Peace is the wholeness, rest, and right relationship that God gives through Jesus Christ.
It includes peace with God, the peace of God that guards the heart, and the call to live at peace with others.
Scripture presents peace as both a gift of the gospel and a fruit of the Spirit.
True peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the presence of God’s reconciling and calming work in Christ.
The biblical concept of peace (shalom in Hebrew, eirene in Greek) is rich and full. It means far more than the end of fighting. It is completeness, well-being, harmony, and flourishing under God’s favor. Sin destroyed peace — with God, within the human heart, and among people. The prophets promised a coming Prince of Peace who would restore it. Jesus came and preached peace, made peace through the blood of His cross, and left His peace with His disciples. Justification by faith brings peace with God. The Spirit produces peace as part of His fruit. Believers are called to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts, to pursue peace with others, and to become peacemakers in a broken world. The final state of God’s people will be perfect and unbroken peace in His presence.
- Peace with God is the foundation: we are justified by faith and therefore have peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The peace of God is the inward rest and guard that surpasses understanding and keeps the heart and mind in Christ.
- Jesus Himself is our peace; He has broken down the dividing wall and made one new people.
- Peace is a fruit of the Spirit and a mark of the kingdom of God.
- Believers are called to pursue peace, live at peace as far as it depends on them, and be peacemakers.
- False peace — the cry of “Peace, peace” when there is no peace — is repeatedly condemned by the prophets.
- Perfect and permanent peace belongs to the age to come, yet real peace is already tasted by those who trust Christ.
- Peace with God – The objective end of enmity through the reconciling work of Christ; the result of justification.
- Peace of God – The subjective experience of rest, calm, and confidence that guards the heart and mind.
- Peace with Others – The pursuit of harmony, reconciliation, and unity within the body and, as far as possible, with all people.
- Christ as Our Peace – Jesus Himself is the source and substance of true peace; He made peace by the blood of His cross.
- Fruit of the Spirit – Peace is produced by the Spirit in those who walk by the Spirit.
- Peacemaking – The active work of bringing the peace of the gospel into relationships and situations of conflict.
- Future Peace – The final state in which God wipes away every tear and nothing that disturbs peace remains.
- Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
- Ephesians 2:14-17 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility… And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”
- Colossians 1:19-20 – “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things… making peace by the blood of his cross.”
- Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
- Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…”
- Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born… and his name shall be called… Prince of Peace.”
- Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
- Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
- Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
- Romans 12:18 – “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
- Romans 14:17, 19 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit… So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
- Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16 – “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
- Numbers 6:24-26 – The priestly blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you… the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Peace is one of the great gifts of the gospel. Apart from Christ the human heart is restless and at enmity with God. Through His cross the enmity is removed, and those who trust Him have peace with God. That objective peace becomes an inward reality as the peace of God guards the heart and mind. The same peace is to rule among believers and, as far as possible, to shape their relationships with all people. Jesus is Himself our peace. He left His peace with His disciples — not the fragile, circumstance-dependent peace the world offers, but a peace that holds even in trouble. Let His peace rule in your heart. Pursue peace with others. Rest in the finished work of the Prince of Peace. The day is coming when peace will fill the whole earth, and nothing will disturb it again.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.