being tripled to signify the perfect wholeness of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and God's complete work, contrasting with 666 (imperfection). While 777 isn't a specific biblical command, it's a powerful theological concept reinforcing God's ultimate perfection, spiritual fulfillment, and divine order in scripture and faith.
What does article 7 of the US Constitution say?
Article VII of the U.S. Constitution is about the ratification process, stating that nine of the thirteen states needed to approve it through special state conventions for the Constitution to become the law of the land, replacing the Articles of Confederation. It established the conditions for the new government to take effect and included the date the Constitution was signed (September 17, 1787).
Did Jesus fulfill all 613 laws?
Yes, according to Christian theology, Jesus kept the whole Law, but he "fulfilled" it by summarizing the 613 mitzvot (commandments) into two core principles: loving God and loving your neighbor, which he said "hang all the Law and the Prophets". He didn't abolish the law but completed it, showing its deeper, spiritual meaning, while affirming moral laws like the Ten Commandments.
What does Jesus say about the Old Testament laws?
“In the Old Testament, God always intended for the consummation and end of the ceremonial laws.” So, the good impulse starts, perhaps, with a text like Matthew 5:17–18. Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
What is the significance of the number 613?
The meaning of 613 varies by context, most famously referring to the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism, but also as an Angel Number (balance, material needs, spiritual focus), a hair color code (light/platinum blonde), or even an area code (Ottawa, Canada). The Jewish significance connects to the body's parts and days in a year, while in numerology, it's about trust and positive shifts.
Why don't Christians follow the 613 laws?
As followers of Christ, we are no longer under the requirements of the Old Testament law (Galatians 3:13), but have been set free to pursue righteousness by the redeeming blood of Christ.
What do Jews believe that Christians don't?
Judaism does not accept Jesus as a divine being, an intermediary between humans and God, a messiah, or holy. Belief in the Trinity is also held to be incompatible with Judaism, as are a number of other tenets of Christianity.
Which religion does not follow the Ten Commandments?
While Muslims do not follow the Ten Commandments in the same way as Jews and Christians, there are overlapping principles that align with Islamic beliefs. Belief in One God: The first commandment emphasizes the exclusive worship of one God (monotheism).
What Bible did Barack Obama use?
History. Barack Obama using the Lincoln Bible (being held by Michelle Obama) to take the oath of office at his first inauguration on January 20, 2009 Donald Trump takes the oath of office on the Trump family Bible and the Lincoln Bible, January 20, 2017.
What religion is Trump and what church does he go to?
Despite this, through his personal relationships, especially those with his formative mentors, he has been identified with "positive thinking" and charismatic Christianity. He attended Marble Collegiate Church under Norman Vincent Peale, whose emphasis on a positive mental attitude shaped Trump.
Which president was not sworn in with a Bible?
Several U.S. Presidents have not used a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (no book after McKinley's death), Calvin Coolidge (didn't use his family Bible in Vermont), and Lyndon B. Johnson (mistakenly used a Catholic missal on Air Force One). The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, making it a tradition, not a mandate.