I just shouted upstairs to my h about this discussion and he handed me a book with this quote (and went back upstairs), for what it adds to the discussion.
From What the Bible Really Says, edited by Morton Smith and R. Joseph Hoffman:
"...Apart from whatever traditions inspired the group behind the Book of Revelation, there is little of a warrior spirit in the New Testament.
Images of War can nonetheless be detected in the New Testament. Metaphors of violence pervade Ephesians 6:10-17, for example. Sayings attributed to Jesus include a few that hint of battle preparation:
He said to them, But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one...." And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them "It is enough." (Luke 22:36, 38) "
P.S. from E: btw, jbe and Blue, didn't Jesus himself believe in the Old Testament? I thought he was a believing Jew who declared his complete attachment to the Law....? Isn't that important, given that the Law was so ridden with killing and cruelty? (Like the instruction to parents that they were obligated to put disobedient sons to death. For example.) (This is reminding me of what my son was like as a teenager, and on second thought, I would like to take this opportunity to express my enthusiastic support for this sensible custom.) |
