The 13 Colonies’ State Constitutions and God
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, November 5, 2025 (Donate)
Introduction
All 13 original U.S. colonies, which became the first 13
states, had foundational documents or constitutions that included explicit or
implicit references to various titles of God, the Lord, the Creator,
Providence, or divine authority before, during, or shortly after independence.
All 13 original states’ constitutions (or their operative colonial charters at
independence) referenced God or divine authority in some form.
In some cases, they explicitly mentioned the Protestant religion (which is predicated on the 66 books of the Bible) or even one triune God including the three persons—God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
Here is a list of the original 13 colonies listed
numerically below with a brief taste of their acknowledgement and dependance on
God in their founding documents.
1. Rhode Island (1663
Charter, in force until 1842)
Granted “in the hope of God’s
mercy.” It guaranteed freedom “in matters of religion.”
2. New Hampshire (1776,
1784)
The 1776 constitution opens with
“the Creator of the universe” and requires officeholders to be “of the
Protestant religion.”
3. Connecticut (1776
Declaration and 1818 Constitution)
Operated under its 1639 Fundamental
Orders (“God’s Word and laws”) until 1818; its first constitution acknowledged
“the goodness of the great Governor of the universe.”
4. New Jersey (1776)
The preface thanks “Almighty God
for the opportunity of choosing their form of government.”
5. Pennsylvania (1776)
Declares “grateful to Almighty God
for the blessings of civil and religious liberty.”
6. Delaware (1776)
The preamble acknowledges “Divine
Providence” and requires belief in “God the Father, Jesus Christ His only Son,
and the Holy Ghost.”
7. Maryland (1776)
Begins “grateful to Almighty God
for the blessings of civil and religious liberty.”
8. Virginia (1776
Declaration of Rights)
Affirms “that it is the mutual duty
of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other,”
and mentions “the Creator” as giver of rights.
9. North Carolina (1776)
The preamble gives “grateful thanks
to Almighty God” for freedom.
10. South Carolina (1776 and
1778)
The preambles invoke “the good
people… depending on the protection of the Supreme Being.”
11. Georgia (1777)
The preamble thanks “Almighty God
for His blessing” and requires legislators to be “of the Protestant religion.”
12. New York (1777)
The preamble gives “grateful thanks
to Almighty God for His protection.”
13. Massachusetts (1780)
The preamble declares “the goodness
of the Great Legislator of the Universe,” and its Bill of Rights affirms “the
right of worshipping the Supreme Being.”
So, each were clearly godly documents in line with the
Protestant religion of the day which dominated the culture of the colonies.
The Great Law
Each state has significant ties to God in their specific
founding documents (besides their individual state constitutions). One can’t
help but call to mind The Great Law of Pennsylvania when discussing
states and their beliefs.
The Great Law’s initial comments and first 5
chapters, which set the foundation of law in Pennsylvania, are more Christian
in their wording than many churches services today! Don’t simply take my word
for it. Here is the text of those initial sections and chapters from The
Great Law and you can read it yourself.
Preamble
Whereas the Glory of Almighty God
and the Good of Mankind is the Reason and End of Government; and therefore
Government in itself is a venerable ordinance of God: and forasmuch as it is
principally desired and intended by the Proprietary and Governor and the
Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto belonging to
make and establish such laws as shall best preserve true Christian and civil
liberty in opposition to all Unchristian, licentious, and unjust practices,
whereby God may have His due, Caesar his due, and the people their due from
tyranny and oppression on the one side, or insolency and licentiousness on the
other; so that the best and firmest foundation may be laid for the present and
future happiness of both the Governor and people of this Province and
Territories aforesaid and their posterity.
Be it therefore enacted by William
Penn, Proprietary and Governor, with the advice and consent of the Deputies of
the Freemen of this Province and Counties aforesaid in Assembly met, and by the
authority of the same, that these following Chapters and Paragraphs shall be
the laws of Pennsylvania and the Territories thereof.
Chapter 1
Be it further enacted by the
authority aforesaid that no person now or at any time hereafter living in this
Province who shall confess and acknowledge one Almighty God to be the Creator,
Upholder, and Ruler of the World, and that professeth himself or herself
obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly under the civil government,
shall in any case be molested or prejudiced for his or her conscientious
persuasion or practice; nor shall he or she at any time be compelled to
frequent or maintain any religious worship-place or ministry whatever contrary
to his or her mind; but shall freely and fully enjoy his or her Christian
liberty without any interruption or reflection.
And if any person shall abuse or
deride any other for his or her different persuasion and practice in matters of
religion, such shall be looked upon as a disturber of the peace and be punished
accordingly.
But to the end that looseness,
irreligion, and atheism may not creep in under pretense of conscience in this
Province, be it further enacted that according to the example of the primitive
Christians, and for the ease of the creation, every first day of the week,
called the Lord’s Day, people shall abstain from their usual and common toil
and labor; that whether masters, parents, children, or servants, they may the
better dispose themselves to read the Scriptures of truth at home, or frequent
such meetings of religious worship abroad as may best suit their respective
persuasions.
Chapter 2
Be it further enacted by the
authority aforesaid that all officers and persons commissioned and employed in
the service of the government of this Province, and all members and deputies
elected to serve in Assembly thereof, and all that have right to elect such
deputies, shall be such as profess and declare they believe in Jesus Christ to
be the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, and that are not convicted of ill
fame or unsober and dishonest conversation, and that are of one and twenty
years of age at least.
Chapter 3
Be it further enacted by the
authority aforesaid that whosoever shall swear in their conversation by the
name of God, or Christ, or Jesus, being legally convicted thereof, shall pay
for every such offense five shillings or suffer five days imprisonment in the
house of correction at hard labor to the benefit of the public, and be fed with
bread and water only during that time.
Chapter 4
Be it further enacted by the
authority aforesaid that whosoever shall swear by any other thing or name, and
is legally convicted thereof, shall for every such offense pay half a crown or
suffer three days imprisonment in the house of correction at hard labor, having
only bread and water for their sustenance.
Chapter 5
Be it further enacted by the
authority aforesaid for the better prevention of corrupt communication, that
whosoever shall speak loosely and profanely of Almighty God, Christ Jesus, the
Holy Spirit, or the Scriptures of truth, and is legally convicted thereof,
shall for every such offense pay five shillings or suffer five days
imprisonment in the house of correction at hard labor to the benefit of the
public, and be fed with bread and water only during that time.
There is no doubt that this is a Christian document directly
affirming Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as well as the truth of Scripture.
Conclusion
One can’t help but be amazed in today’s secularized culture
that some people blatantly deny that Christianity influenced government in such
diverse ways in the founding of our states and nation. But this reminder
should encourage Christians to pray that our nation repents and returns to its
godly heritage.
We should also pray for our leaders to be saved and thereby
stand on the authority of God’s Word. Pray also that they can be bold for
Christ and His Word—not merely as an example those in our nation but as a
testimony and encouragement to the world.
□
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.
