Dominion Quote by Marcus J. Borg
““But “having dominion over” meant something very different from what it has often been understood to mean. It refers to the relationship between shepherd and sheep.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Heart of Christianity, Marcus J. Borg, 2004
It clarifies that “dominion” originally described a caring shepherd‑sheep relationship, not authoritarian control.
In simple terms: Dominion meant caring guidance, not oppression.
Key Takeaway
Foster stewardship over domination.
Themes
leadership
stewardship
relationship
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- environmental care
- animal welfare
- community building
Key Concepts
biblical studies
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways can we reinterpret authority?
- How does this affect our view of leadership?
A Different Perspective
Modern usage often implies dominance, conflicting with original meaning.
![“The thing that was forfeited in the garden was regained. God gave him [Adam] dominion over the works of His hand. God made him His understudy, His king to rule over everything that had life. Man was master, man lived in the realm of god. He lived on terms of equality with God. God was a faith God…” quote by John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/428/john-g-lake-12667_adam_the-thing-that-was-forfeited-in-the-gard_84356.jpg)
![“It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards, that the sun never sets upon their Dominions.” quote by Thomas Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e12/thomas-gage-63372_dominion_it-may-be-said-of-them-the-hollanders-as_103053.jpg)