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Biblical Principles for Resisting Violent Oppression

Biblical principles for resisting violent oppression emphasize seeking justice, trusting in God, and exercising patience, while generally discouraging revenge and rebellion against appointed authorities. The Old Testament frequently calls for the relief of the oppressed and the pursuit of justice [3, 8]. Isaiah 1:17 exhorts, "Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow" [3]. Similarly, Psalm 119:134 asks God to "Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts" [1]. The Bible also warns against trusting in oppression or becoming vain in robbery, instead urging individuals not to set their hearts on increasing riches [2]. Those who walk righteously are described as despising the gain of oppressions and refusing bribes [5]. God is depicted as a helper and refuge for the afflicted and oppressed, promising to punish those who oppress the fatherless and to deliver those who suffer [7, 8].

Despite the clear condemnation of oppression, the Bible also contains injunctions against certain forms of resistance, particularly revenge and rebellion against established authorities. Revenge is explicitly forbidden, with passages encouraging believers to instead trust in God, exhibit love, and overcome evil with kindness [6]. Christ himself is presented as an example of forbearing revenge, not reviling in return when reviled [6]. The New Testament further advises against being terrified by adversaries, viewing their opposition as an "evident token of perdition" for them, while the faithful will receive their reward at the Lord's return [9, 12].

The concept of submission to authority is a recurring theme. Charles Hodge notes that the Bible teaches "all authority is of God, and therefore all obedience to those in authority is part of our obedience to God" [10]. This principle applies to various relationships, including citizens and rulers, parents and children, and even masters and slaves, where individuals are to act as servants of God rather than merely servants of men [10]. However, this does not negate the call for justice. Matthew Henry, commenting on Ezekiel 45:9, states that princes should not oppress their subjects but administer justice, implying that oppressive rule is contrary to God's will [11].

While direct rebellion against God is forbidden and provokes divine anger [4], the question of resisting oppressive human rulers is nuanced. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, suggests that when faced with oppressive rulers, believers should first remember their own faults, which God might be chastising through such scourges. He advises humility and imploring God's help, recognizing that God holds the hearts of kings and the inclinations of kingdoms [14]. This perspective emphasizes divine sovereignty over human rulers, even oppressive ones.

The Book of James encourages patience for those experiencing economic pressures and unjust treatment from the wealthy. It advises against striking out at oppressors, instead pointing to the Lord's return as the time when the faithful will receive their ultimate reward [9]. Similarly, the early church father Clement of Rome urged Christians to pray for all men, including those who are harsh, and to respond to blasphemies with prayer and fierceness with peace, imitating the Lord's meekness [13].

Sources

  1. Psalms “Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts. -- Psalms 119:134”
  2. Psalms “Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them. -- Psalms 62:10”
  3. Isaiah “Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” -- Isaiah 1:17”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
  5. Isaiah “He who walks righteously, and speaks blamelessly; He who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil— -- Isaiah 33:15”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Revenge — Forbidden by our Lord -- Le 19:18; Pr 24:17,29; Mt 5:39-41; Ro 12:17,19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9. Christ an example of forbearing -- Isa 53:7; 1Pe 2:23. Rebuked by Christ -- Lu 9:54,55. Inconsistent with Christian spirit -- Lu 9:55. Proceeds from a spiteful heart -- Eze 25:15. Instead of taking, we should Trust in God. -- Pr 20:22; Ro 12:16. Exhibit love. -- Le 19:18; Lu 6:35. Give place to wrath. -- Ro 12:19. Exercise forbearance. -- Mt 5:38-41. Bless. -- Ro 12:14. Overcome others by kindness. -- Pr 25:21,22; Ro 12:20. Keep others from taking -- 1Sa 24:10; 25:24”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fatherless — Find mercy in God -- Ho 14:3. God will Be a father of. -- Ps 68:5. Be a helper of. -- Ps 10:14. Hear the cry of. -- Ex 22:23. Execute the judgment of. -- De 10:18; Ps 10:18. Punish those who oppress. -- Ex 22:24; Isa 10:1-3; Mal 3:5. Punish those who judge not. -- Jer 5:28,29. Visit in affliction -- Jas 1:27. Let them share in our blessings -- De 14:29. Defend -- Ps 82:3; Isa 1:17. Wrong not, in judgment -- De 24:17. Defraud not -- Pr 23:10. Afflict not -- Ex 22:22. Oppress not -- Zec 7:10. Do no violence to -- Jer 22:3. Blessedness of taking care of -- ”
  9. James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 5:7: 5:7-8 be patient: This is the ultimate resolution for the poor in their economic pressures and for the unjust treatment by the wicked rich (5:1-6; see 2:6-7). Even though the poor have been marginalized and oppressed, they must not give up or strike out at their oppressors. At the Lord’s return, the faithful will receive their final reward (Isa 40:10; Luke 6:20-35; 1 Cor 15:23; 1 Pet 1:17; 5:4; Rev 22:12).”
  10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: men and resistance to God. This principle runs through the Bible, which teaches that all authority is of God, and therefore all obedience to those in authority is part of our obedience to God. This applies not only to the case of citizens and rulers, but also to parents and children, husbands and wives, and even masters and slaves. In all these relations we are to act not as the servants of men, but as the servants of God. This gives to authority by whomsoever exercised a divine sanction; it gives it power over the conscience; and it elev”
  11. Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 45:9: We have here some general rules of justice laid down both for prince and people, the rules of distributive and commutative justice; for godliness without honesty is but a form of godliness, will neither please God nor avail to the benefit of any people. Be it therefore enacted, by the authority of the church's King and God, 1. That princes do not oppress their subjects, but duly and faithfully administer justice among them (Eze 45:9): "Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel! that you have been oppressive to the people and have enriched yourselves by spoil and vi”
  12. Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 1:28: And in nothing terrified by your adversaries,.... Not by Satan, though a roaring lion, for Christ is greater than he; nor by the world which Christ has overcome; nor by false teachers, though men of art and cunning; nor by violent persecutors, who can do no more than kill, the body; let not the power, the rage, the cunning, or the violence of one or the other, move, discourage, or affright from a close attachment to the Gospel and the truths of it: which is to them an evident token of perdition; when men wilfully oppose themselves to the truth, and show a malic”
  13. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. X.: Pray for all men; for there is hope of repentance for them, that they may be counted worthy of God. By your works especially let them be instructed. Against their harsh words be ye conciliatory, by meekness of mind and gentleness. Against their blasphemies do ye give yourselves to prayer; and against their error be ye armed with faith. Against their fierceness be ye peaceful and quiet, and be ye not astounded by them. Let us, then, be imitators of our Lord in meekness, and strive who shall more especi”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 102: prince, let us first call up the remembrance of our faults, which doubtless the Lord is chastising by such scourges. In this way humility will 2674 curb our impatience. And let us reflect that it belongs not to us to cure these evils, that all that remains for us is to implore the help of the Lord, in whose hands are the hearts of kings, and inclinations of kingdoms.65 691 691 Dan. 9:7 ; Prov. 21:1 ; Psalm 82:1 ; 2:10; Isaiah 10:1 . “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” Before his face shall ”
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