Peace

VIEW:37 DATA:01-04-2020

PEACE.—From Latin pax, through French.—1. Except in Dan_8:25; Dan_11:21; Dan_11:24 (where RV [Note: Revised Version.] corrects to ‘security’), the OT ‘peace’ represents uniformly the Heb. shâlôm (Eastern salaam), the fundamental sense of which—always more or less distinctly implied—is welfare (as in Gen_43:27, Psa_73:3 etc.); of well-being, in the old turbulent times, peace was the prime condition. The word has the following specific religious uses: (1) it is the common formula of courteous well-wishing, employed both at meeting and at parting (see Gen_43:23, 1Sa_1:17, Psa_122:7 f.; cf. Mat_10:12 f.); (2) ‘peace’ constituted the most conspicuous blessing of the Messianic Kingdom of God (wh. see; cf. Psa_72:3; Psa_72:7, Isa_2:4; Isa_9:5-7; Isa_11:5-9, Hag_2:9, Zec_9:10); and (3) it signified a sound and settled understanding between J″ [Note: Jahweh.] and His people (Num_6:26, Psa_29:11; Psa_85:8 ff; Psa_122:6, Jer_16:5 etc.)—hence J″ [Note: Jahweh.] ’s ‘covenant of peace’ is lodged with His priests (Num_25:12, Mal_2:4 f.). In this last and richest use the word approximates to its subjective NT signification, implying tranquillity of heart, as in Psa_4:8; Psa_119:155, Isa_48:18; Isa_48:22.
2. The transition, from OT to NT usage strikingly illustrates the inwardness of Christianity. Out of some 90 NT instances of ‘peace’ there are not more than 8 or 9 which do not refer to heart-peace. The Greek eirçnç in its proper sense signified peace strictly, as the opposite of conflict; but it took over, first in the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] and then in the NT, the broader import of shâlôm, which is conspicuous in the (Hebraistic) Benedictions (see Mar_5:34, Luk_7:30; Luk_24:36, Joh_14:27, Jam_2:16 etc.) and in the epistolary Salutations. In the latter formulæ, ‘peace’ comprehends the sum of blessing experienced, as ‘grace’ the sum of blessing bestowed, from God in Christ. The Messianic peace (1 (2), above) reappears in Luk_1:79; Luk_2:14, Mat_10:34; and the peace of harmony with God (1 (3)) in Joh_16:33, Act_10:36, Rom_8:6; Rom_15:33, Php_4:7 etc. The uses just named are gathered up, with a deepened sense, into the specific NT doctrine of peace, of which Paul is the exponent, and Rom_5:1 the classical text (cf. v. 10, also 2Co_5:18-21, Eph_2:13-18, Col_1:20; see article on Justification): ‘peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ is the state and the experience of those who have been ‘reconciled’ to the Father through the sacrifice offered by the Son of His love, whose ‘trespasses’ are ‘forgiven’ and in whose heart ‘the spirit of adoption’ dwells. Reconciled to God, men are reconciled to life and the world; by His cross Christ ‘has slain’ at a blow ‘the enmity’ between God and man and between race and race (Eph_2:18). ‘Peace on earth’ is to flow from ‘the peace of Christ’ that ‘rules in’ Christian ‘hearts’ (Col_3:15).
G. G. Findlay.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909

In the original languages of the Bible, the word ‘peace’ had a meaning far wider and richer than that which people commonly associate with the word today. In the Old Testament, peace (Heb. shalom) included a range of ideas, such as completeness, wholeness and well-being. The New Testament, though using the Greek word for ‘peace’, retained the breadth of ideas found in the Old Testament and so gave the word a richer meaning.
Wide-ranging blessings
According to the Hebrews’ understanding, peace was a state of well-being that included good health, prosperity, contentment, security and harmonious relationships (Psa_29:11; Psa_37:37; Psa_85:8-9; Isa_26:1-4; Isa_32:17-18; Isa_60:17; Lam_3:17; Zec_6:13; Zec_8:12; Luk_11:21; 1Co_14:33; Eph_4:3). A prayer for God’s peace upon a person, nation or church was a prayer for the wide-ranging blessing of God (Num_6:26; Psa_122:6; Luk_2:14; Rom_15:33). The greeting of ‘Peace!’ with which people greeted each other was both an enquiry after and a wish for a person’s well-being (Jdg_6:23; Jdg_18:6; Jdg_19:20; 1Sa_25:6; 1Sa_25:35; Mat_10:13; Joh_20:21; 1Co_1:3; Eph_1:2; Eph_6:23; 1Pe_1:2; 1Pe_5:14).
Since peace was often linked with the blessing of God, it became linked also with God’s salvation (Isa_26:11-13; Luk_1:79; Luk_19:42; Act_10:36; Rom_5:1; Rom_16:20). When God’s prophets warned the Old Testament Israelites of certain judgment if they continued in their sin, false prophets comforted the rebellious people with false assurances of salvation (Jer_8:10-11; Jer_8:15; Jer_14:19; Eze_13:10). But there could be no salvation, no peace, for the wicked (Isa_48:22). After the years of exile in Babylon, however, the good news of peace would prepare a repentant people for salvation from captivity and return to their homeland (Isa_52:7-10; cf. Eph_6:15).
Peace with God through Jesus Christ
No matter what expressions of salvation people of Old Testament times experienced, the fulness of salvation awaited the coming of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isa_9:6; Luk_1:79). The peace he brought is an everlasting peace (Luk_2:14; Joh_14:27 16:33; 20:21-22). It is available to all people now and will reach its fullest expression in a restored universe at the end of the age (Isa_9:7; Isa_65:17-25; Rev_21:1-5; Rev_21:22-24).
This complete restoration to peace, fulness, wholeness and well-being is possible only because Jesus, by his death, dealt with the cause of the world’s trouble, sin. He bore God’s judgment on sin, so that the divine hostility against sin might be removed and repentant sinners might have peace with God (Isa_53:5-6; Rom_5:1-2; Col_1:20-22; see PROPITIATION).
When people, through God’s grace, have peace with God, they also have peace with one another. They become members of the kingdom of God, where all disharmony and injustice are removed, whether in matters of race, age, sex or status (Rom_14:17; Rom_14:19; Eph_2:14-17; Eph_4:3; see RECONCILIATION).
Christians preach this gospel of peace to others (Mat_10:13; Joh_20:21; Act_10:36; Eph_6:15), though they realize that at times it may cause division; for while some will gladly accept it, others will violently oppose it (Mat_10:34-36). In spite of this, Christians must do all they can to help people in general to live together peacefully (Mat_5:9; Rom_12:18; Heb_12:14).
Not only do Christians have peace with God through Christ, they also have the peace of God through Christ. That peace does not mean that they will have a trouble-free life. Rather it means that they now enjoy a state of spiritual wholeness and well-being that gives them strength and calmness even in the midst of suffering and trials (Joh_14:27; Joh_16:33; Gal_5:22; Col_3:15; Php_4:7).
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary by Don Fleming
PRINTER 1990.

pēs (שׁלום, shālōm; εἰρήνη, eirḗne):

1. In the Old Testament:
Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shālōm (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, ?soundness,? ?health,? but coming also to signify ?prosperity,? well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. In Psa_122:7, we have ?peace? and ?prosperity,? and in Psa_35:27; Psa_73:3, shālōm is translated ?prosperity.? In 2Sa_11:7 the King James Version, David asked of Uriah ?how Joab did? (margin ?of the peace of Joab?), ?and how the people did (the Revised Version (British and American) ?fared,? literally, ?of the peace of the people?), and how the war prospered? (literally, ?and of the peace (welfare) of the war?).
(1) Shālōm was the common friendly greeting, used in asking after the health of anyone; also in farewells (Gen_29:6, ?Is it well with him?? (?Is there peace to him??); Gen_43:23, ?Peace be to you?; Gen_43:27, ?He asked them of their welfare (of their peace)?; Jdg_6:23, ?Yahweh said unto him, Peace be unto thee?; Jdg_18:15 (the King James Version ?saluted him,? margin ?Hebrew asked him of peace,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?of his welfare?); Jdg_19:20, etc.). See also GREETING. (2) Peace from enemies (implying prosperity) was the great desire of the nation and was the gift of God to the people if they walked in His ways (Lev_26:6; Num_6:26, ?Yahweh lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace?; Psa_29:11; Isa_26:12, etc.). To ?die in peace? was greatly to be desired (Gen_15:15; 1Ki_2:6; 2Ch_34:28, etc.). (3) Inward peace was the portion of the righteous who trusted in God (Job_22:21, ?Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace (shālōm)?; Psa_4:8; Psa_85:8, ?He will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints?; Psa_119:165; Pro_3:2, Pro_3:17; Isa_26:3, ?Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (Hebrew ?peace, peace?), whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee?; Mal_2:5); also outward peace (Job_5:23, Job_5:24; Pro_16:7, etc.). (4) Peace was to be sought and followed by the righteous (Psa_34:14, ?Seek peace, and pursue it?; Zec_8:16, Zec_8:19, ?Love truth and peace?). (5) Peace should be a prominent feature of the Messianic times (Isa_2:4; Isa_9:6, ?Prince of Peace?; Isa_11:6; Eze_34:25; Mic_4:2-4; Zec_9:10).
In the New Testament, where eirēnē has much the same meaning and usage as shālōm (for which it is employed in the Septuagint; compare Luk_19:42, the Revised Version (British and American) ?If thou hadst known ... the things which belong unto peace?), we have still the expectation of ?peace? through the coming of the Christ (Luk_1:74, Luk_1:79; Luk_12:51) and also its fulfillment in the higher spiritual sense.

2. In the New Testament:
(1) The gospel in Christ is a message of peace from God to men (Luk_2:14; Act_10:36, ?preaching ... peace by Jesus Christ?). It is ?peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,? in Rom_5:1; the King James Version Rom_10:15; peace between Jew and Gentile (Eph_2:14, Eph_2:15); an essential element in the spiritual kingdom of God (Rom_14:17). (2) It is to be cherished and followed by Christians. Jesus exhorted His disciples, ?Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another? (Mar_9:50); Paul exhorts, ?Live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you? (2Co_13:11; compare Rom_12:18; 1Co_7:15). (3) God is therefore ?the God of peace,? the Author and Giver of all good (?peace? including every blessing) very frequently (e.g. Rom_15:33; Rom_16:20; 2Th_3:16, etc., ?the Lord of peace?). ?Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ? is a common apostolic wish or salutation (compare 1Co_1:3; 2Co_1:2, etc.). (4) We have also ?peace? as a greeting (Mat_10:13; Luk_10:5); ?a son of peace? (Luk_10:6) is one worthy of it, in sympathy with it; the Lord's own greeting to His disciples was ?Peace be unto you? (Luk_24:36; Joh_20:19, Joh_20:21, Joh_20:26), and ere He left them He gave them specially His blessing of ?Peace? (Joh_14:27); we have also frequently ?Go in peace? (Mar_5:34; Luk_7:50). In Luk_19:38, we have ?peace in heaven? (in the acclamation of Jesus on His Messianic entry of Jerusalem). (5) The peace that Christ brought is primarily spiritual peace from and with God, peace in the heart, peace as the disposition or spirit. He said that He did not come ?to send peace on the earth, but a sword,? referring to the searching nature of His call and the divisions and clearances it would create. But, of course, the spirit of the gospel and of the Christian is one of peace, and it is a Christian duty to seek to bring war and strife everywhere to an end. This is represented as the ultimate result of the gospel and Spirit of Christ; universal and permanent peace can come only as that Spirit rules in men's hearts.
?Peace? in the sense of silence, to hold one's peace, etc., is in the Old Testament generally the translation of ḥārash, ?to be still, or silent? (Gen_24:21; Gen_34:5; Job_11:3); also of ḥāshāh, ?to hush,? ?to be silent? (2Ki_2:3, 2Ki_2:5; Psa_39:2), and of other words. In Job_29:10 (?The nobles held their peace,? the King James Version), it is ḳōl, ?voice.?
In the New Testament we have siōpáō, ?to be silent,? ?to cease speaking? (Mat_20:31; Mat_26:63; Act_18:9, etc.); sigáō, ?to be silent,? ?not to speak? (Luk_20:26; Act_12:17); hēsucházo, ?to be quiet? (Luk_14:4; Act_11:18); phimóō, ?to muzzle or gag? (Mar_1:25; Luk_4:35).
In Apocrypha eirēnē is frequent, mostly in the sense of peace from war or strife (Tobit 13:14; Judith 3:1; Ecclesiasticus 13:18; 1 Macc 5:54; 6:49; 2 Macc 14:6, eustátheia = ?tranquillity?).
The Revised Version (British and American) has ?peace? for ?tongue? (Est_7:4; Job_6:24; Amo_6:10; Hab_1:13); ?at peace with me? for ?perfect? (Isa_42:19, margin ?made perfect? or ?recompensed?); ?security? instead of ?peaceably? and ?peace? (Dan_8:25; Dan_11:21, Dan_11:24); ?came in peace to the city,? for ?came to Shalem, a city? (Gen_33:18); ?it was for my peace? instead of ?for peace? (Isa_38:17); ?when they are in peace,? for ?and that which should have been for their welfare? (Psa_69:22).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.

Peace
The Hebrew word שָׁלוֹב, shalom, usually translated peace, means, properly, health, prosperity, welfare. It is the same as the salam of the modern Arabs, and is in like manner used in salutations (q.v.). The Greek εἰρήνη from having been frequently used as a rendering of the Heb. word, naturally passed over in the same sense into the N.T.
Accordingly “peace” is a word used in Scripture in different senses. Generally it denotes quiet and tranquillity, public or private; but often prosperity and happiness of life; as to “go in peace;” to “die in peace;” “God give you peace;” “Peace be within this house;” “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Paul in the titles of his Epistles generally wishes grace and peace to the faithful, to whom he writes. Our Savior recommends to his disciples to have peace with all men, and with each other. God promises his people to water them as with a river of peace (Isa_66:12), and to make with them a covenant of peace (Eze_34:25).
Peace, properly, is that state of mind in which persons are exposed to no open violence to interrupt their tranquillity.
1. Social peace is mutual agreement one with another, whereby we forbear injuring one another (Psa_34:14; Psalms 132).
2. Ecclesiastical peace is freedom from contentions, and rest from persecutions (Isa_11:13; Isa_32:17; Rev_12:14).
3. Spiritual peace is deliverance from sin, by which we were at enmity with God (Rom_5:1); the result is peace in the conscience (Heb_10:22). This peace is the gift of God through Jesus Christ (2Th_3:16). It is a blessing of great importance (Psa_119:165). It is denominated perfect (Isa_26:3); inexpressible (Php_4:7); permanent (Job_34:29; Joh_16:22); eternal (Isa_57:2; Heb_4:9). SEE HAPPINESS.

CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.

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