Beginner's Church & State Bibliography
For the Study of America's Founding Fathers
Barton, David. Original Intent. Wallbuilders Press.
[Barton’s work is replete with primary quotes and references to the Founding Fathers’ ideas for American Government.]
For the Study of the Theology of Church & State
Buswell, James Oliver, A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1962.
[The section entitled “The Biblical Doctrine of the State” (pp. 400-413) is an excellent and brief introduction to the subject.]
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Book 4, Chapter 20. “Civil Government.”
[Calvin is the theological foundation for most of the American Founding Fathers.]
Culver, Robert D. Civil Government: A Biblical View. Edmonton: CILTPP, 1974, 2000.
[A good introduction to the biblical theology supporting a conservative Christian view of government.]
Eidsmoe, John. Christianity and the Constitution. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987.
[The first 50 pages of Eidsmoe and the end of the book give a nice overview of the theology and philosophical leanings of America’s Founding Fathers. The remainder of the book examines the religious backgrounds of several of the Founding Fathers (e.g., John Jay).]
For the Study of Philosophy of Law (Jurisprudence)
Murphy, Jeffrie G. and Jules L. Coleman, Philosophy of Law: An Introduction to Jurisprudence. Rev. Ed. San Fransisco: Westview Press, 1990.
[This is a good philosophical introduction to law. However, it is a bit hostile to theism and natural law jurisprudence.]
George, Robert P., Ed. Natural Law Theory: Contemporary Essays. Oxford University Press, 1992.
[This is an excellent anthology of essays on natural law and natural rights, edited by one of the top natural law thinkers around.]
Christie, George C. and Patrick H. Martin. Jurisprudence: Texts and Readings on the Philosophy of Law. 2nd Ed. St. Paul: West Publishing, 1995.)
[This is a good survey of classical and modern works and authors.]