Comments on: Jesus’ View of Pacifism

By: Lois Tverberg

Lois Tverberg — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 21:03:46 +0000

In reply to Alan Jones. Alan -- David Bivin, the author, has written numerous scholarly commentaries on the Gospels as well as courses on the Hebrew language. Steven Martens' law review is based on the KJV, so it should be just the thing for you to read next.

By: Lois Tverberg

Lois Tverberg — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 20:39:48 +0000

In reply to steven martens. Thank you! Very thorough.

By: steven martens

steven martens — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:01:27 +0000

There is a 26 page article. “The Torah and Self-Defense”
published in Penn State Law Review in 2004, by David Kopel. It surveys the relevant scriptures. Has over 100 footnotes. The conclusions are identical with the above article. http://www.davekopel.com/2A/LawRev/The-Torah-and-Self-defense.pdf

By: Alan Jones

Alan Jones — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 02:38:01 +0000

You take a few classes in Hebrew and then confidently inform us illiterate boobs of the “mistake” you’ve found in the King James Bible that, thankfully, has been “corrected” in the new translations.

Since the Greek words are ambiguous and can mean either ‘kill’ or ‘murder,’ depending on context, why is it a KJB “mistake” when ‘kill’ can also mean ‘murder,’ depending on context?

Is Exodus 20:13 telling us not to kill in self defense, or not to kill animals for food? Since the 13th century the context has been more than easy to understand. You don’t need to explain to us that ‘kill’ means murder in Exodus 20:13 nor do you need to “correct” the 60+ scholars directly involved in the translation of the King James Bible.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 11:22:57 +0000

I loved this article and found it incredibly insightful! I think it’s really interesting how “killed” and “murder” were used in different Bible translations, and it makes me wonder what other words with similar meanings have been used throughout scripture. I also found the article encouraging because it clearly spelled out that Jesus wasn’t a pacifist. I’ve often wrestled with Jesus’ teachings because if often sounded like He was asking me to be a doormat, when, in reality, that’s not what he was doing at all and that is purely a misinterpretation.

By: Ryan Van Appledorn

Ryan Van Appledorn — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 00:24:34 +0000

This has been a confusing topic to me for a long time. I love your arguments and I they do make sense to me. The challenging part about pacifism for me has been reading Matthew 26 where Jesus says, “All who draw the sword will die by the sword,” and the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder.” Perhaps I have over looked what the Bible is saying. Jesus may not be saying that violence solves nothing. He could be simply warning about the danger of it. If I were to hurt someone they may seek revenge and now I’m in trouble. I find the difference between “kill” and “murder” interesting. Also when I read Jesus’ interpretation of the sixth commandment he makes it seem like it is talking about avoiding anger against others when he says, “I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” Physical violence is not at all mentioned so now I feel more comfortable about physical protecting myself or others against an attack by countering with violence.

By: Jess

Jess — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 11:19:52 +0000

What a great article! I love this topic. It is a common wondering for Christians as we continue to feed off of the Bible and it’s teachings. Obviously in today’s society, it is illegal to kill or, better, “murder”, but Jesus made some great points and used some sneaky references from his previous passages. “See that none of you pays back evil with evil; instead, always try to do good to each other and to all people.” (1 Thess 5:15) Instead of hurting the people that hurt us, we are called to do good to those who hurt us. Loved this article.

By: Jordyn

Jordyn — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 01:41:09 +0000

I liked the idea that Jesus was more practical, and it wasn’t that he opposed pacifism or promoted it, he was quoting earlier parts of the Bible and a lot of meaning got lost in translation. I also found it an interesting point that the disciples were armed, as indicated in Luke 22. In all honesty I had never really thought about Jesus being a pacifist or not.

By: Student

Student — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:38:13 +0000

This article was very interesting to me, personally. I’m no pacifist, and I agree with some of the points that you are making, but at the same time, I think you are taking a lot of the verses you are using out of context. I also struggled with the idea of Jesus being a pacifist. Like why shouldn’t we get back at those that wrong us? But then I realized that this is what Jesus is all about. Showing that you are above the common temptations and evils of the world…

By: Steven VanAst

Steven VanAst — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:17:18 +0000

This actually clears a lot of stuff up for me. however, I do wonder what kind of impact should this have on our foreign aid policy of blowing every person up, because it that self defense. I know that’s not a terribly biblical question but would these passages apply to that scenario?

By: Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:48:12 +0000

This is a super interesting article; it is fascinating to look at the idea of self-defense/preemptive strikes because it is a very real life, tricky, and tangible situation. I have thought about this in the past and I always wonder, by preemptively taking a life do we take away someone’s last chance to change their mind about whatever we believe they intend to do, or even more importantly do we rob them of the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and accept the grace of God? Very interesting article, gives me a lot to think about.

By: marcus

marcus — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:42:24 +0000

I really enjoyed this article and really agreed with a lot of it. I think that though the interpretation of the Scripture especially Matthew 5:39 really shows what Jesus wants us to understand. That we have to love others but that does not mean we have to let others trample us.