Second Edition of "God is Just: A Defense of the Old Testament Civil Laws" now Available

Theonomy Resources Media has just released the second edition of God is Just: A Defense of the Old Testament Civil Laws: Biblical Theocracy, Justice, and Slavery versus Humanistic Theocracy, "Justice," and Slavery, by Steve C. Halbrook.

We did not originally intend to release a second edition so soon. However, after deciding to change printing companies, we thought we'd go ahead and make a few updates in the process. 

Besides some minor editorial changes, the main difference between the first and second edition is that the second edition has a textbook-style cover (as opposed to the first edition's removable cover), a Scripture index, and an appendix that addresses section 19.4 of the Westminster Confession of Faith. (Those who have the first edition can download the appendix here.)

Also, in Appendix B, there are improvements to the refutation of the argument that says that since Christ's kingdom is not of this world, Christianity has nothing to do with civil government. 

God is Just (second edition) can be downloaded or purchased as a hardcover version at The Nicene Council's store:

Hardcover version

Download version

Those interested in selling the book on their site, or selling some at a conference book table, can contact us at theonomyrs@gmail.com


(Note: the second edition has a significant page increase from the first edition [it is now around 650 pages], not just for the new appendix and Scripture index, but because the top margins are larger. As such, the content of this edition's pages do not coincide with the content of the first edition's pages.)

________________________________________________________

About God is Just: A Defense of the Old Testament Civil Laws: Biblical Theocracy, Justice, and Slavery versus Humanistic Theocracy, "Justice," and Slavery

This book is a defense of biblical civil law, on topics despised not only by humanists, but by professing Christians. It is, in short, theonomic apologetics. God is Just takes our culture and its attacks on the Bible to task. It defends biblical theocracy, justice, and slavery, and cuts humanistic opposition down to size by its own self-destructive foolishness, and, most importantly, by the sword of God’s word. 

In addition, the book includes appendices defending theonomy biblically and historically, as well as appendices refuting alternative political philosophies. 

God is Just includes contributions from two of the most prolific next-generation theonomic writers, Buddy Hanson and Daniel F. N. Ritchie. Hanson (of Grace and Law Resource Center) wrote the forward, and Ritchie (of Reformed Worldview Books) wrote an appendix. 

Additionally, the second edition includes a new appendix by Vindiciae Legis, who gives an excellent historical treatment of the theonomic views of the Westminster divines. Legis has previously written defenses of historical theonomy for Theonomy Resources. 

About the author

Steve C. Halbrook writes for, and manages, the blog Theonomy Resources. He is also a teacher for The New Geneva Christian Leadership Academy (newgeneva.us). He holds an M.A. in Government from Regent University’s Robertson School of Government (2008), with a focus on biblical civil government. Halbrook’s master’s thesis was “God is Just: A Defense of the Old Testament Civil Laws,” which this book is an expansion of.

Here is the book's Table of Contents:

Forward (by Buddy Hanson) 

Introduction                                                                                  

Part One: Biblical Theocracy versus
Humanistic Theocracy

Chapter 1: What is Biblical Theocracy?

Chapter 2: Biblical Theocracy is not Ecclesiocracy                         

Chapter 3: Humanistic Church/State Fallacies

Chapter 4: The Neutrality Myth
Chapter 5: The Tyranny of “Neutrality”
Chapter 6: “Neutrality” Condemned by the Bible     

Chapter 7: All Law is Religious                              

Chapter 8: All Law is Theocratic           

Chapter 9: Is Biblical Theocracy “Christian Fascism”?

Chapter 10: Faith and Imposition               

Chapter 11: Only Two Theocratic Choices          

Part Two: Biblical Justice versus
Humanistic "Justice" 

Chapter 12: Authority for Criminal Punishment       

Chapter 13: Eye for Eye                 

Chapter 14: Questioning God’s Justice
Chapter 15: Primitive Humanistic Injustice                

Chapter 16: Purge the Land
Chapter 17: Privacy “Rights”  

Chapter 18: “Controversial” Capital Sanctions: Blasphemy

Chapter 19: “Controversial” Capital Sanctions: Seduction to Idolatry           

Chapter 20: “Controversial” Capital Sanctions: Sabbath-Breaking                  

Chapter 21: “Controversial” Capital Sanctions: Rebellion Against Parents
Chapter 22: “Controversial” Capital Sanctions: Sodomite Acts

Chapter 23: Old Testament Capital Punishment Methods 
Chapter 24: The Question of Abuse

Part Three: Biblical Slavery versus
Humanistic Slavery   
                                                                               

Chapter 25: Old Testament Slave LawsChapter 26: The Rod and Abuse   

Chapter 27: Humanistic Criticisms of Biblical Slavery                                    

Chapter 28: Slavery Inescapable

Chapter 29: What About Racism?

Chapter 30: Enslavement to God versus Enslavement to the State

Chapter 31: Humanists Seek to Enslave Others

Part Three Epilogue: The One True Liberator 

Conclusion   
                              

Appendices

Appendix A: The Biblical Basis for the Old Testament Civil Code’s Abiding Validity

Appendix B: Answering Objections to Keeping the Old Testament Civil Code Today

Appendix C: What About Natural Law?

Appendix D: Conservatism, Liberalism, Libertarianism, and Moderatism

Appendix E: The Christian Right       

Appendix F: Is the Rape of an Unbretrothed Virgin a Capital Offense?

Appendix G: The Bond of Law: A Theonomic Reply to “The Bond of Love” (by Daniel F. N. Ritchie)

Appendix H: Understanding the Westminster Confession of Faith, Section 19.4, on the Judicial Law and General Equity (by Vindiciae Legis)

Bibliography

Scripture Index


Theonomy Resources has posted several excerpts from God is Just. Access our archive here. 


Here is a preview of God of Just by Jerry Johnson of the Nicene Council, in his "Against the World" series