[Greek] πόλεμος (polemos), [Latin] bellum, [French] guerre, [French] bataille, [German] krieg: war, battle, warfare, military activity; Mt.24:6, Mk.13:7, Lk.14:31, Lk.21:9, 1Cor.14:8, Heb.11:34, Jas.4:1
Background information:
Mythology: Polemnos was the Greek god of war. Bellum was the Roman god of war.
Greek Hellenism: This term, found extensively in Homer’s poems, means war, ambush, and battle.
Demosthenes’ On the Chersonese 8.7: “For we have no choice in the matter to defend ourselves against the aggressor.”
Xenophon’s Hellenica 3.2.22: “The Eleans would not allow him to pray for victory in war.”
Aeschylus’ Suppliant Women 439: “I am driven to this cruel predicament. I must take upon myself a mighty war against one side or the other.”
Euripides’ Orestes 13: “The goddess spun a web of strife to make war with his own brother Thyestes.”
Homer’s Iliad 3.165: “It is the gods that are to blame who roused against me against the tearful war of the Achaeans.”
Old Testament: This term means war, battle, battle line, weapons, making war, army, and soldier.
- Wars, battles, and military campaigns were a constant theme during this period in history.
- Many were seeking the Lord as a “military” leader leading the Israelites in their battles against their enemies.
- In looking for a Messiah, the Jews (Israelites) were looking for a strong king, not a suffering servant.
New Testament: Jesus states that there will be signs of His coming. They will hear of wars and reports of wars. One must have a realistic assessment of the hardships and costs of being a disciple. This is likened to whether a king with his troops going into battle can successfully defeat another king who has more troops. Like hearing a distinct bugle sound in preparations for battle, human speech must be intelligible. James points out the causes for war in the Christian community. Love of the world and lack of prayer contribute to these incidents of war.
Scripture:
Mt.24:6: “You will hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end.” (Jesus tells us others not to be alarmed. This is the plan of God. Nations will rise against nations.)
The beginning of calamities:
- Calamities in the world: conflicts and wars between nations
- Calamities from outside and within the Church: persecution, martyrdom, some will be scandalized (led into sin), false teachers, and evil-doing
Lk.14:31: “Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing with twenty thousand troops?”
Requirements for discipleship:
- One cannot be a disciple if there is continues and over-riding attachment to family.
- One who does not carry his own cross and come after Jesus cannot be His disciple.
- One must calculate the cost required and demanded in order to be a disciple of Jesus.
- One who does not renounce his possessions cannot be a disciple of Jesus.
“Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?” Jas.4:1
Love of the world essentially means hatred toward God. Conflicts are also caused by the failure to pray properly (not praying and using God’s kindness for selfish reasons).
Conclusion:
Guerrilla (warfare), battle, bellicose, belligerent, antebellum (before war), polemic
It is perhaps not surprising that the motivations for war essentially remain the same throughout history. Wars inspired by the gods are perhaps not much different than the “holy” wars or wars inspired by kings or dictators. Brothers (or countrymen) may often have to fight each other. Nations having to defend themselves against aggressor nations repeatedly occur throughout history.
I think James offers some valuable insights for the motivations for war. Love of the world can refer to political power, global domination, military incursion, war, skirmishes, and conflict.
Update: Now we are seeing a war between Russia and Ukraine.
President Zelensky: “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”