Thank you for the question on the Bible and the Constitution, “What is more legitimate, the Bible or the Constitution?”
For one’s consideration, here are some thoughts on your question:
A. The question asks about the legitimacy of the Bible and the Constitution.
Definition of legitimate has to do with conforming to the laws or rules. If one is asking about the legitimacy of the Bible and the Constitution, then one is inquiring about the bases or the authority of the Bible or the Constitution.
B. Depending on one’s view of God and man, the bases of the Bible is God and the bases of the Constitution is upon the beliefs and values Founders for the Constitution.
In other words, God is the author of the Bible while a group of men is the author of the Constitution. As the Creator of humans, God knows what is best for man since he is omniscience and compassionate. As the founders of the Constitution, the consensus for the Constitution is based partly on the social condition and beliefs of their time. The Bible is more objective while the Constitution is more subjective.
C. The Bible is unchangeable, while the Constitution is changeable.
The Bible has no provision that the laws can be nullified by the people of God, while the Constitution has a provision that representatives can amend the rights in it.
If one is thinking about the application or relevancy of the Bible or the Constitution, then the Constitution may become illegitimate depending on who are the representatives elected to the office. The rights of the citizen may be stripped or restricted by the representatives. The Bible is a standard that no one person can amended it except God himself.
D. The Bible is applicable to believers, while the Constitution is applicable to everyone.
In other words, the teachings of the Bible applies only to those who subscribe to the belief in the Creator God. If a person who is not a Christian, the Bible is not relevant nor are they obligated to follow the teachings of the Bible. The Constitution applies to all classes or groups of people provided that they are citizens of our country. Thus, in one sense the Constitution is broader than the Bible for it affects everyone, while the Bible is narrower to a specific group of people-Christians.
E. The Constitution is based in part upon the Bible and social justice at the time of writing of it.
The Founders of the Constitution were theists and deists, seeking freedom from the overreach of the monarch in England. They believed to some extent that all men are created but were unable to resolve the issue of slavery for this new country. They firmly believed in free speech and the preservation of religious liberty.
It is also acknowledged that the Law of Moses were given by God under a social condition as being freed slaves from Egypt. The Law provided a way for a slave or indebted person to be set free by purchasing his own freedom or another person setting that person free. Slaves or indebted persons had protected rights against abuse, working only 6 days a week, and seeking justice before a judge. Slave owners could free their slave or forgive a debt whereby that person is set free with the obligation of providing for him when he is set free. He is not to go out empty handed.
One final thought, if a person or a representative fail to uphold the Bible or the Constitution, the fault is not in the Bible or the Constitution. The fault lies in the person and his/her interpretation and application of the Bible or the Constitution.
SUMMARY: The Bible is more legitimate for it is based on the unchanging character of God while the Constitution is less legitimate for it is based on the changing character of elected representatives.