# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1890_S9
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1890. 9

The form of government develops historically. In this, for the validity of the office it does not matter at all how the government came to its office, whether by succession, election, conquest, revolution, usurpation, or whether it is pagan or Christian, godless or pious. —

Thesis II.

The office of government extends only to temporal goods, but not to spiritual matters or to the conscience.

The thesis falls into two parts. For the first, "the office of government extends only to temporal goods," the following passages of Scripture prove it correct.

Rom. 13:4 says that government is an avenger upon him who does evil; verse 3 says that it is to be feared by evil works. Further, it is said of it that it is to bear the sword, that is, to wield it continually. Matt. 26:52 teaches the same: "All who take the sword will perish by the sword," with which Gen. 9:6 is to be compared: "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." — Government is to judge. Psalm 148:11 and in other places judges are everywhere placed in one row with kings and princes. One might also draw in Deut. 16:18, although this refers merely to a Jewish institution of state. — Government is further to defend; that too belongs to its office. Gen. 14:14 shows us Abraham not only as the head of his household but also as a person in authority, who protects Lot. — Government is also there "for the praise of those who do well", which surely means: it is to recognize such persons as good citizens. — Through all these activities government makes it possible for us to lead a quiet and peaceable life under it, in all godliness and honesty.

All these passages, then, which deal with the proper task of government, speak of purely external things; and purely external things, accordingly, are what the office of government extends over. Our Confession also declares this.

Augsburg Confession, Art. 28: "For the worldly government deals with quite other things than the Gospel; which power protects not the souls, but body and goods against external force, with sword and bodily penalties. Therefore one should not mix and confound the two governments, the spiritual and the worldly."

Apology (Müller, p. 91): "For God the Lord wills that gross sins be restrained by outward discipline, and to maintain this he gives law, ordains government, gives learned and wise people who serve in the government." So Luther also writes in numerous passages,