Lexical Summary eiréné: Peace Original Word: εἰρήνη Strong's Exhaustive Concordance one, peace, quietness, rest. Probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity -- one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again. HELPS Word-studies 1515 eirḗnē (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation, perhaps from eiró (to join): lit. or fig. peace, by impl. welfare NASB Translation peace (91), undisturbed* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1515: εἰρήνηεἰρήνη, εἰρήνης, ἡ (apparently from εἴρω, to join; (others from εἴρω equivalent to λέγω; Etym. Magn. 803, 41; Vanicek, p. 892; Lob. Path. Proleg., p. 194; Benfey, Wurzellex. ii., p. 7)), the Sept. chiefly for שָׁלום; (from Homer down); peace, i. e. 1. a state of national tranquility; exemption from the rage and havoc of war: Revelation 6:4; πολλή εἰρήνη, Acts 24:2 (3); τά (WH text omits τά) πρός εἰρήνην, things that look toward peace, as an armistice, conditions for the restoration of peace Luke 14:32; αἰτεῖσθαι εἰρήνην, Acts 12:20; ἔχειν εἰρήνην, of the church free from persecutions, Acts 9:31. 2. peace between individuals, i. e. harmony, concord: Matthew 10:34; Luke 12:51; Acts 7:26; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:17; Ephesians 4:3; equivalent to the anthor of peace, Ephesians 2:14 (cf. Buttmann, 125 (109)); ἐν εἰρήνη, where harmony prevails, in a peaceful mind, James 3:18; ὁδός εἰρήνης, way leading to peace, a course of life promoting harmony, Romans 3:17 (from Isaiah 59:8); μετ' εἰρήνης, in a mild and friendly spirit, Hebrews 11:31; ποιεῖν εἰρήνην, to promote concord, James 3:18; to effect it, Ephesians 2:15; ζητεῖν, 1 Peter 3:11; διώκειν, 2 Timothy 2:22; with μετά πάντων added, Hebrews 12:14; τά τῆς εἰρήνης διώκειν, Romans 14:19 (cf. Buttmann, 95 (83); Winers Grammar, 109 (103f)). Specifically, good order, opposed to ἀκαταστασία, 1 Corinthians 14:33. 3. after the Hebrew שָׁלום, security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous): Luke 19:42; Hebrews 7:2; εἰρήνη καί ἀσφάλεια, opposed to ὄλεθρος, 1 Thessalonians 5:3; ἐν εἰρήνη ἐστι τά ὑπάρχοντα, αὐτοῦ, his goods are secure from hostile attack, Luke 11:21; ὕπαγε εἰς εἰρήνην, Mark 5:34, and πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48, a formula of wishing well, blessing, addressed by the Hebrews to departing friends (לְשָׁלום לֵך 1 Samuel 1:17; 1 Samuel 20:42, etc.; properly, depart into a place or state of peace; (cf. Buttmann, 184 (160))); πορεύεσθαι ἐν εἰρήνη, Acts 16:36, and ὑπάγετε ἐν εἰρήνη, James 2:16, go in peace, i. e. may happiness attend you; ἀπολύειν τινα μετ' εἰρήνης, to dismiss one with good wishes, Acts 15:33; ἐν εἰρήνη, with my wish fulfilled, and therefore happy, Luke 2:29 (see ἀπολύω, 2 a.); προπέμπειν τινα ἐν εἰρήνη free from danger, safe, 1 Corinthians 16:11 (others take it of inward peace or of harmony; cf. Meyer at the passage). The Hebrews in invoking blessings on a man called out לְך שָׁלום (Judges 6:23; Daniel 10:19); from this is to be derived the explanation of those expressions which refer apparently to the Messianic blessings (see 4 below): εἰρήνη τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ, let peace, blessedness, come to this household, Luke 10:5; υἱός εἰρήνης, worthy of peace (cf. Winers Grammar, § 34, 3 N. 2; Buttmann, 161f (141)), Luke 10:6; ἐλθέτω ἡ εἰρήνη ἐπ' αὐτόν, let the peace which ye wish it come upon it, i. e. be its lot, Matthew 10:13; to the same purport ἐπαναπαήσεται ἡ εἰρήνη ὑμῶν ἐπ' αὐτόν, Luke 10:6; ἡ εἰρήνη ὑμῶν πρός ὑμᾶς ἐπιστραφήτω, let your peace return to you, because it could not rest upon it, i. e. let it be just as if ye had not uttered the wish, Matthew 10:13. 4. Specifically, the Messiah's peace: Luke 2:14; ὁδός εἰρήνης, the way that leads to peace (salvation), Luke 1:79; εἰρήνης ἐν οὐρανῷ, peace, salvation, is prepared for us in heaven, Luke 19:38; εὐαγγελίζεσθαι εἰρήνην, Acts 10:36. 5. according to a conception distinctly peculiar to Christianity, "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoerer sort that is": Romans 8:6; ἐν εἰρήνη namely, ὄντες; is used of those who, assured of salvation, tranquilly await the return of Christ and the transformation of all things which will accompany that event, 2 Peter 3:14; (πληροῦν πάσης ... εἰρήνης ἐν τῷ πιστεύειν, Romans 15:13 (where L marginal reading ἐν πιστεύειν εἰρήνη)); ἔχειν ἐν Χριστῷ εἰρήνην (opposed to ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ θλῖψιν ἔχειν), John 16:33; ἔχειν εἰρήνην πρός τόν Θεόν, with God, Romans 5:1, (εἰρήνη πρός τινα, Plato, rep. 5, p. 465 b.; cf. Diodorus 21, 12; cf. Meyer on Romans, the passage cited; Winer's Grammar, 186 (175); 406 (379))); εὐαγγελίζεσθαι εἰρήνην, Romans 10:15 (R G Tr marginal reading in brackets); τό εὐαγγέλιον τῆς εἰρήνης, Ephesians 6:15; in the expression εἰρήνην ἀφίημι κτλ., John 14:27, in which Christ, with allusion to the usual Jewish formula at leave-taking (see 3 above), says that he not merely wishes, but gives peace; ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ Χριστοῦ, which comes, from Christ, Colossians 3:15 (Rec. θεοῦ; τοῦ Θεοῦ, Philippians 4:7 (cf. Winers Grammar, 186 (175)). Comprehensively, of every kind of peace (blessing), yet with a predominance apparently of the notion of peace with God, εἰρήνη is used — in the salutations of Christ after his resurrection, εἰρήνη ὑμῖν (לָכֶם שָׁלום, Luke 24:36 (T omits; WH reject the clause); John 20:19, 21, 26; in the phrases ὁ κύριος τῆς εἰρήνης, the Lord who is the author and promoter of peace, 2 Thessalonians 3:16; ὁ Θεός τῆς εἰρήνης Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20; in the salutations at the beginning and the close of the apostolic Epistles: Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Galatians 6:16; Ephesians 1:2; Ephesians 6:23; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; (Philemon 1:3); 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Peter 5:14; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 John 1:3; 3 John 1:15 (14); (Jude 1:2); Revelation 1:4. Cf. Kling in Herzog iv., p. 596f under the words Friede mit Gott; Weiss, Biblical Theol. d. N. T. § 83 b.; (Otto in the Jahrbb. fur deutsch. Theol. for 1867, p. 678ff; cf. Winer's Grammar, 549 (511)). 6. of the blessed state of devout and upright men after death (Wis. 3:3): Romans 2:10. εἰρήνη describes wholeness, harmony, and well-being granted by God and experienced among His people. In the New Testament it is never a mere absence of conflict; it is the positive, covenantal state that flows from God’s redemptive work in Christ and is applied by the Holy Spirit to individuals and communities. Old Testament and Jewish Background The Septuagint regularly uses εἰρήνη to translate Hebrew shalom, a word that embraces completeness, prosperity, and relational harmony with God, neighbor, and creation. Priestly benedictions such as Numbers 6:26 anticipated a day when the LORD would “give you peace.” First-century Jews greeted one another with “peace,” and Jesus’ disciples continued the practice (Luke 10:5–6). Christ the Source and Substance of Peace At the incarnation the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14). Jesus personifies and secures what they announced: “For He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). Through His cross He reconciled Jew and Gentile “to God in one body… thus making peace” (Ephesians 2:15–16). The risen Lord’s repeated greeting, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21, 26), is the declaration that His atoning work has achieved the promised shalom. Peace with God: The Fruit of Justification Salvation establishes objective reconciliation with God. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This peace frees the conscience from condemnation (Romans 8:1, 6) and removes the enmity described in Romans 3:17. Peace within the Heart: The Gift of Christ Jesus bequeaths an inward calm immune to external turmoil: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:27). The Spirit applies this reality so that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Individual believers are therefore called to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (2 Timothy 2:22). Peace as Corporate Unity Church life is to be marked by peace. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body” (Colossians 3:15). Leaders are to ensure assemblies are conducted “in a fitting and orderly way, for God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Congregations strengthened “in the fear of the Lord… enjoyed peace” and multiplied (Acts 9:31). Peace in Apostolic Greetings and Benedictions Every Pauline letter opens with the twin blessing “grace and peace” (for example, Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:2) and most conclude with a similar wish (Romans 15:33). Peter, John, and Jude follow the same pattern (1 Peter 1:2; 2 John 1:3; Jude 1:2). These formulas are more than courteous salutations; they declare and confer the gospel benefits of God’s favor and covenant well-being upon the recipients. Peace as Ethical Imperative Peace is both gift and task. Believers are to “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19). The Sermon on the Mount’s promise, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (implicit through Matthew 5 and echoed in James 3:18), is realized by disciples who, because they already possess peace with God, actively resolve conflict and extend forgiveness. Hebrews 12:14 commands, “Pursue peace with everyone.” This pursuit demonstrates the gospel before a watching world. Peace and the Mission of the Church When the seventy-two were sent, they were to proclaim, “Peace to this house” (Luke 10:5). The gospel message itself is “the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). Footwear fitted with “the readiness of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15) underscores that evangelism delivers reconciliation, not merely information. Peace and the Final Consummation Present peace anticipates an eschatological fulfillment. The Lamb opens a seal that removes earthly peace (Revelation 6:4), yet the book closes with the assurance of eternal harmony in the new creation. Until then, believers “may be found by Him in peace, without spot or blemish” (2 Peter 3:14), awaiting the day when universal shalom is permanently established. Historical and Pastoral Significance 1. First-century believers lived under the Roman “Pax Romana,” yet Scripture revealed a deeper peace independent of political stability. Ministry Applications Today • Preaching: Present peace with God as the immediate blessing of faith in Christ and the solution to human alienation. Summary εἰρήνη in the New Testament is the comprehensive well-being secured by Christ’s atonement, applied by the Holy Spirit, experienced individually and corporately, proclaimed in mission, and consummated in the coming kingdom. It is both the inheritance of the believer and the calling of the church. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 10:13 N-NFSGRK: ἐλθάτω ἡ εἰρήνη ὑμῶν ἐπ' NAS: give it your [blessing of] peace. But if KJV: worthy, let your peace come upon INT: let come the peace of you upon Matthew 10:13 N-NFS Matthew 10:34 N-AFS Matthew 10:34 N-AFS Mark 5:34 N-AFS Luke 1:79 N-GFS Luke 2:14 N-NFS Luke 2:29 N-DFS Luke 7:50 N-AFS Luke 8:48 N-AFS Luke 10:5 N-NFS Luke 10:6 N-GFS Luke 10:6 N-NFS Luke 11:21 N-DFS Luke 12:51 N-AFS Luke 14:32 N-AFS Luke 19:38 N-NFS Luke 19:42 N-AFS Luke 24:36 N-NFS John 14:27 N-AFS John 14:27 N-AFS John 16:33 N-AFS John 20:19 N-NFS John 20:21 N-NFS John 20:26 N-NFS Strong's Greek 1515 |
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