# Would Jesus have owned a gun?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [August 30, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974 "2010-08-30T06:16:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/21 "2010-08-30T13:59:17Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#):
>
> I have heard gun lovers talk about, “the God given right to bear arms.” I have read the bible from cover to cover eight times in seven English translations. I never read anything about such a right.
You have to read the Texas version.
---
### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/22 "2010-08-30T14:02:38Z")
If he did I’m guessin’ it was a Peacemaker.
---
### Author:  [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/23 "2010-08-30T14:33:45Z")
> [@opmike](#):
>
> Are we to presume that the Jesus isn’t just a gun collector, and has one for “protection”? Is Jesus going to shoot someone who’s trying to take his life?
>
> I say no.
>
> However, I’m sure a number of his disciples and entourage would be armed.
I remember one of his gfollowers cutting off a soldier’s ear when they came to tak him after Judas sold him out. Jesus healed the ear and told them to put away the sword.
Its not like Jesus was entirely non-violent. He went on a rampage among the moneychangers at the temple in jerusalem, didn’t he? Turning over tables and disrespecting property rights and stuff.
---
### Author:  [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/24 "2010-08-30T14:34:49Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> All I know is you can get further with The Word and a gun than you can with just The Word.
That’s pretty much how the jihadists feel.
---
### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/25 "2010-08-30T14:41:40Z")
I don’t think he would, except maybe to hunt (although hunting was not really necessary in his society). He wasn’t big on self-defense. When he was arrested and put on trial, he didn’t even _argue_, much less fight.
He did warn his disciples to get a sword to protect themselves, but that’s not what the OP was asking. He wouldn’t have carried one himself, nor allowed others to use weapons in his defense. (If only his followers today only used weapons for self-defense, and not to try to defend Jesus!).
---
### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/26 "2010-08-30T14:42:31Z")
I’m kind of surprised everyone isn’t dismissing the question out of hand. What would the “son of God” need a gun for?
---
### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/27 "2010-08-30T14:52:34Z")
> [@Alessan](#):
>
> > [@willthekittensurvive](#):
> >
> > If he was a jew in modern Israel, chances are he would
>
> Actually, most Israelis don’t have guns. Know how to use them, yes - but own them? That’s a myth.
So, if Jesus lived in Switzerland, he would have owned a gun. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/28 "2010-08-30T14:58:24Z")
If he had owned one, being approached by a leper mighta ended up differently.
---
### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/29 "2010-08-30T15:08:11Z")
> [@Alessan](#):
>
> > [@willthekittensurvive](#):
> >
> > If he was a jew in modern Israel, chances are he would
>
> Actually, most Israelis don’t have guns. Know how to use them, yes - but own them? That’s a myth.
You don’t keep your service weapons after finishing up your IDF indenture?
---
### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/30 "2010-08-30T15:12:03Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> > [@Krokodil](#):
> >
> > Yeah, Christ would’ve packed a Desert Eagle, the one with the big clip.
>
> Bah, don’t be silly. A guy who pulls unlimited loaves and fishes out of nowhere doesn’t need a big clip. He just needs one bullet and the Miracle of the Multiplying Ammo.
Hollywood?
\
---
### Author:  [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/31 "2010-08-30T15:19:46Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> I’m kind of surprised everyone isn’t dismissing the question out of hand. What would the “son of God” need a gun for?
See post #7
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#):
>
> Its not like Jesus was entirely non-violent. He went on a rampage among the moneychangers at the temple in jerusalem, didn’t he? Turning over tables and disrespecting property rights and stuff.
He went after them with a whip he braided out of leather cords.
My impression from the BIble is that Jesus didn’t own anything but the clothes on his back, living entirely on charity.
---
### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/32 "2010-08-30T15:19:58Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> I’m kind of surprised everyone isn’t dismissing the question out of hand. What would the “son of God” need a gun for?
Go postal on the moneylenders ?
ETA : damn, beaten by **Damuri**.
---
### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/33 "2010-08-30T15:27:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> I’m kind of surprised everyone isn’t dismissing the question out of hand. What would the “son of God” need a gun for?
Same reason he might need a Starship
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/34 "2010-08-30T15:35:52Z")
> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
> >
> > I’m kind of surprised everyone isn’t dismissing the question out of hand. What would the “son of God” need a gun for?
>
> Go postal on the moneylenders ?
>
> ETA : damn, beaten by **Damuri**.
Seem to me that the modern equivalent of the whip would had been a Uzi with rubber bullets.
---
### Author:  [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/35 "2010-08-30T15:43:25Z")
Let’s remember as the avatar of a major God, Jesus was capable of directed energy blasts that destroyed living cells.
From: [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:18-19&version=NIV;KJV;YLT](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:18-19&version=NIV;KJV;YLT)
> [@](#):
>
> 1. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
>
> 2. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
Surely someone capable of such feats would think guns were something that bitches play with.
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/36 "2010-08-30T15:53:17Z")
> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> Let’s remember as the avatar of a major God, Jesus was capable of directed energy blasts that destroyed living cells.
>
> From: [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:18-19&version=NIV;KJV;YLT](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:18-19&version=NIV;KJV;YLT)
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > 1. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
> >
> > 2. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
>
> Surely someone capable of such feats would think guns were something that bitches play with.
Great, now I will wonder if the temple had Kriptonite… 🙂
---
### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/37 "2010-08-30T16:08:19Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#):
>
> I’d say no; based on the fact that presumably he could have carried a sword, club or dagger in his period but there are no reports that I know of in the Bible saying that he did so.
>
> That said I am no Biblical scholar: so if I’m wrong then I bow to thos who are more knowledgeable then I am.
The Gospels have more to say about what He said than what He did (how He walked or carried Himself in daily life) so its hard to say. But considering at least some of His posse were packing, it wouldn’t surprise me any.
---
### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/38 "2010-08-30T16:36:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> > [@Alessan](#):
> >
> > Actually, most Israelis don’t have guns. Know how to use them, yes - but own them? That’s a myth.
>
> You don’t keep your service weapons after finishing up your IDF indenture?
No. Weapons belong to the reserve unit, which keeps them in its armory between deployments.
---
### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/39 "2010-08-30T16:43:27Z")
Oh, thanks.
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974/40 "2010-08-30T18:37:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Luke 22: 23, 38 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one…And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Note here that he considered two swords out of twelve apostles to be enough, so it’s not like he thought _everyone_ should be packing, or even a majority.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-have-owned-a-gun/551974.md?page=3)