Why is God referred to as the "God of peace" in Romans 15:33? Old Testament Foundations of “God of Peace” 1. Yahweh Shalom – Gideon erects an altar and names it “The LORD is Peace” (Judges 6:24). 2. Priestly Benediction – “The LORD…give you peace” (Numbers 6:26). 3. Messianic Hope – “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and “of His peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). These passages reveal that peace emanates from God’s character and climaxes in the Messiah’s reign. Pauline Usage of the Title Paul refers to God as “God of peace” six times (Romans 15:33; 16:20; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23), each situated at turning points that call for unity, order, or consolation. Romans 16:20 joins the title with eschatological victory: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Immediate Literary Context of Romans 15 Romans 14–15 addresses friction between Jewish and Gentile believers over food laws and holy days. Paul’s climactic benediction invokes the God whose very nature is peace to seal the appeal for mutual acceptance (Romans 15:7) and joyful, unified worship (15:6). The title therefore underlines God’s role as guarantor of harmony within a diverse body. Christological Center: Christ Our Peace Ephesians 2:14: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and torn down the dividing wall of hostility.” Jesus embodies and dispenses divine peace by abolishing hostility between God and humanity and between Jew and Gentile. Pneumatological Outworking: Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22 lists peace as Spirit-produced character. God imparts His own attribute to believers, enabling them to live out the unity for which Paul prays in Romans 15:33. Eschatological Certainty Isaiah’s prophecy of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6–9) finds its guarantee in the resurrected Christ and will culminate when “new heavens and a new earth” arrive (2 Peter 3:13). Romans 16:20 links the title to eschaton: the God characterized by peace will eradicate the ultimate source of chaos, Satan. Conclusion Paul calls Yahweh the “God of peace” in Romans 15:33 because peace flows from God’s essence, is secured objectively by the crucified-and-risen Christ, is mediated subjectively by the Spirit, unifies a multi-ethnic church, anticipates eschatological restoration, and thus anchors the apostle’s benediction to believers in Rome—and to all who trust in Christ today. |
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