2024 Acts of CABAN: War and Peace in the Bible
From November 5-8, 2024 the Conference of the Catholic Biblical Association of Nigeria (CABAN) held its 17th Annual Meeting at the Jubilee Retreat and Conference Centre (JRCC), Effurun, Warri. The theme of the meeting "War and Peace in the Bible". The Communiqué and Acts 16 – 2024 of CABAN are available for download.
Acts of The Catholic Biblical Association of Nigeria (CABAN) Vol.16 –
War And Peace in the Bible
Introduction:
In the Bible, war is largely portrayed as both an outcome of human sin and a means for divine judgment. The Old Testament recurrently illustrates Israel’s battles as a means of fulfilling God’s promises to His people. Notwithstanding, the Bible also acknowledges the desolations of war and its consequences on human life (Jer. 4:19-26; Isa 2:4). On the other hand, peace is perceived as the ultimate desire of God for humanity. The term shalom denotes not just the absence of conflict but the presence of wholeness, harmony, and well-being. Little wonder, Sacred Scripture calls for peace in human relationships and with God (Isa 2:4; Mat 5-7; Lk 2:14. This can be achieved in the ability to navigate the difficult tensions between the reality of war in a fallen world and the ideal of peace.