[1] Jesus’ Direct Teaching

• In the 4 Gospels, Jesus explicitly teaches an ethic of non-violence:
  Matthew 5:38-48
  Luke 6:27-36

“Nonviolent resistance” might be a more accurate term for Jesus’ teachings: he commands a “third way” between doing nothing and responding to violence with violence, namely, returning evil with good; resisting with love.

• Jesus clearly expects his followers to live nonviolently – rebuking them on many occasions where they stray from this expectation:
  Luke 9:51-56
  Luke 22:47-51

[2] Jesus’ Explicit Example

• As the Incarnate God, Jesus’ nonviolent historical life is both: 
  • [A] The model of a perfect human being (a divine image-bearer):
    Colossians 1:15
  • [B] The defining revelation of who God is and what He is like
    Hebrews 1:1-4
    John 1:14-18

• Jesus lives out his ethical directives, perfectly illustrating his nonviolent commands:
  Matthew 26:51-53
  Mark 15:16-20
  Luke 23:34

[3] Overall Narrative of the Bible – From Old Testament to the Kingdom of God

Despite the (divine and human) violence in the Old Testament, there is a promise of and clear trajectory towards a nonviolent community

• Israel’s battles weren’t won with military prowess, but by simply obeying & trusting God
  Joshua 6:1-7
  Psalm 20:6-9

• OT has clear promises of the Kingdom of God’s arrival calling God’s people to nonviolence
  Isaiah 2:1-5
  Micah 4:1-5

[4] The Early Church Thought It Was Obvious

• The (biblical) Apostles both practiced and taught Jesus’ way of nonviolence
  Romans 12:9-21
  Ephesians 6:10-20

• The early church (from the time of Christ to the time of Constantine in the 4th century) was fully nonviolent. Here is a small sampling of quotes:

Justin Martyr (100-165 AD)
“We who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons—our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage—and we cultivate piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which we have from the Father Himself through Him who was crucified.”

Tertullian (160-225 AD)
“Shall the son of peace take part in the battle when it does not become him even to sue at law?”
“If one attempt to provoke you by manual violence, the admonition of the Lord is at hand: To him,‟ He says, ‘who strikes you on the face, turn the other cheek also.’ Let outrageousness be wearied out by your patience.“
“Christ, in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier…”
“And shall he apply the chain and the prison and the torture and the punishment, who is not the avenger even of his own wrongs?”
“Shall it be held lawful to make an occupation of the sword, when the Lord proclaims that he who uses the sword shall perish by the sword? And shall the son of peace take part in the battle when it does not become him even to sue at law? And shall he apply the chain, and the prison, and the torture, and the punishment, who is not the avenger even of his own wrongs?”

Hippolytus (170-236 AD)
“The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God.”

Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
“We have come in accordance with the counsel of Jesus to cut down our arrogant swords of argument into plowshares, and we convert into sickles the spears we formerly used in fighting. For we no longer take swords against a nation, nor do we learn anymore to make war, having become sons of peace for the sake of Jesus, who is our Lord.”

Marcellus (298 AD)
“I threw down my arms for it was not seemly that a Christian man, who renders military service to the Lord Christ, should render it by earthly injuries.” “It is not lawful for a Christian to bear arms for any earthly consideration.”

Martin of Tours (316-397)
“I am a soldier of  Christ. To fight is not permissible for me.”