Topical Encyclopedia The Bible provides various counsels regarding war, reflecting both divine instructions and human experiences. These counsels are found throughout the Old and New Testaments, offering guidance on the conduct, morality, and spiritual implications of warfare.Divine Instructions and Warfare In the Old Testament, God often provided direct instructions regarding warfare to the Israelites. These instructions were sometimes specific to particular battles or campaigns. For instance, in the conquest of Canaan, God commanded the Israelites to engage in warfare to claim the land He had promised to them. In Deuteronomy 20:1-4 , God reassures the Israelites of His presence and support: "When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you." Moral and Ethical Considerations The Bible also addresses the moral and ethical dimensions of war. The Israelites were given laws to ensure that warfare was conducted justly. Deuteronomy 20:10-12 instructs, "When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you. But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city." The concept of just war is further explored in the prophetic literature, where the prophets often called for justice and righteousness, condemning wars driven by greed or oppression. Isaiah 2:4 envisions a future where God will judge between nations, and "they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war." Spiritual Warfare In the New Testament, the focus shifts from physical warfare to spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:10-12 , exhorts believers to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This passage highlights the Christian understanding that the ultimate battle is spiritual, requiring divine armor and reliance on God's strength. The imagery of armor underscores the need for truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation as defenses against spiritual adversaries. Counsels for Peace While the Bible acknowledges the reality of war, it also counsels for peace and reconciliation. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, blesses the peacemakers, stating, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). This call to peacemaking reflects the broader biblical theme of seeking peace and pursuing it, as echoed in Psalm 34:14 : "Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." The Bible's counsels on war, therefore, encompass divine guidance for specific historical contexts, ethical considerations for just conduct, the spiritual dimension of warfare, and the overarching call to peace and reconciliation. These teachings provide a framework for understanding the complex interplay between war and faith in the biblical narrative. Nave's Topical Index Joshua 22:10-34And when they came to the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. Nave's Topical Index Judges 7:10,11 2 Samuel 16:20 2 Samuel 17:1-15 Psalm 48:4-7 Proverbs 11:14 Proverbs 20:18 Library That the Contempt of the Evangelical Counsels is a Great Sin. Of the Conformity of Our Will to that Will of God which is ... From the Conference of 1773 to the Commencement of the War in 1776 The Wisdom of God's Counsels Counsels and Reminiscences of Soeur Therese, the Little Flower of ... The Holy War, An Unwalled City That Our Lawful Occupations do not Hinder us from Practicising ... How Marcus, Succeeded Sextus when He had Been Slain by Bassus's ... Concerning the Insurrection of Absalom against David and ... Resources What does the Bible say about killing in war? Is killing in war a sin? | GotQuestions.orgDoes Bible prophecy predict that there will be a World War 3 (III, three) before the end times? | GotQuestions.org Does the Bible say anything about holy war? | GotQuestions.org War: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics War with Endurance of Hardness War with Steadfastness in the Faith War without Earthly Entanglements War: Be Clothed in White Clothing War: Be Confessed by Christ in the Presence of God the Father War: Be Pillars in the Temple of God War: Called "The Armor of God" War: Called "The Armor of Light" War: Called "The Armor of Righteousness" War: Called the Good Fight of Faith War: Eat from the Tree of Life War: Enemy Harangued by the General of the Opposing Side War: Frequently Long Continued War: Frequently Sore and Bloody War: God: Gives the Victory In War: God: Scatters Those Who Delight In War: God: Strengthens his People For War: God: Taught his People the Art of War: Have a White Stone, and in It a New Name Written War: Have Power Over the Nations War: Have the Name of God Written Upon Them by Christ War: Large Armies Frequently Engaged In War: Mere Professors do not Maintain War: Not be Hurt by the Second Death War: Not Have Their Names Blotted out of the Book of Life War: Often Arises from the Opposition of Friends or Relatives War: Often Attended by Cruelty War: Often Attended by Devastation War: Often Attended by Pestilence War: Often Sent As a Punishment for Sin War: Originates in the Lusts of Men War: Over all That Exalts Itself War: Preceded by Great Preparation War: Saints are all Engaged In War: Sit With Christ on his Throne War: Strengthened by Christ In War: Symbolized by a Red Horse War: The Breastplate of Righteousness War: The Contest Between Antichrist and the Church War: The Contest of Saints With the Enemies of Their Salvation War: The Jews: Frequently Engaged in (See Joshua Chapters 6 Through 11) War: The Malignity of the Wicked War: The Preparation of the Gospel War: Those Who Overcome In, Will Eat of the Hidden Manna War: To be on the Right Hand and Left, an Idiom Meaning: "To Attack and to Defend." War: Under Christ, As Our Captain Related Terms War-carriages (76 Occurrences) |
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