Law is a set of rules that are created and enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior and which may be described as a science or as the art of justice. Laws are enforceable by the authority of a controlling power and are permanent as to time, universal in their application, and binding everywhere.
The study of law involves the analysis of a wide range of issues, and the discipline encompasses many different areas. For example, a lawyer can focus on intellectual property, corporate or commercial law, public or criminal law, labor or family law, or international or constitutional law. Each area of law has its own specific issues, and it is important to understand the differences between them in order to properly research the topic.
It is essential to recognize that laws are the result of political action, and that their content varies from nation to nation. For this reason, revolutions and other revolts against the existing political-legal system are common, and the aspiration for democratic rule and greater rights for citizens is a constant theme in politics and law.
The New Testament often refers to a broad range of precepts found in the Mosaic Law (Matt. 5:18; 22:40; Luke 16:16; John 7:49; 1 Cor. 9:8-9; 14:34). Civil law is a broad system of rules and principles generally arranged in codes, which are easily accessible to citizens and jurists. The system is designed to allow room for interpretation and creative jurisprudence, while it provides predictability and a framework for dealing with change.