# St. Paul — Leviathan character guide

> St. Paul in Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Paul

**First appearance:** 0003-part-i-of-man

## Snapshot

The apostle whose Greek — peculium, a people set apart by covenant — Hobbes mines to prove God's kingdom is a commonwealth founded on consent.

## Who they are

Hobbes leans on Paul's letter to Titus to argue that Israel was God's "peculiar" people not by power alone but by their own covenant, making the kingdom of God a political institution rather than a mystical one. Paul also supplies the proof-text that the Church is a congregation called forth by lawful authority, not a hierarchy ruling over it. For Hobbes, Paul is less a theologian of grace than a witness to the contractual logic of sovereignty.

## Relationships

### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/jesus_christ)

_professional_

Jesus Christ and St. Paul have a master-apostle relationship, with Paul as a later convert and chief missionary to the Gentiles.

### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/jesus_christ)

_professional_

Jesus Christ and St. Paul have a master-apostle relationship, with Paul as a later convert and chief missionary to the Gentiles.

## In the story

### [XX: Of Dominion Paternal, and Despotical](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xx-of-dominion-paternal-and-despotical)

Quoted for his commands that servants obey masters and children obey parents in all things, supporting simple obedience.

### [Of Systems Subject, Political, and Private](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxii-of-systems-subject-political-and-private)

Mentioned in the context of the unlawful tumult at Ephesus, where Demetrius and others brought Paul's companions before the magistrate.

### [Part III: Of a Christian Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/part-iii-of-a-christian-commonwealth)

Referenced for his epistles that address obedience to civil authorities and the role of conscience.

### [Of the Principles of Christian Politics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxii-of-the-principles-of-christian-politics)

Quoted from Galatians 1:8, declaring that even if he or an angel preach another gospel, let him be accursed, which Hobbes interprets as preaching against the power of the king.

### [Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdom of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxv-of-the-signification-in-scripture-of-kingdom-of-god-of-holy-sacred-and-sacrament)

Paul is cited as confirming that Abraham is the father of the faithful and that the covenant makes believers a peculiar people.

### [XXXVIII: Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Salvation, the World to Come, and Redemption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xxxviii-of-the-signification-in-scripture-of-eternal-life-hell-salvation-the-world-to-come-and-redemption)

Paul's epistles (Romans 5:18-19, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22) are cited to compare Adam's offense with Christ's righteousness.

### [XLIII: Of What Is Necessary for a Man’s Reception Into the Kingdom of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xliii-of-what-is-necessary-for-a-man-s-reception-into-the-kingdom-of-heaven)

Cited for the principle that a teacher who builds on the foundation with hay or stubble shall be saved; also noted as having withstood St. Peter.

### [Part IV: Of the Kingdom of Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/part-iv-of-the-kingdom-of-darkness)

Cited for his teachings on spiritual darkness and the kingdom of God.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/st_paul
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters