ABSTRACT
The idea of constitutionalism, which by definition must include the idea of limited government, makes an appearance in the biblical era. The various founding covenants of the peoples, churches, or communities known to us as covenantal usually make clear reference to their biblical origins. The conventional contrast between "systematic" philosophy and "unsystematic" biblically grounded thought misses the mark. The purpose of the Bible is to teach humans the right way to live in this world. The Bible recognizes the interlinking of both aspects of politics and addresses itself to both. The entire worldview of the Bible and consequently the essential outlook of all biblically rooted traditions are built around the covenant idea. Thus, the Bible describes humans as hearkening to God's commandments, hearing and choosing to respond to them—rather than simply obeying them. Hesed is the operative term in a covenant relationship, which translates the bare fact of the covenant into a dynamic relationship.
