God And The Mayflower Compact
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, October 20, 2025 (Donate)
The earliest written document of law that mentions God in
the English New World (colonies) was the Mayflower Compact. The Compact,
which was both a prayer and legal document of initial settlers, was written in
AD 1620.
For those who recall, the Mayflower was the name of
the ship that brought the Puritan Pilgrims who were fleeing from English
Anglicanism. Led by William Bradford, the colonists had a rough winter and where
45 out of the 102 passengers died, but they loved God and honored Him in the
onset of their short rule of law.
Because it is so short, the text is reproduced below:
Mayflower Compact
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose
names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King
James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King,
Defender of the Faith, &c.
Having undertaken for the Glory of
God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and
Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia;
Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one
another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick,
for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends
aforesaid:
And by Virtue hereof do enact,
constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts,
Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet
and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due
Submission and Obedience.
IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto
subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our
Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and
of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.
As mentioned, the Compact reads as a prayer and
can be seen in the very first sentence. It also reads as a legal
document with phrases like, “In Witness whereof” and “civil Body Politick”.
One can’t miss the elements of recognition and submission to
the God of the Bible. For instance:
· “In the name of God, Amen”
· “By the grace of God”
· “For the Glory of God”
· “Advancement of the Christian Faith”
· “In the Presence of God
· “Anno Domini”
This first law (sometimes denoted as an organic law
of the colonies) is clearly a Christian document. It honors God in law and a
legal sense. And it was written by Bible believing protestants.
Take note of the use of Anno Domini when recording
the date. This literally means “in the year of our Lord” in Latin. This is in
reference to Christ as Lord. Many glance over this today and dismiss it but it
is not in reference to Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great or even Alfred the
Great. But AD/Anno Domini is purely in reference to Christ.
Brief Conclusion
The Mayflower Compact was written by Christians for
Christ-based law in the New World. With many clear references to God and Christ. It is a powerful testimony of how colonists viewed God within the context of
legal matters.
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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist
since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website.
He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and
researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head
of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a
personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has
spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
