Two Kingdoms Doctrine

Definition and Meaning

The two kingdoms doctrine is a teaching of Protestant theology holding that God governs the world in two ways. One is spiritual government, by which God rules the conscience and salvation of believers through the Word and the Holy Spirit. The other is temporal government, by which the state, the law, and public authority preserve social order. Both realms are established by God. Because they differ in their means and ends of governance, however, the doctrine holds that they must not be confused. It warns both against the church wielding public power and against the state compelling faith.

Biblical and Historical Background

Three passages are commonly cited in support: Mark 12:13–17, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"; Romans 13:1–7, which addresses submission to the higher powers; and John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world." The intellectual roots of the doctrine are often traced to Augustine, who distinguished between the City of God and the earthly city in The City of God.

The teaching was systematized by Martin Luther. In his 1523 treatise On Temporal Authority, Luther argued that temporal power extends only to the body and to property and does not reach the soul or faith. Article 28 of the Lutheran Augsburg Confession likewise distinguishes ecclesiastical power from civil power.

John Calvin also distinguished between spiritual government and political government. Because he held that the state, too, bears responsibility for protecting true godliness, however, he is regarded as having emphasized the connection between the two realms more than Luther did. The Anabaptists adopted a stricter separation, under which believers do not participate in the exercise of state power.

The twentieth century also brought criticism. Karl Barth and others charged that parts of the German church during the Nazi era had used this teaching to justify remaining silent before the state. Lutherans, for their part, regard this as a misuse of Luther's thought.

Practice in the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the two kingdoms doctrine is discussed chiefly in connection with the principle of the separation of church and state and with debates over the church and politics. Early missionaries instructed the church to refrain from direct involvement in political matters. The Presbyterian Council is reported to have adopted a resolution in 1901 concerning the relationship between the church and the government.

During the democratization movement of the 1970s and 1980s, positions diverged. Conservative churches, citing Romans 13 and the separation of church and state, were cautious about political involvement by the church. The progressive camp, centered on the National Council of Churches in Korea, argued for engagement on the grounds that God's sovereignty extends over the whole of society.

Emphases also differ by denomination:

• The Lutheran Church in Korea maintains Luther's teaching as part of its doctrinal tradition.
• Presbyterian and other Reformed churches distinguish the two realms while also emphasizing that Christ's lordship extends over both.
• Baptists have historically placed particular importance on the separation of church and state.