Love of Enemies: The Way to Peace

Overtures to Biblical Theology #15

by William Klassen

Love of Enemies, The Way to Peace. In the current international political atmosphere where "hope is in short supply these days within and outside the church" (William Klassen), these twin themes hardly seem compatible. Klassen maintains, however, that the two are not only consistent but also have coexisted from ancient times to the present, due in large part to the Jesus movement. Examining the Hellenistic and Hebrew backgrounds of the two themes, Klassen illuminates old, familiar texts, as well as some that have been previously ignored. He shows how people today can strive for peace, both by following the examples of the twentieth-century figures before them and by returning, as "warriors of peace," to long-neglected Biblical resources.

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1984

Reviews

[Jeremy Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well presented overview of peace and vengeance in Greek and biblical history. Weaves in and out of plays and philosophers and Jewish thought. Concludes like most things to do with the title that if we loved our enemies, sought after peace and understood what justice was, less bombs would fall on the innocent and we would understand the guilty better.