What does the Bible say about just war?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that war is a grievous reality of a fallen world, sometimes permitted to civil rulers for the defense of justice and the restraint of evil, but never celebrated as an ideal. Ecclesiastes 3:8 recognizes a time for war, while Romans 13:4 teaches that governing authorities bear the sword as God’s servants against wrongdoing. Yet Christians are personally called to be peacemakers, love enemies, and reject vengeance, as Matthew 5:9, 5:44, and 26:52 show. Jesus’ kingdom is not advanced by worldly force (John 18:36). Thus any use of force must be governed by lawful authority, just cause, proportion, and love of neighbor, with peace as the desired end.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ecclesiastes 3:8
A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time for peace.
- Matthew 26:52
Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
- Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called children of God.
- Matthew 10:34
"Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.
- Matthew 24:6-7
[6] You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.
- Romans 13:4
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
- Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
- Psalms 144:1
> Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, Who teaches my hands to war, And my fingers to battle:
- John 18:36
Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here."
- Exodus 15:3
Yahweh is a man of war. Yahweh is his name.
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