Peace: The Biblical Definition & Qualities

The way to bring peace to a troubled heart is to focus on God’s promises. Trust Him to do what He says. 

In a world full of lies, fears, and uncertainties, God offers peace way beyond our understanding. It may be the most difficult to apprehend or sustain, but it is always readily available for everyone. Find out today how worldly peace is different from biblical peace, its attributes, blessings, and how we can pursue peace amid everything. 

What is Peace? 

In a secular context, peace is a sense of well-being. It is also sometimes referred to as rest or a feeling of harmony. For others, it means the absence of conflict or war. Peace can be defined as “a state of tranquility or quiet” by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. According to the Oxford Dictionary, peace is defined as “the state of being calm or quiet.” Just like when a place is described as peaceful or says that you have peace of mind

However, peace in the Bible has a deeper meaning. It is more than just the state of rest or the absence of conflict. It is an individual’s spiritual restoration, for it points to the presence of God in one’s life. Peace is one of the marks of a true believer in Christ. The peace of God is a state of appreciation, awe, wonder, and faith when we surrender our lives according to His will. It is a mixture of courage and humility to experience His peace that surpasses all our abilities and understanding. When we can attain this kind of peace, there is a sense of completeness or wholeness in our lives, whatever our situation is. 

What is the Biblical Definition of Peace?

Peace in Hebrew

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. Shalom is still used as a traditional greeting by many Jews today to convey their desire for prosperity, happiness, success, harmony between friends and family, unity between nations, and many other blessings. Also, “shalom” means “completeness or wholeness,” which can also be translated to “soundness” or “perfectness.” So, shalom means without any deficiency or lack. 

Peace in Greek 

Eirene is the Greek word for Peace. It has a similar meaning to the Hebrew word but adds a different definition of the Messiah’s peace or the path to peace or salvation. Also, it means quietness, rest, or unity. It means to bring various parts together to form a whole or to set it as one again.

What is Written in Colossians 3:15?

Colossians 3:15 says that we should let Christ’s peace be our hearts’ controlling factor; for this peace, we have been called members of one body. 

What is its context?

Paul pointed out a strategy on how to live for God daily in v.12-17. One of these is to let Christ’s peace rule in our hearts. We are called to live in peace. It is not easy, but it is one of the ways we can demonstrate our love for God and others. 

Who wrote the book?

Paul the Apostle wrote Colossians approximately A.D. 60 – during his imprisonment in Rome.

To whom was it written? 

Colossians was written to the church in a city in Asia Minor – Colossae. It was to combat false teachings. 

What is the setting?

Paul never visited this city, but Epaphras did and other converts. The church was founded by these people from Paul’s missionary travels.

Bible Verses about Peace 

John 16:33

Jesus said that in Him, we may have peace even if we’ll go through adversities in this world. But He said to have courage, for He has already overcome the world. 

Isaiah 26:3

Isaiah says that God keeps in perfect peace those who put their full mind and trust in God.

Philippians 4:6

We are challenged to put our anxieties away; instead, let our requests be made known to God by praying and asking with a grateful heart. 

Romans 8:6

Death is when minds are set on the flesh, but a mindset in the Spirit is life and peace.

Psalm 119:165

Those who love and obey God’s law will attain great peace, and nothing can make them fall and stumble. 

1 Corinthians 14:33

God is the ultimate source of peace, for He is peace. He is not a God of confusion. 

Psalm 34:14

This verse commands everyone to flee from evil and do righteous things, such as seeking and pursuing peace.

Proverbs 12:20

One who devises evil will always have deceit in their heart. However, if one plans to be and have peace, they will have joy. 

2 Corinthians 13:11

Everyone is commanded to always choose reconciliation, comfort and agree with one another, and live in peace; so that the God of peace and love will always be with us. 

Isaiah 32:17

Peace will always be the fruit of righteousness, and this results in trust and quietness. 

Biblical Attributes of Peace

Peace brings joy

We always look for happiness around us. We try to find it in people, things, positions, or even places. But this is not the kind of joy that transcends within us. To have peace means to have eternal happiness. It is experiencing joy amid a crisis; it is not something temporary. Peace is like always having something to look forward to while being fully content with where you are at the moment.  

Peace comes from God

Philippians 4:6 states that our hearts and minds in Christ will be guarded by the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Also, Jesus Christ wasn’t labeled as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) for nothing. When we learn to trust Him with all our hearts, we begin to see things from His perspective. We come to understand that He is in control over everything. 

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit

Peace is not something we’re already born with nor something we create on our own. So when Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit, it means that when we have the Holy Spirit in and among us, we can rest in the fact that God is always in and with us. But to bear this kind of fruit, we must first learn the art of surrender. 

Peace is given to us in uncertainties

One of the lessons of difficulties in life is humility. In trials and obstacles, we learn to humble ourselves and choose to see things from God’s perspective. It is in these moments that we experience the peace that comes from God. We sit in comfort in His character and promises alone. 

Peace must be sought

When we experience adversities, we get overwhelmed by our situation. We forget that the ultimate source of peace is within our reach. We only need to choose to seek and pursue it constantly. When we learn the importance of this, we’ll be able to live a life far from any doubts and fears. 

Peace must be made

God called us His children, so we are challenged to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). It is our responsibility to be at peace with others even if we don’t feel like being on good terms with people who have hurt us in some ways. Also, one mark of a true believer is having a forgiving heart. 

What are the Blessings of Peace?

Peace with God

When the Son of God died on the cross, we were given the privilege to become children of God. Now, peace with God is made possible because we have been justified by the faith we have in Christ (Romans 5:1-2). In the same way, we can now have a personal relationship with Him as we are free from the bondage of sin. Hence, peace with God is the spiritual reconciliation between God and the sons of Man – which now makes them sons of God. 

Peace with ourselves

When we fully understand who Jesus is and what He has done, we’ll understand that our old self is gone because we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). By this, we realize that we cannot continue living with our strength here on Earth – we need Christ’s peace that keeps us together in every uncertainty (John 16:33). To be fully secured in His love means that we experience a genuine inner peace that the world cannot offer. This peace removes all our doubts, fears, worries, and anxieties. It is also having confidence in who God designed you to be. 

Peace with others 

As children of God, we are responsible for being at peace with others – to live at peace with fellow imperfect people. We are called to live with them in unity and one accord through the bonds of peace (Ephesians 4:3). One way of being at peace with others is through loving them unconditionally and sacrificially, which Jesus Christ demonstrated when He lived His life here on Earth. Peace with others comes from serving and choosing to be a peacemaker for others. 

How Can We Pursue Peace? 

Acknowledge who God is

Often, we get so anxious about everything because we forget to see and respect who God is. We want to take charge of things that are way out of our control. We don’t let God do His work. To pursue peace, we must learn the art of surrender. We have to find ourselves indulging and in awe of His character constantly.  

Express gratitude

Be grateful to realize that everything we are and have is from God. Remember that He is the source of every good thing we possess. Pursuing peace is learning to express gratitude to Him in whatever circumstance we’re in. Because when we have an ungrateful heart, we will always find something to complain about. Therefore, we won’t be able to learn to be satisfied. 

Humble yourself

It says in James 4:6 that God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. To have a proper view of who God is, you must first have a proper view of humility. Humility is not something we’re all born with. It’s something we choose to have every day and something we always strive to have. Humble people are teachable; they rest in God’s sovereignty and have a servant’s heart. Check your heart today.

Obey His Word

It is never easy to obey a command, especially if it’s something you’re not used to doing or something you disagree on. But to be able to have peace, one must be willing to honor every single thing that God says. We should not be in any way selective with what we only want to obey in the Bible, for we can never find the peace that comes from God if we constantly find our satisfaction in the world. God cannot just grant us peace amid our disobedience.

Speak the truth in love

Sometimes we fail to acknowledge the truth because we don’t like to be corrected – we refuse to change our ways or adjust what we’re used to. One true believer of Christ knows where real love comes from, and it is their responsibility to share the truth with others. The reality is, that people are always looking for eternal things in the wrong places. That is why we are never content and fully satisfied. Speaking the truth in love may not be easy, but it starts by first establishing a good relationship with others. First, it’s essential to understand where they’re coming from before discerning God’s appointed time to speak. 

Be an instrument of grace

While Jesus was being crucified and people were mocking Him, He asked God to forgive these people because they did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:24). He asked for forgiveness not because they deserved it but because they needed it. God’s grace is never deserved yet transforms lives from the inside out. This is the kind of grace we’re supposed to live out for others. Difficult people may have hurt us somehow, but just like us, they also need grace. 

Be confident in His promises

One of the greatest traps of the enemy in our minds is doubt. May you rest in the fact that He is who He says He is. Never doubt that. Not one of His promises failed since the beginning of time. So when He promises blessings upon blessings, believe that you will receive it in His perfect time. Peace comes from being confident in God’s character and learning to entrust Him with your life. 

In Summary

God is the ultimate source of peace. Without Him, our lives will be full of worries and uncertainties. It is never easy to pursue peace, but it will always be worth it. Not only will we be able to find it, but He will empower us to be bearers of peace while being closer to Him. So rest, sit in comfort in the fact that the same God who holds the sun, moon, and stars holds your life together too. 

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Alex Shute
EDITOR
Alex Shute, MBA
Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow.


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