Thinking Biblically About Guns

The Bible doesn’t speak about firearms directly but it does give us principles and a framework to think Biblically about guns.

1. Life is sacred (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13).
2. We live in a depraved world (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:23).
3. We must protect life (James 4:17).
4. Self-defense from criminal activity is assumed (Exodus 22:2–3; Luke 22:35–38).
5. We must not take revenge for personal offenses (Matthew 5:38–39; Matthew 5:43–44).
6. We are to let God be the avenger (Romans 12:19).
7. Jesus is a Righteous Warrior (Revelation 19:1-21).
8. Weapons will be obsolete when Christ reigns (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3).
9. Civil disobedience must never be exercised trivially (Acts 5:27–29; Romans 13:1–2).
10. Weapons make a poor god (Psalm 44:6; Matthew 26:51–52).