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The Politics of God and the Politics of Man
Human freedom - God's how can they be reconciled? That question is central to this penetrating study of political action and prophetic function. Ellul's answer to that question, though based on events recorded in the Second Book of Kings, is immediately relevant to contemporary issues and to the church today. Emerging from these reflections is an eloquent testimony to the immense love of God -"which not only creates and saves, but which also in its incomprehensible humility wants to associate man with its work."
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 1966
12 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Jacques Ellul
119 books446 followersBaptised Catholic, Ellul became an atheist and Marxist at 19, and a Christian of the Reformed Church at 22. During his Marxist days, he was a member of the French Communist Party. During World War II, he fought with the French Underground against the Nazi occupation of France.
Educated at the Universities of Bordeaux and Paris, he taught Sociology and the History of Law at the Universities of Strausbourg and Montpellier. In 1946 he returned to Bordeaux where he lived, wrote, served as Mayor, and taught until his death in 1994.
In the 40 books and hundreds of articles Ellul wrote in his lifetime, his dominant theme was always the threat to human freedom posed by modern technology. His tenor and methodology is objective and scholarly, and the perspective is a sociological one. Few of his books are overtly political -- even though they deal directly with political phenomena -- and several of his books, including "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" and "The Technological Society" are required reading in many graduate communication curricula.
Ellul was also a respected and serious Christian theologian whose 1948 work, "The Presence of the Kingdom," makes explicit a dual theme inherent, though subtly stated, in all of his writing, a sort of yin and yang of modern technological society: sin and sacramentality.
Educated at the Universities of Bordeaux and Paris, he taught Sociology and the History of Law at the Universities of Strausbourg and Montpellier. In 1946 he returned to Bordeaux where he lived, wrote, served as Mayor, and taught until his death in 1994.
In the 40 books and hundreds of articles Ellul wrote in his lifetime, his dominant theme was always the threat to human freedom posed by modern technology. His tenor and methodology is objective and scholarly, and the perspective is a sociological one. Few of his books are overtly political -- even though they deal directly with political phenomena -- and several of his books, including "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" and "The Technological Society" are required reading in many graduate communication curricula.
Ellul was also a respected and serious Christian theologian whose 1948 work, "The Presence of the Kingdom," makes explicit a dual theme inherent, though subtly stated, in all of his writing, a sort of yin and yang of modern technological society: sin and sacramentality.
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November 20, 2016
French sociologist and historian Jacques Ellul (1912-1994) was one of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century. I'd always had the (mistaken) impression that he was a Roman Catholic, probably because of his nationality; actually, while he was baptized in that church as a baby, he converted to the Reformed church as a young man, after a few years as an atheist and Communist. He fought with the French Resistance in World War II, and before and after the war enjoyed a long career teaching in French universities (and from 1946 until his death --he never retired-- at just one institution, the Univ. of Bordeaux). This book is one of some 40 that he wrote.
Although Biblical studies wasn't his area of academic specialization, this volume consists of seven serious "meditations" discussing particular passages in the Old Testament book of II Kings, given close readings and considered for what they authoritatively reveal to us about God's role, and our role, in the world, the sphere in which politics operates. It concludes with a final reflection on what he calls "inutility" --the fact that none of our actions, such as obedience, prayer, and evangelism, are ultimately necessary to fulfill the purposes of an omnipotent and omniscient God, but are nonetheless commanded by Him. (As he indicates in a few of the sparse footnotes, his interest here is not in the speculations by secular scholars about the supposed literary development of the Old Testament texts, and he approaches these with some skepticism. He also is not mainly interested in interacting with other Christian scholars, though he occasionally mentions the insights of a couple of French O.T. scholars in the footnotes.) His central concern is in letting the Biblical texts speak to us on a level of basic principles. These are not, however, principles for the specific points of a partisan political program. Indeed, he takes a very negative view of the human tendency (typified, in our present U.S. context, by the white evangelical churches' total self-identification with the G.O.P., and the white liberal and black churches' mirror-image merger with the Democrats) of believers to imagine that particular secular political entities or causes are the instruments of God's kingdom on earth, and that serving them is really serving Him.
Because this is a relatively short book at 199 pages, it's a fairly quick read; but it isn't a shallow one (and can actually be rather challenging). Ellul's writing is deep and pithy; I sometimes quote lines from a book in one of my Goodreads groups if I find them particularly insightful, but if I did that here, I'd be quoting almost the whole text of the book. There are a few places, though, where I had to reread a sentence or two a couple of times to get the meaning (and wasn't always sure even then), though it's probably clear enough in the original French. (This is also a book that, in terms of comprehension, is best not read when you're tired; it needs peak mental alertness!) If I were asked to summarize the main themes here, I'd say they are the relationship of God's foreknowledge and eternal plan to mankind's free will (Ellul uses "man" for mankind generically; this was written in 1966), the relationship between God's justice/judgment and His mercy, which are both aspects of His love; and the central role of paradox in Christian truth. Interestingly, though the Reformed church was historically Calvinist, Elull (correctly, IMO) treats human free will as a central truth of the biblical message; determinism is explicitly rejected here.
Much writing by Christians on social and political subjects can be addressed to, and appreciated by, both believers and non-believers; it may address topics of serious interest to both, and base its thought on principles understandable to both through the common grace of general revelation (in the human conscience, etc.) However, I've recommended this book just for Christians, since it's dealing with strictly theological concerns that probably wouldn't interest non-believers directly. Of course, persons of the Jewish faith are also concerned with the interpretation of the Old Testament; but Ellul consistently approaches the Old Testament through the lens of the New, which limits the book's appeal for the Jewish community. (Indeed, one of his most original insights is the discussion of the significance of Elisha's ministry as a type of Jesus' ministry.)
This was my first exposure to Ellul's writing and thought. Having read it, though, I most definitely hope to read more (once I've reduced my to-read shelf to more manageable proportions!).
Although Biblical studies wasn't his area of academic specialization, this volume consists of seven serious "meditations" discussing particular passages in the Old Testament book of II Kings, given close readings and considered for what they authoritatively reveal to us about God's role, and our role, in the world, the sphere in which politics operates. It concludes with a final reflection on what he calls "inutility" --the fact that none of our actions, such as obedience, prayer, and evangelism, are ultimately necessary to fulfill the purposes of an omnipotent and omniscient God, but are nonetheless commanded by Him. (As he indicates in a few of the sparse footnotes, his interest here is not in the speculations by secular scholars about the supposed literary development of the Old Testament texts, and he approaches these with some skepticism. He also is not mainly interested in interacting with other Christian scholars, though he occasionally mentions the insights of a couple of French O.T. scholars in the footnotes.) His central concern is in letting the Biblical texts speak to us on a level of basic principles. These are not, however, principles for the specific points of a partisan political program. Indeed, he takes a very negative view of the human tendency (typified, in our present U.S. context, by the white evangelical churches' total self-identification with the G.O.P., and the white liberal and black churches' mirror-image merger with the Democrats) of believers to imagine that particular secular political entities or causes are the instruments of God's kingdom on earth, and that serving them is really serving Him.
Because this is a relatively short book at 199 pages, it's a fairly quick read; but it isn't a shallow one (and can actually be rather challenging). Ellul's writing is deep and pithy; I sometimes quote lines from a book in one of my Goodreads groups if I find them particularly insightful, but if I did that here, I'd be quoting almost the whole text of the book. There are a few places, though, where I had to reread a sentence or two a couple of times to get the meaning (and wasn't always sure even then), though it's probably clear enough in the original French. (This is also a book that, in terms of comprehension, is best not read when you're tired; it needs peak mental alertness!) If I were asked to summarize the main themes here, I'd say they are the relationship of God's foreknowledge and eternal plan to mankind's free will (Ellul uses "man" for mankind generically; this was written in 1966), the relationship between God's justice/judgment and His mercy, which are both aspects of His love; and the central role of paradox in Christian truth. Interestingly, though the Reformed church was historically Calvinist, Elull (correctly, IMO) treats human free will as a central truth of the biblical message; determinism is explicitly rejected here.
Much writing by Christians on social and political subjects can be addressed to, and appreciated by, both believers and non-believers; it may address topics of serious interest to both, and base its thought on principles understandable to both through the common grace of general revelation (in the human conscience, etc.) However, I've recommended this book just for Christians, since it's dealing with strictly theological concerns that probably wouldn't interest non-believers directly. Of course, persons of the Jewish faith are also concerned with the interpretation of the Old Testament; but Ellul consistently approaches the Old Testament through the lens of the New, which limits the book's appeal for the Jewish community. (Indeed, one of his most original insights is the discussion of the significance of Elisha's ministry as a type of Jesus' ministry.)
This was my first exposure to Ellul's writing and thought. Having read it, though, I most definitely hope to read more (once I've reduced my to-read shelf to more manageable proportions!).
October 8, 2010
I'm tempted to call this a book of genius. Yet before I do so I must mull this one over at greater length. The book is Ellul's meditations on certain texts in Second Kings. In it he writes about the political means used by various politicians, generals, kings, and prophets in Second Kings. He contrasts these politics to the means used by God, and argues that political action is a human means and are not the actions of believers. He makes a sharp distinction at the beginning between the functions of the state and political maneuvering. The role of the state is not at issue in this work--instead, it is the actions of men over against the demands of God. This is an absolutely fascinating book. The last chapter alone makes this worth reading.
February 16, 2017
This was my first foray into the work of Jacques Ellul and I was not disappointed. As a series of reflections on the book of Second Kings (of all places), Ellul's book is thought provoking and very intriguing. He calls Second Kings the most political of all books in the Bible, showing the relativity of politics. The second theme he finds in Second Kings is its display of the free determination (will) of man and the freedom of God. These two themes run throughout the book. This will be a book I return to soon, as it demands a second reading. I also will be adding more Ellul books to my reading list in the future. If nothing else, this book shows the great relevance of any and every part of scripture to our faith today. The story in Second Kings teaches us that human politics is not the ultimate in importance, as we often think, and that humans make truly free decisions.
July 3, 2018
Un petit étude sur quelques personages du livre des Rois. Sauf par son universaliſme, Ellul toujours surprenant avec ſon ſoucis de la liberté, honneur, gloire et amour de Dieu. Un preſque réformée de première claße.
Dans une deuxième lecture deux ans après, toujours fort & encore ſurprenant. Un livre qu’il paye la peine relire ; peut-être je le relirai dans un ou deu décennies.
Dans une deuxième lecture deux ans après, toujours fort & encore ſurprenant. Un livre qu’il paye la peine relire ; peut-être je le relirai dans un ou deu décennies.
February 28, 2018
I read this book for the class on Kings I'm currently teaching. It is a work to be taken seriously or not at all. That is to say, that if you are not serious about studying the material in the book, you will find it dry and difficult to finish.
Ellul is of a particular, rather strong opinion. He holds that participation with God is an all or nothing proposition. While I might agree with this idea, it is not to the extent he holds it. He seems to be saying that when a person is not wholly committed, he may be less than redeemable. That is not so say God CANNOT redeem that person, but He may not, and in some cases probably will not.
On the whole, Ellul gives a strong survey of the stories from 2 Kings he covers. He addresses difficult questions and in some cases questions the reader may not even have thought to ask. For example, it never occurred to me that when Elijah obeyed God and anointed Elisha, he completely ignored the other instructions God gave him and Elisha carried them out over a decade later. The consequences of the delay were quite drastic.
The author follows a kind of determinism, not to say fatalism. I don't think he's being strictly Calvinist, but his assessment is that God's sovereignty is complete and therefore the actions of humans do not matter at all. We are to obey, but simply for obedience sake, not with any idea that our obedience (or lack of it) actually accomplishes anything. This is a hard pill to swallow, and I do not swallow it.
Rather I believe that God is big enough and His sovereignty is all encompassing enough to draw in both me and my actions. My actions can and do make a difference, not because God needs them, but because He wants them to.
Ellul is of a particular, rather strong opinion. He holds that participation with God is an all or nothing proposition. While I might agree with this idea, it is not to the extent he holds it. He seems to be saying that when a person is not wholly committed, he may be less than redeemable. That is not so say God CANNOT redeem that person, but He may not, and in some cases probably will not.
On the whole, Ellul gives a strong survey of the stories from 2 Kings he covers. He addresses difficult questions and in some cases questions the reader may not even have thought to ask. For example, it never occurred to me that when Elijah obeyed God and anointed Elisha, he completely ignored the other instructions God gave him and Elisha carried them out over a decade later. The consequences of the delay were quite drastic.
The author follows a kind of determinism, not to say fatalism. I don't think he's being strictly Calvinist, but his assessment is that God's sovereignty is complete and therefore the actions of humans do not matter at all. We are to obey, but simply for obedience sake, not with any idea that our obedience (or lack of it) actually accomplishes anything. This is a hard pill to swallow, and I do not swallow it.
Rather I believe that God is big enough and His sovereignty is all encompassing enough to draw in both me and my actions. My actions can and do make a difference, not because God needs them, but because He wants them to.
May 30, 2014
What is the relationship between the political realm and the kingdom of God? Ellul puts forward that there is very little overlap. Whether in Israel or in the Church the pursuit of political power and efficiency is a means and end outside the reign of a God who is willing to suffer so that humanity might be free to obey. Using the book of 2 Kings as a starting point Ellul explores how human freedom and divine sovereignty relate. The pursuit of efficiency in the world and political gains is opposite from the inefficient obedience God demands of his people. The inuitility of what the Church is commanded to do, preaching, prayer, service, all that really ends in very little actual change, is a grace from God. When we recognize this inutility we are given the freedom to choose the ineffective for God's sake. If the way of the Kingdom was powerful and rich we would be forced to choose it. But it is not. The way of Christ is prophetic suffering. We are given the grace and freedom to follow in it... or not.
November 2, 2013
Too many Christians think they have to become "part of the system" in order to re-direct the powers. Ellul uses Old Testament to show how the powers are really influenced and what is really important in the grander scheme of things.
January 12, 2020
An amazing look at 1 and 2 Kings through the lens of politics and leadership.
Ellul is both simple and dives into depths of beautiful thought.
A quick read, but a great read.
Ellul is both simple and dives into depths of beautiful thought.
A quick read, but a great read.
December 8, 2022
Read as an aid to preparing a series of sermons during the complex buildup to 2022 elections in Brazil. His exegesis can be quite creative, but this is actually a strenght.
I sometimes feel bible commentaries forget to mention that the actions narrated have real impacts on the lives of the people. The decisions of a king really carry weight for the people living in the land. Even inspired texts like the Bible, that lift the curtains of history to reveal the theological importance of the events, never forget the real implications for the people around, even if they don´t always mention it directly.
To mention an example, 1Kings 12 (not in the book) and the events that lead to the splitting of Israel into two separate kingdoms after the death of Solomon strongly imply that the later years of Solomon were of true decadence. In contrast with the first years of his kingship, when people "ate, drank, and were merry" (1Kgs 4:20), 1Kings 12 shows that people suffered under the guindance of a once wise king, now more worried with riddles and with gold plating everything. It´s unfortunate that many commentators skim over this reality.
In that sense, Ellul´s take is quite unique because it emphasizes the real world (realpolitik, some would say) aspects of the biblical text. He also has a keen eye for irony, a figure of speech hard to convey in text, but undoubtably present in the Bible. Obviously, his work is not exegetical, so this book is not really a bible commentary. But it does add a lot of color that is missing in a more traditional approach to the biblical text.
I sometimes feel bible commentaries forget to mention that the actions narrated have real impacts on the lives of the people. The decisions of a king really carry weight for the people living in the land. Even inspired texts like the Bible, that lift the curtains of history to reveal the theological importance of the events, never forget the real implications for the people around, even if they don´t always mention it directly.
To mention an example, 1Kings 12 (not in the book) and the events that lead to the splitting of Israel into two separate kingdoms after the death of Solomon strongly imply that the later years of Solomon were of true decadence. In contrast with the first years of his kingship, when people "ate, drank, and were merry" (1Kgs 4:20), 1Kings 12 shows that people suffered under the guindance of a once wise king, now more worried with riddles and with gold plating everything. It´s unfortunate that many commentators skim over this reality.
In that sense, Ellul´s take is quite unique because it emphasizes the real world (realpolitik, some would say) aspects of the biblical text. He also has a keen eye for irony, a figure of speech hard to convey in text, but undoubtably present in the Bible. Obviously, his work is not exegetical, so this book is not really a bible commentary. But it does add a lot of color that is missing in a more traditional approach to the biblical text.
December 30, 2024
Essentially this book asks and answers the question, "Why should we bother, if God's will happens anyway?" Ellul studies 2 Kings thoroughly to make some stunning conclusions. God is omnipotent, yes, and God has a will, yes, but God's will is not always clear to humanity and, even when it is, part of God's will is to invite humanity to participate. Thus, God does not automatically make His will happen, regardless of human action; in other words, God withholds omnipotence in certain, if not all, cases.
I'm bluntly summarizing and paraphrasing. It's worth the read.
Ellul doesn't make many direct conclusions about contemporary Christian discipleship or culture. You can look to his other works for that. His philosophical and theological frame for some of his other works is clearly found here, though, and the implications for our living in today's world should also be clear from the biblical conclusions here.
I'm bluntly summarizing and paraphrasing. It's worth the read.
Ellul doesn't make many direct conclusions about contemporary Christian discipleship or culture. You can look to his other works for that. His philosophical and theological frame for some of his other works is clearly found here, though, and the implications for our living in today's world should also be clear from the biblical conclusions here.
September 2, 2017
This book is a powerful and poignant meditation taken from II Kings and principally the ministry of Elisha. I was bedazzled by his grasp of and insights on the spiritual and political principles at work through God's engagement in and through events in the nations of Judah and Israel. As in all his writings, everything is set in the perspective of Jesus Christ, of which Elisha is a figure and for whom Elijah was the herald. I am not aware of any other writing with a more penetrating insight into the will and acts of God as this interacts with the will and nature of man, both on a spiritual and political plane. His closing chapter on the inutility of man is a deeply sobering account of the useless and yet commanded acts of piety, a must read for cultivating authentic humility and true spiritual motivation for obedience. Brace your heart and mind for piercing truth.
September 23, 2023
I'm never disappointed when I read something written by Jacques Ellul. In this book, he takes an unconventional look at the politics of the divided monarchy in 2 Kings and what it says about human purposes versus God's purposes. As always, Ellul draws out meanings and background that we often glaze over because the stories are so familiar to us.
The work is neither shallow nor too scholarly (it's not scholarly at all, really, in terms of style). Ellul illustrates by example the depths to which we can plumb the biblical texts for philosophical and political ideas. He isn't exegeting the text but, rather, meditating on it and communicating the thoughts prompted by the meditation.
Well worth the time.
The work is neither shallow nor too scholarly (it's not scholarly at all, really, in terms of style). Ellul illustrates by example the depths to which we can plumb the biblical texts for philosophical and political ideas. He isn't exegeting the text but, rather, meditating on it and communicating the thoughts prompted by the meditation.
Well worth the time.
October 16, 2018
Really enjoyed the political readings of 2 Kings by Ellul. His writing deserves a lot to the existential theological school (There are clear similarities between his style and Brueggemann's or Heschel's, both of which I enjoy very much).
The most striking chapters for me were of Jehu, and his incitation of violence by a poor connection between religion and politics! Very timely for global (and Brazilian) political landscape. The other though-provoking part was the last chapter, on the inutility of human actions.
The most striking chapters for me were of Jehu, and his incitation of violence by a poor connection between religion and politics! Very timely for global (and Brazilian) political landscape. The other though-provoking part was the last chapter, on the inutility of human actions.
September 8, 2021
I actually have been using this book for my devotional reading, and I have just a few pages left. It was not intended or ideal for that purpose, but Ellul stayed connected enough to Biblical passages and themes, and gave me plenty to think about, and tools to think with.
Anyone who isn't looking for help thinking through political ideas right now just isn't paying attention. Ellul has enough temporal and cultural distance (Europe at the end of the last millenium) that he felt safe, like he might not have chosen sides and could speak from the outside.
Anyone who isn't looking for help thinking through political ideas right now just isn't paying attention. Ellul has enough temporal and cultural distance (Europe at the end of the last millenium) that he felt safe, like he might not have chosen sides and could speak from the outside.
October 4, 2021
We cannot thwart God’s will with our free acts, our free acts may be useless, but they are free, and that is enough.
“In truth the freedom of man attained in Jesus Christ is what really makes history. The crowds who obey sociological or economic laws do not make history; they repeat it. The freedom of man is a miraculous phenomenon which is decisive for history. When men express freedom, they are witnesses to the act of the Creator God in history.”
“In truth the freedom of man attained in Jesus Christ is what really makes history. The crowds who obey sociological or economic laws do not make history; they repeat it. The freedom of man is a miraculous phenomenon which is decisive for history. When men express freedom, they are witnesses to the act of the Creator God in history.”
October 22, 2024
I’ve never read a book that packed more of a punch in so few pages. Ellul teases out transcendence in the obscure tales of 2 Kings like no one else could. The book deserves a second reading. Lightning in every chapter.
November 20, 2025
This book explores politics, consequentialism, simplicity, free will, depravity, and ethics. It’s relatively concise and extremely incisive. It’s on my read again list because I have to mull it over some more.
June 1, 2025
Cette lecture du livre 2. Rois par Jacques Ellul m’aide beaucoup !
March 16, 2021
Whoa, what a book. Ellul never fails to knock me off balance. In this strangely timely book, Ellul examines the prophetic career of Elisha and his interactions with the kings of the day and with the movements of God. His big point is that we are to be seized by the word of God, not to seize the word of God. Prophecy is not to be used for political ends, even well-intentioned politics. In depth, incisive, sometimes shocking, this is a must-read.
August 7, 2011
Great inisghts into the nature of God's transcendent sovereignty over human history as well as the key idea that the nature of Kingdom life is political in ways that don't submit to national politics, but instead transcends them. In the end, his view of human government and cutural activity seems much too low if we grant that God is still at work through human agency in every corner of creation.
April 11, 2014
game changer
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