Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Peace

Today’s fruit is Peace.


Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. (NIV)
The topical word study:

PEACE

A word with several different meanings in the Old and New Testaments.

The Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and well-being of the total person. This peace was considered God-given, obtained by following the Law (Ps 119:165). Peace sometimes had a physical meaning, suggesting security (Ps 4:8), contentment (Isa 26:3), prosperity (Ps 122:6-7) and the absence of war (1 Sam 7:14). The traditional Jewish greeting, shalom, was a wish for peace.

In the New Testament, peace often refers to the inner tranquility and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God through Christ. This understanding was originally expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming MESSIAH (Isa 9:6-7). The peace that Jesus Christ spoke of was a combination of hope, trust, and quiet in the mind and soul, brought about by a reconciliation with God. Such peace was proclaimed by the host of angels at Christ's birth (Luke 2:14), and by Christ Himself in His SERMON ON THE MOUNT (Matt 5:9) and during His ministry. He also taught about this kind of peace at the Lord's Supper, shortly before His death (John 14:27).

The apostle Paul later wrote that such peace and spiritual blessedness was a direct result of faith in Christ (Rom 5:1). (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

PEACE

PEACE (Heb. shalom, "peace, health"; Grk. eirene, "unity, concord"). A term used in different senses in the Scriptures. (1) Frequently with reference to outward conditions of tranquility and thus of individuals, of communities, of churches, and of nations (e.g., Num 6:26; 1 Sam 7:14; 1 Kings 4:24; Acts 9:31). (2) Christian unity (e.g., Eph 4:3; 1 Thess 5:13). (3) In its deepest application, spiritual peace through restored relations of harmony with God (e.g., Isa 9:6-7; 26:3; Luke 2:14; John 14:27; Acts 10:36; Rom 1:7; 5:1; Gal 5:22; etc.). (The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1988.)

Father, thank you so much for Your peace. Thank you for giving us the ability through Your Holy Spirit to have a peace that surpasses all understanding in our lives as Your children. I pray for those who don’t yet know Your peace in their life. Bring them to You. Use me to show Your peace and thus attract others to You.


Previous Posts:
Self-Control
Gentleness
Faithfulness
Goodness
Kindness
Patience

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the REAL word of God say's it much better.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Cajun Tiger said...

kjv...I read all versions and compare each, including KJV. I disagree that the KJV is the only one that should be read. I also use Strong's and other research tools to best understand the true meaning behind passages. As you will see in my posts, whenever there is another interpretation of a word, I give it as well.