Unified Combat Theory #

Metaphysics: Ontology and Cosmology #

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Ephesians 6:10-18.

And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, II Chronicles 20:15.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, I Samuel 17:45-47.

Then he said to me, This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Zechariah 4:6.

And Moses said to the people, Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Exodus 14:13-14.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Exodus II Corinthians 10:3-5.

When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Is there any man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. And is there any man who has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit. And is there any man who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her.’ And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’ And when the officers have finished speaking to the people, then commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Deuteronomy 20:1-9.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, II Chronicles 32:7-8.

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Ecclesiastes 9:11-12.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Romans 13:1-4.

Then Jesus said to him, ““Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Matthew 26:52.

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Ecclesiastes 3:8.

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Proverbs 21:31.

You shall not murder.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Exodus 20:13.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’” “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Matthew 5:21-22.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Genesis 3:15-16.

but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). (2003). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, Genesis 4:5-15.

My Thoughts: #

We must remember that combat of all kinds is an escalation of conflict. Conflict begins in the heart, and so, too, does combat. Conflict is the outworking of the curse of sin, and will one day be no more. Until then, it is my endeavor to understand its nature, and whether there is ever a need for it.

War and conflict has for it’s end two intentions, to impose one’s will on another, or to resist the imposition of that will. (How does this explain crimes of passion, where the will is simply the death of the other? Such as in the first killing?) It can be said, one is war itself, while the other is peace.

The government has been given the authority from God to impose it’s will on it’s citizens. So whether or not force is justified in the imposition of someone’s will derives directly from that individual’s authority, as it has been granted by God.

With the idea of “know your enemy,” you really must understand your enemy is not flesh and blood. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”