What is the Biblical definition of a civil magistrate? Should Christians be subject to them? Should civil governments be subject to God? Is physical resistance to authority ever justifiable? Under what circumstances? And what is a Christian's role with respect to the civil sphere? 16th century Swiss Reformer Pierre Viret once expressed his feelings of political and military turmoil: "By nature I have always loved peace, and was always horrified at all dissensions and troubles." Despite the man's peace-loving nature, however, God chose to place Viret in some of the most politically tumultuous situations imaginable throughout his life. In these times Viret was compelled to search the Scriptures in an effort to instruct his congregations--as well as countless others asking his advice--on the Biblical definition and response to civil government, war, resistance against authorities, tyrants, and many other political matters. The writings contained in The Christian and the Magistrate are a collection of some of the applications Viret offered of the Biblical truths pertaining to magistrates and the Christian's duty to them.

St Justin petitioned the very authority that persecuted Christians with a series of arguments pleading for judicial justice and religious liberty. His arguments appealed to the nobler sense in Romans, as well as to common sense. At the same time they contained an 'evangelistic edge' that sought his readers' conversion to Christianity. In a number of respects the plight of second century Christians reflects the suffering of Christians in various modern-day contexts. St Justin's arguments are, therefore, of a nature that can be appreciated by many a modern reader and should be of interest and relevance to Christians deprived of religious liberty today. St Justin's struggle also reminds us that we in the West who enjoy religious freedom should never take it for granted.