Grace & Peace

 "Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."  These words are found in the salutation of every epistle that the Apostle Paul wrote with a few minor variations.¹ As with so many words in the Bible, Grace & Peace  had a long history before they were used under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to convey spiritual truth through the N.T. writers and we would do well to be aware of the various meanings, and indeed the changes in meaning that occurred over time.²

Familiar expressions often become meaningless to us. Our common greetings and courtesies in this day do not always carry the same significance that they originally did. "May God grant you a good day today" which is a petition for blessing has been whittled down to "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon" and most likely with no blessing intended. If you listen carefully you will actually hear no more than "Mor'nin !", a mere acknowledgment that we know what time of day it is. Words are also rendered useless when we allow them to be taken over by society in general or even by a contrary movement. Take for example the word "gay", a word that originally meant “impetuous or wild in a colorful and happy way”, but which today names a group that stands out for the exact opposite emotions such as depression, dissatisfaction and anger.  (The only biblical occurrence of  gay in the KJV is at James 2:3, referring to clothing.)  

So, what was Paul intending to convey to his readers whenever he said "Grace to you and Peace.... etc."?  May we agree that whatever it was, it is important for us to understand it in all its fullness?

Throughout the Bible, individuals who find themselves at the mercy of another, or who have a need that only the other can fulfill, often petition with words that in essence say "If I have found grace (favor) in your sight, ...grant so and so... ".  What the petitioner wants is a sure word that a state of grace exists between them.  That the superior's attitude does in fact favor the petitioner.  Many times it is a matter of life and death. See Gen. 19:19 where Lot, having his life just now spared from the destruction rained upon the Cities of the Plain asks for and receives permission to go to Zoar a “Little City”.  So it was with us, when we were yet in our sins, and had nothing to look forward to but the wrath of God.  But thank God, through Christ, He has provided a way to look upon “whosoever” with favor, even while they are yet enemies, if they will but identify with His son, and be found in Jesus.  (See page 3 of the Nov. 1995 issue, "Have you ever made peace with God?") Grace then, is the attitude of favor towards one who has no way to obtain it except by the good pleasure of the one granting it. 

Perhaps less clear is what our other word, "peace", means in the language of the N.T.   I think the key is in the definition. Peace is the relationship of tranquility that one may have with a superior after all claim to right is abandoned. Is it possible that too many people settle for a truce with God instead of peace?  I think so. 

When Rome was in her most glorious days of conquest, she was not always concerned to fight for turf.  The policy was resist and we will crush you!  Submit and we will embrace you!  Resist and we will beat the fight out of you first, then we will treat you with scorn.  Submit and we will allow you to become a dual commonwealth, free in most areas, subject only in those obligatory areas recognized throughout the realm. This liberal and generous policy became known in history as the PAX ROMANA, "The Peace of Rome". Of course it was only instituted because it served the Emperors so well, but it did the job.  

The sum of the matter is that true peace can come only when resistance is eliminated.  For one person or nation this may mean subjection by force while to another it will mean an offer of oneself in submission.  Anything else is nothing more than a temporary truce, a cessation of hostilities, liable to erupt in open warfare at any moment.  This is the idea in such passages as James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble, and James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  and again 1 Pet 5:5b-5:6 Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. I said you may either submit or be subjected.  This is true.  But the former is far more pleasant than the latter, even though the end result with God may be the same. The former involves sitting at Jesus feet, learning to conform to His image.  The latter brings us into the realm of chastisement applied by the Father in love.  Pay your money, take your choice.

Paul expresses these same truths in his letter to the Romans when he says in 4:25-5:2; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Notice that I ignored the chapter division to connect the ubiquitous “therefore” with what its "there for".  It is because our Lord was crucified and resurrected on our behalf that we can experience the peace and grace.  An interesting textual matter in Rom. 5:1³ questions whether we should view the peace of this verse as a present possession, guaranteed to all who are justified, or as something to be pursued or at least entered into more fully through careful diligence to the things of God.  Although few scholars would opt for the potential idea, I wonder sometimes how many Christians have real peace with God all the time.  As Paul uses it in the salutations it certainly comes across more as a prayer to be fulfilled in his readers than as a confession of their present possession.  Either way, we must not take anything for granted but the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  2 Pet 1:10.

Let me end then with a paraphrase of Rom. 1:7 “To all that be reading this article, beloved of God, called to be saints:  May you find yourselves in that place of unmerited favor, that place where you do not deserve to be, that place where you see only the love of God, and never His wrath.  And may you enter into that realm of tranquility in the presence of God where there is true rest for your soul, since all resistance to God has ended and you are quite literally...at His mercy. All from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen...May it be so!  

_______________________________________________________________________ 

¹ In his two letters to Timothy and the one to Titus, Paul adds "Mercy".  In Second Timothy he transposes the Name of our Lord.  (Grace and peace occur many other places in the Bible, together and individually, and  include a variety of meanings. " Grace" in all forms occurs some 205 times, "Peace" over 450 times.)

² It is one of the joys of life to search out the history of words found in Scripture.  I will resist the urge to give you the etymology  i.e. the original and true meaning as far as it can be known, and the usus loquendi, i.e. the history of how the word was used in different ages.  We will be content to concentrate on usage in the milieu of the N.T. authors. But I would encourage further study.

³ The question is whether the Greek verb "to have", is in the indicative mood, making a declaration of  fact, as in the KJV and most other versions, or in the subjunctive mood, allowing for a "potential" peace, something to enter into as in the RV.  The difference is no more than a long or short vowel in the Greek.  (See The New Bible  Commentary  in loc.)