10 If anyone gathers into captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone will kill with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
if anyone for captivity, to captivity he goes, if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed – this statement was first made by Christ in Matthew 26:52. The Reformation was a “war” between the Protestants and the supporters of the beast. Of course, it was God’s desire for the saints to free themselves from the beast, but not to act in the manner of men, in war. This is a warning against such behaviour, and its consequence.
here lies the faith and patience of the saints – in other words, the saints will try to deal with this crisis in a godly way. Martin Luther, in 1522 preached, saying: I will preach, speak, write, but I will force no one; for faith must be voluntary. Take me as an example. I stood up against the Pope, indulgences, and all papists, but without violence or uproar. I only urged, preached, and declared God’s Word, nothing else. … Had I appealed to force, all Germany might have been deluged with blood.” (Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. VII, ch. 4, sec. 68.)