The Bible has a lot to say about war, offering guidance, examples, and principles for God’s people to consider. Here is an overview of some of the major biblical teachings about war:
Old Testament Examples and Teachings
In the Old Testament, Israel engaged in many wars, as both the initiator and recipient of military aggression. God often commanded Israel to go to war against wicked nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-2; 20:16-18). At the same time, God gave guidelines for conducting war justly, such as accepting peace offerings (Deuteronomy 20:10) and avoiding harm to fruit trees (Deuteronomy 20:19).
Notable wars in the Old Testament include:
– The conquest of Canaan under Joshua (Joshua 6-12)
– Gideon’s battle against the Midianites (Judges 7)
– David’s capture of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-10)
– Ahab’s conflict with Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20)
– Hezekiah’s defense against Sennacherib (2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chronicles 32:1-23)
God empowered leaders like Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, and Hezekiah to lead Israel to victory against military threats when they sought the Lord. At the same time, God brought judgment on Israel’s enemies who oppressed them, like the Egyptians, Canaanites, and Assyrians.
The Old Testament makes it clear that God is sovereign over the nations and directly intervenes in wartime situations (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 20:4). Yet war is ugly, bloody, and tragic—something to be avoided when possible (Ecclesiastes 3:8; Psalm 120:6-7).
New Testament Principles
In the New Testament, Jesus ushered in a new era where God’s people would advance His kingdom not through military might, but through proclaiming the gospel and making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus disavowed the use of the sword to advance God’s purposes (Matthew 26:52). At the same time, He acknowledged the ongoing reality of war before His second coming (Matthew 24:6).
The New Testament Epistles provide guidance for Christians about relating to civil authorities (Romans 13:1-7) and conducting oneself in a gentle and peaceful manner, as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). We must remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, not any earthly nation (Philippians 3:20).
Biblical principles on war for Christians include:
– Our primary weapons are spiritual, not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-18)
– God can use rulers and governments to check evil in a fallen world (Romans 13:1-4)
– Christians should obey governing authorities unless they directly contradict God’s Word (Acts 5:29)
– We are to be peacemakers as witnesses for Christ (Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18)
– God is sovereign over wartime outcomes and judges justly (Psalm 140:12; Romans 12:19)
While Christians may disagree about military service, all can agree our purpose is to share the gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ to advance His Kingdom.
Prophetic Views of the End Times
The Bible contains prophecies about calamitous, large-scale wars occurring in the end times before Jesus returns. These include:
– War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39) – A future invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations
– Destruction of Babylon (Isaiah 13; Jeremiah 50-51) – Babylon will be suddenly destroyed, possibly referencing future judgment on an end times economic/political system centered in the region of ancient Babylon.
– Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16) – Nations will gather to wage war against Christ at His second coming, but He will defeat them.
While the fulfillment of these prophecies is debated, they remind us that war, violence, and bloodshed will culminate in the end times battle between God’s Kingdom and the Satanic rebellion on earth. Jesus will gain final victory at His return.
Old Testament War Verses
Here are some examples of verses about war in the Old Testament:
– Deuteronomy 20:1 – “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.”
– Psalm 144:1 – “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”
– Ecclesiastes 3:8 – “A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
– Isaiah 2:4 – “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
– Jeremiah 6:23 – “They are armed with bows and spears; they are cruel and without mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation to attack you, Daughter Zion.”
New Testament Teachings on Peace and Nonviolence
The New Testament emphasizes principles of peace, gentleness, and nonviolence as the ethic for God’s people:
– Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
– Matthew 5:38-42 – Jesus teaches to turn the other cheek, give more than asked, and love your enemies.
– Matthew 26:52 – “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”
– Romans 12:14-21 – Paul urges the church to bless those who persecute you, live at peace with everyone, never avenge yourself, and overcome evil with good.
– Romans 14:19 – “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
– 1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
These verses instruct Christians to be patient sufferers of wrongdoing, not promoters of violence. Our battle against evil is spiritual, not physical.
Just War Theory
Throughout church history, many Christian theologians and ethicists have developed principles of a “Just War” as an attempt to integrate biblical teachings with the reality that Christians also live under civil authorities tasked with restraining evil. Just War Theory proposes moral criteria to determine when military action is justified. The principles of a just war often include:
– Just Cause – The war must be for a just reason like defending against unjust aggression.
– Legitimate Authority – War must be declared and waged by a legitimate government authority.
– Proportionality – The violence used must be proportional to the injury suffered.
– Last Resort – War can only be engaged as a last resort after other options fail.
– Non-Combatant Immunity – Civilians should not be directly and intentionally targeted.
– Probability of Success – There must be a reasonable chance of success.
– Right Intention – The war cannot be driven by revenge, greed, or other ulterior motives. It should aim for peace.
While well-intended, sincere Christians still disagree on how well Just War principles align with biblical teachings on peace, violence, and the role of civil government.
Perspective for Christians
In summary, the Bible recognizes war as a tragic part of our fallen world that nations sometimes engage in to restrain evil and defend the innocent. But the emphasis for followers of Jesus is on advancing His Kingdom through the gospel, discipleship, and peacemaking efforts. Our ultimate hope is the end of war and the return of the Prince of Peace‒Jesus Christ.
While Christians may disagree about serving in the military or supporting certain wars, we find unity in pursuing the mission of making disciples, loving enemies, and longing for Christ’s return when “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)