Theonomy, Biblical laws, are simply Rules for Relationships. I want you to devise a system for listing and categorizing and tokenizing those rules and relationships.
Yes. A good way to make Theonomy / Biblical law understandable is to stop presenting it first as “laws” and present it as:
God’s rules for rightly ordered relationships.
That gives you a clean organizing system: every Biblical law can be classified by who is relating to whom, what duty is owed, what boundary is protected, what violation is forbidden, and what restoration is required.
Here is a full system you could use.
Theonomic Relationship Rule System
1. Core Concept
Every Biblical law can be tokenized as a Relationship Rule:
In relationship X, party A owes duty B to party C under God’s authority, protecting good D, forbidding evil E, with consequence or remedy F.
That gives you a repeatable structure.
Example:
“Thou shalt not steal.”
Becomes:
In property relationships, every person owes respect for another’s God-given stewardship, forbidding theft, requiring restitution.
2. Basic Rule Token Format
Each law could be stored as a structured token like this:
{
"rule_id": "PROPERTY.STEWARDSHIP.NO_THEFT.001",
"title": "Do not steal",
"scripture_refs": ["Exodus 20:15", "Deuteronomy 5:19"],
"relationship_domain": "Property",
"relationship_type": "Neighbor to Neighbor",
"parties": {
"subject": "Person",
"object": "Neighbor",
"authority": "God"
},
"duty": "Respect another person's lawful stewardship",
"prohibition": "Taking what belongs to another without lawful right",
"protected_good": "Private property and stewardship",
"violation": "Theft",
"remedy": "Restitution",
"sanction_type": "Restorative / Judicial",
"summary": "A man may not seize, consume, withhold, or transfer another person's property without lawful claim.",
"keywords": ["theft", "property", "stewardship", "restitution", "neighbor"],
"modern_applications": ["fraud", "wage theft", "inflationary theft", "intellectual theft", "tax abuse"]
}
The key is that the rule is not merely an isolated command. It becomes a node in a network of relationships.
3. Top-Level Relationship Domains
I would categorize Biblical law by relationship domain rather than by modern legal categories first.
A. God-Man Relationship
Rules governing man’s direct covenant duty to God.
Examples:
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Worship | idolatry, sacrifice, reverence, Sabbath |
| Covenant Loyalty | no other gods, no apostasy, no blasphemy |
| Holiness | clean/unclean, priesthood, separation |
| Time | Sabbath, feasts, sabbatical years |
| Vows/Oaths | lawful speech before God |
Representative token prefix:
GOD.WORSHIP
GOD.COVENANT
GOD.HOLINESS
GOD.TIME
GOD.OATHS
B. Person-Self Relationship
Rules governing self-government under God.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Self-control | drunkenness, lust, laziness, anger |
| Speech | truthfulness, slander, false witness |
| Diligence | work, stewardship, discipline |
| Purity | sexual integrity, bodily holiness |
| Wisdom | instruction, correction, prudence |
Token prefix:
SELF.SPEECH
SELF.PURITY
SELF.WORK
SELF.WISDOM
SELF.DISCIPLINE
This category is important because Biblical law does not begin with the state. It begins with self-government under God.
C. Family Relationships
Rules governing household order.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Husband-Wife | marriage, divorce, bride price, sexual fidelity |
| Parent-Child | honor, discipline, inheritance, education |
| Household Economy | provision, servants, productive labor |
| Generational Duty | inheritance, name, land, covenant continuity |
| Widow/Orphan Protection | family responsibility and care |
Token prefix:
FAMILY.MARRIAGE
FAMILY.PARENT_CHILD
FAMILY.INHERITANCE
FAMILY.PROVISION
FAMILY.PROTECTION
Example:
FAMILY.PARENT_CHILD.HONOR_PARENTS.001
D. Neighbor Relationships
Rules governing ordinary social life.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Life | murder, assault, negligence, protection |
| Property | theft, boundaries, restitution |
| Speech | false witness, slander, truthful testimony |
| Sexual Boundaries | adultery, fornication, seduction |
| Help/Duty of Care | lost property, injured neighbor, debt mercy |
Token prefix:
NEIGHBOR.LIFE
NEIGHBOR.PROPERTY
NEIGHBOR.SPEECH
NEIGHBOR.SEXUAL_BOUNDARIES
NEIGHBOR.CARE
This is where many of the Ten Commandments live when applied socially.
E. Economic Relationships
Rules governing exchange, labor, debt, ownership, and production.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Labor | wages, honest work, ox/muzzle laws |
| Debt | interest, pledges, release, mercy |
| Weights & Measures | honest money, honest trade |
| Land | boundaries, inheritance, Jubilee |
| Charity | gleaning, poor relief, voluntary duty |
Token prefix:
ECONOMY.LABOR
ECONOMY.DEBT
ECONOMY.MEASURES
ECONOMY.LAND
ECONOMY.CHARITY
Example:
ECONOMY.MEASURES.HONEST_WEIGHTS.001
F. Church / Assembly Relationships
Rules governing worshiping community, discipline, teaching, and covenant order.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Teaching | doctrine, instruction, guarding truth |
| Discipline | correction, excommunication principles |
| Sacraments / Signs | covenant signs, holy things |
| Elders / Leaders | qualification, judgment, authority |
| Fellowship | purity of the congregation |
Token prefix:
ASSEMBLY.TEACHING
ASSEMBLY.DISCIPLINE
ASSEMBLY.LEADERSHIP
ASSEMBLY.FELLOWSHIP
ASSEMBLY.HOLINESS
For an explicitly Christian version, you could use:
CHURCH.*
For broader Old Testament / covenantal indexing, use:
ASSEMBLY.*
G. Civil/Judicial Relationships
Rules governing judges, courts, witnesses, punishments, and public justice.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Judges | impartiality, no bribery, righteous judgment |
| Witnesses | two or three witnesses, false witness |
| Restitution | repayment, penalties, restoration |
| Capital Crimes | murder, kidnapping, etc. |
| Public Order | boundaries of civil authority |
Token prefix:
CIVIL.JUDGES
CIVIL.WITNESSES
CIVIL.RESTITUTION
CIVIL.SANCTIONS
CIVIL.AUTHORITY
This keeps “civil law” in its proper place: not the whole of theonomy, but one jurisdiction among many.
H. Creation / Land / Animal Relationships
Rules governing man’s dominion over creation.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Land Stewardship | sabbatical land rest, boundaries, fruit trees |
| Animals | humane treatment, liability, firstlings |
| Agriculture | gleaning, mixed seeds, harvest |
| Environmental Order | cleanliness, waste, disease |
| Dominion | productive cultivation under God |
Token prefix:
CREATION.LAND
CREATION.ANIMALS
CREATION.AGRICULTURE
CREATION.CLEANNESS
CREATION.DOMINION
This is important because Biblical law is not merely interpersonal. It also governs man’s relationship to the created order.
I. Stranger / Nation / Enemy Relationships
Rules governing outsiders, foreigners, enemies, and national boundaries.
| Category | Concerns |
|---|---|
| Stranger | justice, hospitality, equal law |
| Nations | treaties, separation, conquest judgments |
| War | lawful warfare, exemptions, spoils |
| Enemies | mercy, limits, judgment |
| Immigration / Sojourning | covenantal boundaries and protections |
Token prefix:
NATIONS.STRANGER
NATIONS.WAR
NATIONS.TREATIES
NATIONS.ENEMIES
NATIONS.BOUNDARIES
4. Relationship Party Types
Each rule should identify the parties involved.
Possible party tokens:
GOD
PERSON
SELF
SPOUSE
PARENT
CHILD
HOUSEHOLD
NEIGHBOR
POOR
WIDOW
ORPHAN
STRANGER
SERVANT
MASTER
WORKER
EMPLOYER
BUYER
SELLER
DEBTOR
CREDITOR
JUDGE
WITNESS
KING
PRIEST
ELDER
CONGREGATION
ANIMAL
LAND
ENEMY
NATION
So a rule might involve:
"parties": {
"subject": "Creditor",
"object": "Poor Debtor",
"authority": "God",
"mediating_institution": "Court / Community"
}
5. Duty Types
A Biblical rule normally does one or more of these things:
| Duty Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Honor | give due reverence or respect |
| Protect | guard life, property, purity, name, or inheritance |
| Provide | give required care, wages, food, covering, justice |
| Restore | make restitution after harm |
| Separate | maintain holy boundaries |
| Judge | discern and apply justice |
| Teach | transmit truth and covenant instruction |
| Work | exercise dominion productively |
| Rest | observe God-ordained limits |
| Testify | speak truthfully under judgment |
| Worship | render direct service to God |
| Discipline | correct evil or disorder |
| Mercy | relieve need without abolishing justice |
Token examples:
DUTY.HONOR
DUTY.PROTECT
DUTY.PROVIDE
DUTY.RESTORE
DUTY.SEPARATE
DUTY.JUDGE
DUTY.TEACH
DUTY.WORK
DUTY.REST
DUTY.TESTIFY
DUTY.WORSHIP
DUTY.DISCIPLINE
DUTY.MERCY
6. Protected Goods
Every Biblical law protects something.
| Protected Good | Examples |
|---|---|
| God’s glory | worship laws, anti-idolatry laws |
| Life | murder, assault, negligence |
| Marriage | adultery, divorce, seduction |
| Family continuity | inheritance, honor parents |
| Property | theft, landmarks, restitution |
| Truth | false witness, honest weights |
| Justice | judges, witnesses, courts |
| Purity | sexual, ceremonial, covenantal |
| Labor | wages, Sabbath, gleaning |
| Mercy | poor, widow, orphan, stranger |
| Dominion | land, animals, productivity |
| Covenant order | church, family, state boundaries |
Token examples:
GOOD.LIFE
GOOD.PROPERTY
GOOD.MARRIAGE
GOOD.TRUTH
GOOD.JUSTICE
GOOD.MERCY
GOOD.PURITY
GOOD.DOMINION
GOOD.COVENANT_ORDER
This is one of the most powerful parts of the system. It lets people see that Biblical law is not arbitrary. It is guarding some good.
7. Violation Types
Every violation can also be tokenized.
VIOLATION.IDOLATRY
VIOLATION.BLASPHEMY
VIOLATION.MURDER
VIOLATION.ASSAULT
VIOLATION.THEFT
VIOLATION.FRAUD
VIOLATION.FALSE_WITNESS
VIOLATION.ADULTERY
VIOLATION.SEDUCTION
VIOLATION.KIDNAPPING
VIOLATION.OPPRESSION
VIOLATION.BRIBERY
VIOLATION.NEGLIGENCE
VIOLATION.COVENANT_BREAKING
VIOLATION.BOUNDARY_REMOVAL
VIOLATION.WAGE_WITHHOLDING
VIOLATION.UNJUST_DEBT
VIOLATION.UNCLEANNESS
This would be very useful for indexing Rushdoony transcripts, because he often discusses a modern issue under one of these violations.
For example:
| Modern Topic | Biblical Violation Token |
|---|---|
| inflation | VIOLATION.FRAUD, VIOLATION.FALSE_WEIGHTS |
| abortion | VIOLATION.MURDER |
| public-school statism | VIOLATION.FAMILY_USURPATION, VIOLATION.IDOLATRY |
| no-fault divorce | VIOLATION.COVENANT_BREAKING |
| socialism | VIOLATION.THEFT, VIOLATION.ENVY, VIOLATION.STATE_IDOLATRY |
8. Sanction / Remedy Types
The system should distinguish between moral consequence, family discipline, church discipline, civil sanction, and restorative remedy.
SANCTION.MORAL
SANCTION.FAMILIAL
SANCTION.ECCLESIASTICAL
SANCTION.CIVIL
SANCTION.RESTITUTION
SANCTION.EXCLUSION
SANCTION.DEATH
SANCTION.RELEASE
SANCTION.CLEANSING
SANCTION.REBUKE
SANCTION.RECONCILIATION
Example:
"sanctions": [
{
"type": "SANCTION.RESTITUTION",
"description": "The thief must restore what was taken, often with additional damages."
}
]
This prevents people from flattening all Biblical law into “the state punishes X.” Some laws are self-government laws. Some are family laws. Some are church/assembly laws. Some are civil.
9. Jurisdiction Tags
Every rule should be tagged by the institution mainly responsible for applying it.
JURISDICTION.SELF
JURISDICTION.FAMILY
JURISDICTION.CHURCH
JURISDICTION.CIVIL
JURISDICTION.MARKET
JURISDICTION.COMMUNITY
JURISDICTION.PRIESTLY
JURISDICTION.PROPHETIC
Example:
"jurisdictions": ["JURISDICTION.SELF", "JURISDICTION.FAMILY", "JURISDICTION.CIVIL"]
A law may touch more than one jurisdiction, but usually one is primary.
10. Rule Classification Levels
I would classify each rule at five levels:
Domain → Relationship → Duty → Violation/Protection → Remedy
Example:
ECONOMY → Employer/Worker → Pay wages promptly → Wage withholding → Restitution/Judgment
Another example:
FAMILY → Parent/Child → Honor parents → Rebellion/Contempt → Discipline/Judgment
Another:
CIVIL → Judge/Witness/Accused → Require truthful testimony → False witness → Same penalty intended for victim
11. Proposed Token Structure
Use a readable hierarchical token:
DOMAIN.RELATIONSHIP.DUTY_OR_PROHIBITION.SPECIFIC_RULE.VERSION
Examples:
GOD.WORSHIP.PROHIBIT_IDOLATRY.NO_OTHER_GODS.001
FAMILY.PARENT_CHILD.COMMAND_HONOR.HONOR_PARENTS.001
NEIGHBOR.PROPERTY.PROHIBIT_THEFT.NO_STEALING.001
ECONOMY.MEASURES.PROHIBIT_FRAUD.HONEST_WEIGHTS.001
CIVIL.WITNESSES.PROHIBIT_FALSEHOOD.FALSE_WITNESS.001
CREATION.ANIMALS.COMMAND_CARE.OX_IN_DITCH.001
NATIONS.STRANGER.COMMAND_JUSTICE.ONE_LAW.001
For database storage, also create numeric IDs, but keep the readable token for humans.
12. Relationship Matrix
You could build a matrix like this:
| Subject | Object | Relationship | Core Duty | Example Laws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man | God | worshiper to Lord | worship, obey, trust | no idols, Sabbath |
| Husband | Wife | covenant head to wife | love, provide, protect | marriage laws |
| Wife | Husband | covenant helper to husband | faithfulness, order | adultery laws |
| Parent | Child | steward to heir | teach, discipline, provide | honor/discipline laws |
| Child | Parent | heir to steward | honor, obey, care | honor parents |
| Neighbor | Neighbor | equal image-bearer | protect life/name/property | murder, theft, witness |
| Employer | Worker | master to laborer | pay justly and promptly | wage laws |
| Buyer | Seller | exchanger to exchanger | honest measures | weights/measures |
| Judge | Accused | magistrate to defendant | impartial justice | no bribery |
| Witness | Court | testifier to judgment | truth | false witness |
| Owner | Land | steward to inheritance | cultivate, rest, preserve | sabbatical laws |
| Israelite | Stranger | covenant member to outsider | equal justice, mercy | stranger laws |
This alone could become a teaching interface: “Choose a relationship, see God’s rules for it.”
13. Rule Card Format
For Pocket College, each Biblical rule could become a Rule Card.
Example:
Rule Card: Honest Weights and Measures
Rule ID:
ECONOMY.MEASURES.PROHIBIT_FRAUD.HONEST_WEIGHTS.001
Plain Summary:
God requires honest standards in trade, money, and measurement.
Relationship:
Buyer ↔ Seller
Merchant ↔ Customer
Ruler ↔ Citizen
Duty:
Use truthful measures.
Protected Good:
Truth, property, justice, trust.
Violation:
Fraud, theft by manipulation, false weights.
Remedy:
Restitution and public judgment.
Modern Applications:
Inflation, deceptive pricing, manipulated statistics, dishonest contracts, monetary debasement.
Scripture:
Leviticus 19:35–36
Deuteronomy 25:13–16
Proverbs 11:1
This is much easier to teach than simply listing “case laws.”
14. Suggested Database Tables
You could implement this cleanly.
biblical_rules
id
rule_token
title
plain_summary
theological_summary
primary_domain_id
primary_relationship_id
primary_duty_id
primary_good_id
primary_violation_id
primary_sanction_id
primary_jurisdiction_id
status
created_at
updated_at
biblical_rule_scriptures
id
rule_id
book
chapter
verse_start
verse_end
scripture_ref
text_excerpt
testament
law_type
biblical_relationship_domains
id
token
name
description
sort_order
biblical_relationship_types
id
token
name
subject_party
object_party
description
biblical_rule_duties
id
token
name
description
biblical_rule_goods
id
token
name
description
biblical_rule_violations
id
token
name
description
biblical_rule_sanctions
id
token
name
description
jurisdiction_id
biblical_rule_applications
id
rule_id
application_domain
modern_issue
description
confidence
source_note
biblical_rule_crossrefs
id
rule_id
related_rule_id
relationship_type
note
Relationship types:
expands
illustrates
limits
enforces
restores
contrasts
typological_fulfillment
new_testament_application
15. Rule Token Examples
Here is a starter list.
God-Man
GOD.WORSHIP.PROHIBIT_IDOLATRY.NO_OTHER_GODS
GOD.WORSHIP.PROHIBIT_IMAGE_WORSHIP.GRAVEN_IMAGES
GOD.NAME.PROHIBIT_PROFANITY.NOT_TAKE_NAME_IN_VAIN
GOD.TIME.COMMAND_REST.SABBATH
GOD.OATHS.COMMAND_TRUTH.VOW_KEEPING
Family
FAMILY.PARENT_CHILD.COMMAND_HONOR.HONOR_PARENTS
FAMILY.PARENT_CHILD.COMMAND_TEACH.COVENANT_INSTRUCTION
FAMILY.MARRIAGE.PROHIBIT_ADULTERY.MARITAL_FIDELITY
FAMILY.MARRIAGE.COMMAND_PROVISION.BRIDE_PRICE
FAMILY.INHERITANCE.PROTECT_LINEAGE.LAND_INHERITANCE
FAMILY.WIDOW_ORPHAN.COMMAND_PROTECTION.KINSMAN_DUTY
Neighbor
NEIGHBOR.LIFE.PROHIBIT_MURDER.NO_MURDER
NEIGHBOR.LIFE.PROHIBIT_ASSAULT.BODILY_INJURY
NEIGHBOR.PROPERTY.PROHIBIT_THEFT.NO_STEALING
NEIGHBOR.SPEECH.PROHIBIT_FALSE_WITNESS.NO_FALSE_TESTIMONY
NEIGHBOR.CARE.COMMAND_RESTORE.LOST_PROPERTY
NEIGHBOR.BOUNDARIES.PROHIBIT_REMOVAL.LANDMARKS
Economy
ECONOMY.LABOR.COMMAND_PAY.PROMPT_WAGES
ECONOMY.MEASURES.PROHIBIT_FRAUD.HONEST_WEIGHTS
ECONOMY.DEBT.COMMAND_RELEASE.SABBATICAL_RELEASE
ECONOMY.CHARITY.COMMAND_GLEANING.LEAVE_CORNERS
ECONOMY.PROPERTY.COMMAND_RESTITUTION.THEFT_REPAYMENT
Civil
CIVIL.JUDGES.PROHIBIT_BRIBERY.NO_BRIBES
CIVIL.JUDGES.COMMAND_IMPARTIALITY.NO_RESPECT_OF_PERSONS
CIVIL.WITNESSES.REQUIRE_CORROBORATION.TWO_OR_THREE
CIVIL.WITNESSES.PROHIBIT_FALSEHOOD.FALSE_WITNESS_PENALTY
CIVIL.SANCTIONS.COMMAND_RESTITUTION.PROPORTIONAL_REPAYMENT
Creation
CREATION.ANIMALS.COMMAND_CARE.OX_NOT_MUZZLED
CREATION.ANIMALS.COMMAND_RESCUE.OX_IN_DITCH
CREATION.LAND.COMMAND_REST.SABBATICAL_YEAR
CREATION.AGRICULTURE.PROHIBIT_WASTEFULNESS.FRUIT_TREE_PROTECTION
CREATION.CLEANNESS.COMMAND_SANITATION.CAMP_CLEANLINESS
Stranger/Nations
NATIONS.STRANGER.COMMAND_EQUAL_JUSTICE.ONE_LAW
NATIONS.STRANGER.PROHIBIT_OPPRESSION.NO_OPPRESS_STRANGER
NATIONS.WAR.LIMIT_DESTRUCTION.FRUIT_TREES
NATIONS.WAR.COMMAND_ORDER.EXEMPTIONS
NATIONS.ENEMIES.COMMAND_LIMITED_MERCY.ENEMY_ANIMAL_RETURN
16. Practical Tagging Schema for Transcripts
For Rushdoony transcripts, I would tag blocks with three layers:
Layer 1: Explicit Biblical Rule
When a lecture directly discusses a Biblical law.
{
"rule_token": "ECONOMY.MEASURES.PROHIBIT_FRAUD.HONEST_WEIGHTS",
"confidence": 0.94,
"evidence": "The paragraph discusses honest money and false weights."
}
Layer 2: Relationship Principle
When a lecture does not cite a law directly but discusses the relationship category.
{
"relationship_domain": "ECONOMY",
"relationship_type": "Ruler to Citizen",
"duty": "Preserve honest money",
"protected_good": "Truth and property",
"confidence": 0.83
}
Layer 3: Modern Application
When a transcript applies the law to modern issues.
{
"modern_application": "inflation",
"mapped_violation": "VIOLATION.FALSE_WEIGHTS",
"mapped_rule": "ECONOMY.MEASURES.PROHIBIT_FRAUD.HONEST_WEIGHTS",
"confidence": 0.88
}
This would let a user search:
“Show me all lectures where Rushdoony applies false weights to inflation.”
Or:
“Show me all Biblical laws related to family protection.”
Or:
“Show me the rule cards behind the concept of restitution.”
17. Interface Idea
You could make a “Rules for Relationships” browser with four entrances:
1. Browse by Relationship
God
Self
Family
Neighbor
Church
State
Economy
Creation
Nations
2. Browse by Protected Good
Life
Marriage
Property
Truth
Justice
Mercy
Inheritance
Purity
Dominion
Worship
3. Browse by Violation
Theft
Murder
False Witness
Fraud
Adultery
Oppression
Idolatry
Bribery
Negligence
Boundary Violation
4. Browse by Modern Issue
Inflation
Public Education
Divorce
Pornography
Taxation
Welfare
Environmentalism
Immigration
Crime
Debt
Usury
Feminism
Statism
Each modern issue would map backward to:
Modern Issue → Violation → Protected Good → Relationship → Biblical Rule → Scripture → Lecture Applications
That is the key teaching move.
18. Best Simple Formula
For teaching purposes, I would reduce the whole thing to this memorable formula:
Relationship + Duty + Boundary + Sanction = Biblical Law
Or more fully:
Biblical Law = God’s rule defining the duties, boundaries, protections, and remedies of a relationship.
That sentence is strong.
19. Recommended Name
Some possible names for the system:
Best plain name
Rules for Relationships
More academic
Theonomic Relationship Taxonomy
More Pocket College style
God’s Order for Every Relationship
More database/system name
Biblical Relationship Rule Index
Best user-facing label
Rules for Relationships: A Biblical Law Explorer
That last one is probably the clearest.
20. Final System Summary
Each Biblical rule should be indexed by:
1. Scripture source
2. Relationship domain
3. Parties involved
4. Duty commanded
5. Boundary established
6. Good protected
7. Sin or violation forbidden
8. Remedy or sanction required
9. Jurisdiction responsible
10. Modern applications
11. Related rules
12. Rushdoony lecture connections
The result is not a flat list of laws.
It becomes a living covenantal map:
God → Man
Man → Self
Husband → Wife
Parent → Child
Neighbor → Neighbor
Employer → Worker
Judge → Accused
Buyer → Seller
Owner → Land
Man → Animal
Citizen → Stranger
Nation → Nation
And for each relationship, the question becomes:
What has God commanded, forbidden, protected, and required restored?
That is the whole system.