The Biblical Politics of John Locke

John Locke is often thought of as one of the founders of the Enlightenment, a
movement that sought to do away with the Bible and religion and replace them
with scientific realism. But Locke was extremely interested in the Bible, and
he was engaged by biblical theology and religion throughout his life. In this
new book, K.I. Parker considers Locke’s interest in Scripture and how that
interest is articulated in the development of his political philosophy.

Parker shows that Locke’s liberalism is inspired by his religious vision and,
particularly, his distinctive understanding of the early chapters of the book
of Genesis. Unlike Sir Robert Filmer, who understood the Bible to justify
social hierarchies (i.e., the divine right of the king, the first-born son’s
rights over other siblings, and the “natural” subservience of women to men),
Locke understood from the Bible that humans are in a natural state of freedom
and equality to each other. The biblical debate between Filmer and Locke
furnishes scholars with a better understanding of Lockes political views as
presented in his Two Treatises.

The Biblical Politics of John Locke demonstrates the impact of the Bible on
one of the most influential thinkers of the seventeenth century, and provides
an original context in which to situate the debate concerning the origins of
early modern political thought.