Irresistible Power, Obligation, and Covenant Theology: A Reinterpretation of Hobbes's Theory of Sovereignty in Light of Christian Theology from Martinich’s Perspective

This article adopts a descriptive-analytical approach and draws on A.P. Martinich’s theological interpretation of Hobbes’s system of thought to reexamine his theory of sovereignty within the framework of Christian theology. Focusing on two central theological concepts—irresistible divine power and covenant theology—it argues that these ideas are implicitly embedded in the foundations of Hobbesian sovereignty. The first part of the article, through a three-step analysis, explores the hypothesis that Hobbes’s formulation of sovereignty is informed by the notion of God’s irresistible power. It is first demonstrated that natural law, in Hobbes’s thought, is not merely a moral recommendation but carries binding force and presupposes a divine lawgiver. Next, an analysis of the notion of obligation reveals its legal and theological dimensions within Hobbes’s intellectual framework. Finally, the article shows how irresistible divine power functions as a guarantor of obligations, aligning the fear-inducing authority of the Hobbesian sovereign with that of the invisible God. The second part examines the theological logic underlying Hobbes’s seemingly secular theory through an analysis of covenant theology as the application of concepts and frameworks derived from the Holy Scripture by the philosopher and the concept of the representative person. It highlights Hobbes’s innovative engagement with the covenant tradition by synthesizing the two theological motifs—irresistible power and covenant theology—within his theory of sovereignty