--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American founders, when framing their…" description: "\"The American founders, when framing their governments, looked to the Bible for insights into human nature, civic virtue, social order, political author..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_authority_the-american-founders-when-framing-their_2810071.jpg" --- # The American founders, when framing their governments… ![“The American founders, when framing their governments, looked to the Bible for insights into human nature, civic virtue, social order, political authority and other concepts essential to the establishment of a political society. They saw in Scripture political and legal models - such as…” quote by Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_authority_the-american-founders-when-framing-their_2810071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_authority_the-american-founders-when-framing-their_2810071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_authority_the-american-founders-when-framing-their_2810071.jpg) > “The American founders, when framing their governments, looked to the Bible for insights into human nature, civic virtue, social order, political authority and other concepts essential to the establishment of a political society. They saw in Scripture political and legal models - such as republicanism, separation of powers, and due process of law - that they believed enjoyed divine favor and were worthy of emulation in their polities.” [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The founders used biblical principles to shape political structures, seeing them as divinely endorsed models for governance. **In simple terms:** Founders drew political ideas from Scripture. Key Takeaway Study historical influences on law. Themes politics religion governance Mood analytical historical Type political educational When to use this quote - legal drafting - civic education - policy analysis Key Concepts theocracy constitutionalism Questions to Reflect On - What biblical principle best guides modern law? - How to balance faith and secular law? A Different Perspective Biblical models may not fit modern plural societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Civic virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civic-virtue/) [Civics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civics/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Due process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/due-process/) [Due process of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/due-process-of-law/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Framing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/framing/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Republicanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicanism/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-powers/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-order/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Religious imagery and symbolism were the common idioms that all speakers employed when making rhetorical points. 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Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-k-green/) > [I said, 'Who said African American founders can't build a billion dollar company?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-carter/i-said-who-said-african-american-founders-can-t-build-a-billion/) [Troy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-carter/) > [The genius of the American Founders was to create an intricate system of balanced powers both within the state and between state and society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/the-genius-of-the-american-founders-was-to-create-an-intricate-system/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [As I understand the American Founders, the most brilliant and daring idea they had was that it's possible to create a free society that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/as-i-understand-the-american-founders-the-most-brilliant-and-daring/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [You will never meet anyone who admires the American founders more than I do, but they were human, they made mistakes. 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Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More by Daniel L Dreisbach > [God ordained and established civil government, but only to serve the common good. A civil government that oppresses its people and acts contrary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/god-ordained-and-established-civil-government-but-only-to-serve-the/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [I contend that no book figured more prominently than the Bible in the political thought of these patriots we call the founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/i-contend-that-no-book-figured-more-prominently-than-the-bible-in-the/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [Nations, as well as individuals, must be virtuous and righteous if they desire to be stable, prosperous, and tranquil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/nations-as-well-as-individuals-must-be-virtuous-and-righteous-if-they/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [The republican model described in the Hebrew Scriptures reassured pious Americans that republicanism was a political system favored by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/the-republican-model-described-in-the-hebrew-scriptures-reassured/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [Most of what the founders knew about the Hebraic republic, it must be emphasized, they learned from the Bible. These Americans were well aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/most-of-what-the-founders-knew-about-the-hebraic-republic-it-must-be/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [Just as the children of Israel were directed by God to depart from the land of their oppression with its tyrannical monarch, cross a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/just-as-the-children-of-israel-were-directed-by-god-to-depart-from/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [The true greatness of a nation lies in its character, not in its economic or military power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/the-true-greatness-of-a-nation-lies-in-its-character-not-in-its/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [God elevates nations that behave in conformity with God's standards but he withdraws his blessings from a people who disregard those standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/god-elevates-nations-that-behave-in-conformity-with-god-s-standards/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [I define the terms "founding fathers" and "founders" broadly to include an entire generation or two of Americans from many walks of life who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/i-define-the-terms-founding-fathers-and-founders-broadly-to-include/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [One should study the Bible alongside other intellectual traditions - such as British constitutionalism, Enlightenment liberalism, and classical republicanism - in order to truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/one-should-study-the-bible-alongside-other-intellectual-traditions/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [There were many Americans in the Revolutionary era who believed that they, like the children of Israel, were oppressed by their colonial rulers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/there-were-many-americans-in-the-revolutionary-era-who-believed-that/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) [Explore all 12 Daniel L Dreisbach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. 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