hatred is most naturally inherent in the ruling people, the kings and their ilk. It consumed Saul through many wars, and multitudes fell when he fell. Today also the ruling class oppresses the subjects. But if we are good Christians we must pray to God for these haughty people, that they might be turned by Him from the power of the Satan and from fighting and rebelling against truth.
INTERPRETATION OF 1 TIMOTHY 2:1–3 (CONCLUSION)
There are many other issues involved in the question of authority—we have governing authorities set against each other as enemies. When they are at war, one side prays for its lords, and so does the other side, each praying for its own victory. Yet both are “Christian,” praying for their own causes.
The Christians of both sides are at war unjustly, and they pray to God that He may help defeat the other side. Whom shall God hear? But because both claim to be Christian and yet are at war with each other, their prayer is not a prayer of faith; God shall indeed not hear them. This is the reason why the net of faith has been so badly torn. The Christians’ faith is lame; they act not as brothers but as enemies. When they pray mutually for the defeat of their foe, their prayers shall fall back upon their own heads. To pray in this way is against the intention of the words of Saint Paul. In this way many armed hordes of the same faith arrogate to themselves the right to defend the truth. And so, one horde will go to defend the old Holy Church,[523] and another horde will go to defend the truth of the law of God.[524] And another shall go defending the orders of God.[525] And another horde shall go defending the common good so that the poor people cease being exploited.[526] And there shall go princes and kings to defend their fatherland so that their dominion may not cease.[527]
All of them lead wars against each other for the love of power and glory in the world. And all the peradventurers of these hordes call themselves Christians, and all pray alike to God saying, “Our Father who is in heaven.” They all pray for the destruction of the rest, believing that they serve the cause of God when they shed their enemies’ blood. And they all say the same old words, “Forgive us as we forgive them.” And yet every army conscripts and assembles, not intending in the least to forgive.
Their prayers are, indeed, a great blasphemy against God. And they are contrary to the admonition of Paul to pray for all. Every one of these hordes thinks illogically; each one is getting ready to war against the others, not intending to lead a peaceful life but a marching, military life. Its prayers are not prayers of peace but prayers for its armies and successes.
[ Paul did not pray for the victory of his authorities, for the success of their swords, but that all authorities might live together in peace. He prays for a peaceable life when he says, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.”[528] This is a life pleasing to God. ] But the authorities of the world seek a different peace, a freedom to expand in violence and impurity, a freedom for the soldiers to go to markets to buy and to sell, to eat and drink at festivals, to fight and make merry and
