the Fourth Week after Easter
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Peace
Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary
or It would have been perfectly unnecessary to have noticed this word, in order to have explained its general sense and meaning in reference to the use of it among men, had that been all. The peace and war of nations, or among houses or families, or kingdoms, are terms with which every one is familiar. But the Scripture sense of the word peace, and more especially the gospel signification of it, in respect to that peace believers have with God in Christ makes it well worth attention in a work of this kind.
It may not perhaps have struck an ordinary reader, that the word peace carries with it the idea that the breach then said to be made up presupposes that there had been a state of amity existing before the breach came in to interrupt it; and this is indeed the blessedness of the gospel. Hence it is called the "ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18) So that to reconcile God and man in Christ, which is the grand object of the gospel, is to bring together again those who had before been friends, but were then at enmity; and hence is clearly proved, what the word of God all along is setting forth, that the present state is not the first, neither will it be the final state of man: it is but intermediate and preparatory. There was a period in the annals of eternity when God and man, in the person of the Glory-man, set up before all worlds, were in perfect amity and friendship. And there is another period to come when, from the reconciliation now made between God and man in the blood of the cross, this amity and friendship will continue uninterrupted and unbroken to all eternity. And there is another sweet thought connected with the gospel meaning of the word peace, namely, that all the overturns for a reconciliation began on the part of God, the injured party; and all the peace that follows becomes the sole result of his divine operation. JEHOVAH it is that first publisheth his royal intentions of being reconciled to his offending creature man. It is JEHOVAH that points out and provides the means, and accomplisheth the end, in the attainment of it. Nothing on the part of the sinner could be found even helpful towards it; yea, so totally incapable of putting forth the least aiding hand upon this business is the transgressor, that when proposed to him he must be made willing to accept it; and before proposed to him, he is unconscious of the want of it. Blessedly therefore is it said by the apostle, under the authority of the Holy Ghost, (2 Corinthians 5:19) that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." And blessedly doth he open his commission, when acting as the servant of his royal master, he adds,"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
Such then is the Scripture sense of that peace of God and peace with God, in the blood and righteousness of God's dear Son, "which passeth all understanding, keeping the heart and mind, in Jesus Christ." (Philippians 4:7) And so truly great and glorious was the first promulgation of it, when the news broke out in heaven, that the holy angels delighted to be the first preachers of it upon earth. The multitude of them that came flying, down to the Jewish shepherds at Bethlehem in the morning of Christ's nativity, hailed them with this joyful sound. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good-will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14) And the prophet in ages before, looking into gospel times, was so struck with the contemplation of the work in the exercise of the ministry of reconciliation, that he declared the very feet of them that preached it became beautiful to the view of broken-hearted sinners. "How beautiful (said Isaiah) upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion. Thy God reigneth!" (Isaiah 52:7)
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Hawker, Robert D.D. Entry for 'Peace'. Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance and Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/pmd/p/peace.html. London. 1828.
