Bible Verses About Separation of Church and State
Ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community
These are the Bible verses most often cited for separation of church and state, ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community across 4,386 votes, led by Mark 12:17. Each passage links to its verse page or the interactive map; scripture is the King James Version.
Top verses about Separation of Church and State
Mark 12:17594 votes
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
John 18:36309 votes
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Romans 13:1-7273 votes
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Acts 5:29268 votes
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
1 Peter 2:13-17229 votes
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
John 8:47139 votes
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Joshua 24:15136 votes
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
1 Peter 5:2120 votes
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
John 4:24112 votes
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Matthew 6:1-34109 votes
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
1 John 5:16-19107 votes
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Isaiah 9:681 votes
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Colossians 2:1-2362 votes
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 Chronicles 7:1458 votes
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Genesis 9:1-2953 votes
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Daniel 4:1753 votes
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
2 Timothy 2:2653 votes
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Titus 3:1-1553 votes
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Colossians 3:1-2548 votes
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
1 Peter 3:15-1742 votes
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Exodus 20:339 votes
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 22:18-2039 votes
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Leviticus 20:2639 votes
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
Judges 8:2339 votes
And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.
Proverbs 29:1839 votes
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
What does the Bible say about separation of church and state?
Readers most often cite Mark 12:17 on the subject of separation of church and state. Across 4,386 votes, 25 passages are commonly cited for this topic, including John 18:36, Romans 13:1-7, Acts 5:29. This page lists all 25 in ranked order, quoted in the King James Version, with each linked to its cross-references.