In his book “Love of Enemies” William Klassen examines the various
interpretations of love of enemies in relation to war and peace in the Jewish and Christian
faiths. Klassen has three distinct concerns that make an influence on his views on peace.
First, Klassen feels he has a responsibility, as a student of the bible, to listen to the
word of the bible. He feels that most of the Anglo-Saxon scholars have not done a good
job of actually listening to the word and what it really means. Klassen believes that the
use of references to the biblical word are all to common in politics. He points out how
many politicians make reference to religious ideals as to the backing for their actions. In
turn the Church can gain by the same actions which would allow them to find their
trustworthy in the public forum. These actions can only be led to raise one question,
“What is the message of the bible on peace for us?”
The second concern that directly influences Klassen his belief in the
responsibility he has to the world. When you move from the Word to the world there is
a substantial difference that exist. The Word says to always “Love your enemies”, In

persecuted have a compassion that their persecutors lack. Klassen points out that in this

In the Jewish religion, the commandments of love that Jesus stood for were