Just War

A time to love, And a time to hate. A time of war, And a time of peace.

Then saith Jesus to him, `Turn back thy sword to its place; for all who did take the sword, by the sword shall perish;

`Happy the peacemakers--because they shall be called Sons of God.

`Ye may not suppose that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put peace, but a sword;

and ye shall begin to hear of wars, and reports of wars; see, be not troubled, for it behoveth all <FI>these<Fi> to come to pass, but the end is not yet. — read the full passage →

for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.

but I--I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you,

By David. Blessed <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah my rock, who is teaching My hands for war, my fingers for battle.

Jesus answered, `My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my officers had struggled that I might not be delivered up to Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence.'

Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> a man of battle; Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> His name.

`When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot--a people more numerous than thou--thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God <FI>is<Fi> with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt; — read the full passage →

`And be not afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul, but fear rather Him who is able both soul and body to destroy in gehenna.

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, — read the full passage →

`But I say to you who are hearing, Love your enemies, do good to those hating you, — read the full passage →

So, then, the things of peace may we pursue, and the things of building up one another;

And He hath judged between the nations, And hath given a decision to many peoples, And they have beat their swords to ploughshares, And their spears to pruning-hooks, Nation doth not lift up sword unto nation, Nor do they learn any more--war.

Give to them according to their acting, And according to the evil of their doings. According to the work of their hands give to them. Return their deed to them.

`Thou dost not murder.

Now, go, and thou hast smitten Amalek, and devoted all that it hath, and thou hast no pity on it, and hast put to death from man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox unto sheep, from camel unto ass.'

Then said he to them, `But, now, he who is having a bag, let him take <FI>it<Fi> up, and in like manner also a scrip; and he who is not having, let him sell his garment, and buy a sword,

and saith, `Because a hand <FI>is<Fi> on the throne of Jah, war <FI>is<Fi> to Jehovah with Amalek from generation--generation.'

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, — read the full passage →

for Jehovah your God <FI>is<Fi> He who is going with you, to fight for you with your enemies--to save you.

Whence <FI>are<Fi> wars and fightings among you? not thence--out of your passions, that are as soldiers in your members? — read the full passage →

`Lo, I do send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as the serpents, and simple as the doves.

`Ye heard that it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth; — read the full passage →

`Peace I leave to you; my peace I give to you, not according as the world doth give do I give to you; let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid;

A Psalm of David. Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> my shepherd, I do not lack, — read the full passage →

And Peter and the apostles answering, said, `To obey God it behoveth, rather than men;

`Thou dost not take vengeance, nor watch the sons of thy people; and thou hast had love to thy neighbour as thyself; I <FI>am<Fi> Jehovah.

Whence <FI>are<Fi> wars and fightings among you? not thence--out of your passions, that are as soldiers in your members?

in behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as if God were calling through us, we beseech, in behalf of Christ, `Be ye reconciled to God;'

`Or what king going on to engage with another king in war, doth not, having sat down, first consult if he be able with ten thousand to meet him who with twenty thousand is coming against him?

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest, — read the full passage →

but I--I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;

`When thou drawest near unto a city to fight against it, then thou hast called unto it for Peace,

`And the authorities have added to speak unto the people, and said, Who <FI>is<Fi> the man that is afraid and tender of heart? --let him go and turn back to his house, and the heart of his brethren doth not melt like his heart;

This charge I commit to thee, child Timotheus, according to the prophesies that went before upon thee, that thou mayest war in them the good warfare,

`Execute the vengeance of the sons of Israel against the Midianites--afterwards thou art gathered unto thy people.'

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, — read the full passage →

For evil doers are cut off, As to those waiting on Jehovah, they possess the land.

and they did overcome him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life--unto death;

according as it hath been written--`There is none righteous, not even one; — read the full passage →

for the weapons of our warfare <FI>are<Fi> not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,

And questioning him also were those warring, saying, `And we, what shall we do?' and he said unto them, `Do violence to no one, nor accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.'

and ye shall begin to hear of wars, and reports of wars; see, be not troubled, for it behoveth all <FI>these<Fi> to come to pass, but the end is not yet.

`When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot--a people more numerous than thou--thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God <FI>is<Fi> with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt;

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, — read the full passage →

Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.

`When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot--a people more numerous than thou--thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God <FI>is<Fi> with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt; — read the full passage →

If possible--so far as in you--with all men being in peace;

And Moses saith to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, `Do your brethren go in to the battle, and ye--do ye sit here?

Rebuke a beast of the reeds, a company of bulls, With calves of the peoples, Each humbling himself with pieces of silver, Scatter Thou peoples delighting in conflicts.

And Jesus having entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion calling upon him, — read the full passage →

`Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not kill, and whoever may kill shall be in danger of the judgment; — read the full passage →

be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession before many witnesses.

I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men: — read the full passage →

for nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer, and by supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; — read the full passage →

not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance <FI>is<Fi> Mine,

put on the whole armour of God, for your being able to stand against the wiles of the devil,

Only, the women, and the infants, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, all its spoil, thou dost seize for thyself, and thou hast eaten the spoil of thine enemies which Jehovah thy God hath given to thee.

`And when ye go into battle in your land against the adversary who is distressing you, then ye have shouted with the trumpets, and ye have been remembered before Jehovah your God, and ye have been saved from your enemies.

Seek ye Jehovah and His strength, Seek His face continually.

And there came war in the heaven; Michael and his messengers did war against the dragon, and the dragon did war, and his messengers,

because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;

And the watchman, when he seeth the sword coming in, And he hath not blown with a trumpet, And the people hath not been warned, And come in doth a sword, And taketh away of them--a soul, He in his iniquity is taken away, And his blood from the hand of the watchman I require.

For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you--an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.

For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ; — read the full passage →

and God hath said to me, Thou dost not build a house to My name, for a man of wars thou <FI>art<Fi> , and blood thou hast shed.

how that God was in Christ--a world reconciling to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses; and having put in us the word of the reconciliation,

For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it, — read the full passage →

And Moses saith unto the people, `Fear not, station yourselves, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which He doth for you to-day; for, as ye have seen the Egyptians to-day, ye add no more to see them--to the age; — read the full passage →

`And the authorities have spoken unto the people, saying, Who <FI>is<Fi> the man that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? --let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man dedicate it.

to all give ye honour; the brotherhood love ye; God fear ye; the king honour ye.

Causing wars to cease, Unto the end of the earth, the bow he shivereth, And the spear He hath cut asunder, Chariots he doth burn with fire.

because of this, even as through one man the sin did enter into the world, and through the sin the death; and thus to all men the death did pass through, for that all did sin;

and I saw, and lo, a pale horse, and he who is sitting upon him--his name is Death, and Hades doth follow with him, and there was given to them authority to kill, (over the fourth part of the land,) with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and by the beasts of the land.

For every battle of a warrior <FI>is<Fi> with rushing, and raiment rolled in blood, And it hath been for burning--fuel of fire. — read the full passage →

`When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot--a people more numerous than thou--thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God <FI>is<Fi> with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt; — read the full passage →

giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.

And there was a certain man in Caesarea, by name Cornelius, a centurion from a band called Italian, — read the full passage →

Proclaim ye this among nations, Sanctify a war, stir up the mighty ones, Come nigh, come up, let all the men of war.

Lo, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, an affirmation of Jehovah, A nation--strong it <FI>is<Fi> , a nation--from of old it <FI>is<Fi> , A nation--thou knowest not its tongue, Nor understandest what it speaketh. — read the full passage →

And Jehovah saith unto Joshua, `Fear not, nor be affrighted, take with thee all the people of war, and rise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land, — read the full passage →

`And who <FI>is<Fi> the man that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not made it common? --let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man make it common.

quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made powerful out of infirmities, became strong in battle, caused to give way camps of the aliens.

for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh do we war, — read the full passage →

giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men. — read the full passage →

And David the king riseth on his feet, and saith, `Hear me, my brethren and my people, I--with my heart--to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God, and I prepared to build, — read the full passage →

`And who <FI>is<Fi> the man that hath betrothed a woman, and hath not taken her? --let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man take her.

`The thief doth not come, except that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may have <FI>it<Fi> abundantly.

And having seen the multitudes, he went up to the mount, and he having sat down, his disciples came to him, — read the full passage →

And king David <FI>is<Fi> old, entering into days, and they cover him with garments, and he hath no heat, — read the full passage →

for many have fallen pierced, for of God <FI>is<Fi> the battle; and they dwell in their stead till the removal.

and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.

Jehovah of Hosts--Him ye do sanctify, And He <FI>is<Fi> your Fear, and He your Dread,

and out of his mouth doth proceed a sharp sword, that with it he may smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he doth tread the press of the wine of the wrath and the anger of God the Almighty,

I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice--living, sanctified, acceptable to God--your intelligent service; — read the full passage →

for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. — read the full passage →