Bible Verses About Pacifism And Military Service

And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Direct command to soldiers about conduct.

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Key peace text about swords into plowshares.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Peace saying often used in Christian ethics.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Jesus tells Peter to put away the sword.

So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Direct soldier image used for Christian discipline.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Good soldier of Christ text

And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Calls believers to arm themselves with Christ's suffering mind, not weapons.

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Pursue peace text

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

Not waging war according to the flesh passage

A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Duplicate peace prophecy with same teaching.

And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war.

Armed service in Israel's history.

But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord saith.

Armed battle in Israel's story.

And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.

War command in the Old Testament.

And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

General peace command for believers.

Thou shalt not kill.

General command against killing.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.