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The Testament of Benjamin praises the good man who shows mercy even to those who harm him, overcoming evil through kindness rather than retaliation. Paul in Romans uses similar language in teaching to overcome evil with good.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Testament of Benjamin 4:3
Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs
Pseudepigrapha
1 Do you see, then, my children, the end of the good man? Follow his compassion with a good mind, so that you also may wear crowns of glory. 2 For the good man does not have an evil eye, for he shows mercy to everyone, even to sinners. 3 Even though others scheme against him with evil intent, by doing good he overcomes evil, being shielded by God; and he loves the righteous as his own soul. 4 If someone is honored, he does not envy him; if someone grows rich, he is not jealous; if someone is brave, he praises him. He commends the virtuous, shows mercy to the poor, has compassion on the weak, and sings praises to God. 5 As for the one who fears God, he protects him as with a shield; the one who loves God he helps; the one who rejects the Most High he warns and turns back; and the one who has the grace of a good spirit he loves as his own soul.
Romans 12:19
New Testament
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Notes and References
"... When reading Matthew 5:38-42 in the context of the New Testament as a whole, two things must be noted. First, Romans 12:17, 19; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; and 1 Peter 3:9 continue the theme of non-retaliation. Second, Matthew 5:39 must be heard in connection with Romans 13:1-7, where the state is given the power of the sword (power of life and death) to deal with wrongdoers. In fact, if Romans 12:19 exhorts individual Christians never to avenge themselves but to leave it to God's wrath, Romans 13:4 says the state is ordained by God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer in this age before the resurrection ... The Matthean Jesus here sets forth his interpretation of "Love your neighbor." The roots for this sentiment may be found in Exodus 23:4-5; Deuteronomy 22:4; and Proverbs 25:21. Post-biblical Judaism sometimes voiced a similar perspective (compare Testament of Benjamin 4:3-"The good man loves all those who wrong him as he loves his own life"; 2 Enoch 50:4; 2 Baruch 52:6- "Why do you look for the decline of your enemies?") ..."
Talbert, Charles H.
Reading the Sermon on the Mount: Character Formation and Decision Making in Matthew 5-7
(pp. 92-94) University of South Carolina Press, 2004
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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