The Bible uses several names for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The New Testament adds the “Lord of Peace.”
Each name of God describes a different part of his being. No name is meant to be separate from another, as if Lord is segregated from Savior. God exists as an integrated whole.
What does it mean for us that God is the Lord of Peace?
Where Does the Bible Call God the Lord of Peace?
As Paul concludes his second letter to the church in Thessalonica, he offers them encouragement and a blessing. Here, the “Lord of Peace” name appears in 2 Thessalonians 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
The apostle Paul planted the church in Thessalonica during his missionary journey. He preached the gospel boldly and helped many reject idolatry to serve God. Despite the local opposition, he encouraged the believers and commended their faith, love, and perseverance. He compared his behavior among them to that of a loving parent. Through his letters, Paul addressed the challenges of persecution in light of the coming return of Jesus. As he did often, he urged the believers to live righteous lives, engage in noble work, and continue growing in love.
Paul addresses a church under pressure in both letters to the Thessalonians. They face persecution, and Paul writes to remind them how God’s peace is stronger than any situation or conflict. He wraps up 2 Thessalonians with final instructions, common in his letters. He addresses the practical concerns within their community, and encourages them to work for excellence and avoid laziness. Apparently, some members of the church had stopped working, perhaps because they believed Christ was returning soon and they didn’t need to labor for money. Paul corrects this, urging them to continue contributing to their households and the community. He didn’t want them to be a burden to others.
In one of the central themes of 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul discusses the importance of productive work. Every Christian should work for their food and not rely on others, unless some situation prevents it. Paul commands, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). This responsibility and discipline marks a healthy Christian community. Along with this, Paul tells the Thessalonians to distance themselves from any believers who don’t work, or who disrupt the local church (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
A second theme in chapter 3 provides wisdom regarding correction within the local church. Paul advises a gentle but firm approach when dealing with people who don’t follow Gospel doctrine. They shouldn’t treat these individuals like enemies but rather as brothers, a spiritual family appealing to them to change their ways (2 Thessalonians 3:15). Paul teaches a combined approach of accountability and compassion, taking sin seriously but showing love since all require forgiveness and the opportunity for repentance.
What Is the Biblical Meaning of Peace?
For the Bible, peace goes beyond the absence of conflict. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means a sense of complete well-being, wholeness, and harmony within and without. Shalom implies a state where everything is as God created it to be, aligning with God’s order and purpose. The Old Testament uses shalom to describe a covenant relationship with God, where people live submitted to God, and blessings flow from the Lord at the center. The Old Testament Law promises these blessings in every area of life.
As shalom expresses life as God intended, one definition of the Kingdom is, “Life as God created it to be.” God’s peace exists within the realm of his rule and reign. The Kingdom isn’t a matter of food and drink but “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). The Gospel of the Kingdom is also the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15).
The world often defines peace as personal comfort and security, possibly the end of aggression between parties. Outside of God, this type of peace proves fragile because it is dependent upon temporary circumstances. The primary conflict for humanity is our aggression against God through sin and rebellion. The Lord offers his peace from forgiveness and grace. Therefore, God’s peace is a deep and abiding confidence in his goodness and sovereignty, regardless of any worldly situation. Jesus makes this point with, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Christ’s peace comes from the eternal, pre-existing, all worldly being or events, and therefore will endure beyond them as well, including God’s victory over sin and death.
God’s peace sustains believers, even in the face of trials. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). The apostle Paul shares this promise about God’s supernatural peace which goes beyond human reason. When Christians bring their worries and concerns to God in prayer, he responds with peace that guards our hearts from anxiety and fear.
God’s peace promises a hopeful future. Jesus assured his disciples they would have troubles in this world, but he also promised, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus shared what was to come, including his final victory over all things, so they could face the chaos of the intermediate time with peace. Christians have peace today because God will one day set all things right and establish his Kingdom in a new heaven and earth.
How Is God the Lord of Peace?
God is peace itself, the source from which true peace flows. Isaiah 9:6 calls him the “Prince of Peace,” describing how he brings peace to those reconciled with him. God doesn’t just provide peace. Just as “God is love,” he embodies peace. As the Lord of Peace, he alone holds authority over it and shares it according to his will and desire. No one can take his peace from him. As all powerful God, only he can share peace because it’s rooted within him.
The Father gives his peace as a gift, but it isn’t random. God’s peace requires a relationship with him submitted to his lordship. To experience God’s peace, we must align our lives with his will and authority. We surrender our fears, worries, and desires to his will. God is Lord, and a life outside that acknowledgement becomes rebellion, living life on our own, which places us at odds with he who is peace. When we submit to God’s wisdom and timing, even beyond what we understand, his peace fills and guards our hearts.
Once submitting to God’s lordship, we live according to his principles. Living in sync with the Father supplies his peace. Isaiah 32:17 says, “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.” When we live righteously, we experience peace as a natural outflow of our relationship with him. The Lord calls us not to strive for peace on our own but to trust his ways and guidance. This includes releasing self-reliance and control.
The Holy Spirit dwells within us, which means Peace the Person lives in our hearts. From being born again, peace emanates from us. Galatians 5:22 lists peace as a fruit of the Spirit, further revealing how peace comes from the intimate relationship with the Lord of Peace.
What Does It Mean for Christians Today to Follow the Lord of Peace?
Looking at God as the Lord of Peace teaches us several lessons. First, we must realize we can’t create peace on our own. Any attempt to do so will be fruitless because it’s apart from God himself. To experience and sustain the peace we long for, we have to stay in close relationship with him through prayer, worship, and the discipline of being continually aware of the Holy Spirit. When we abide in the Spirit, hearing and obeying God, the Lord renews and keeps us within his peace no matter the outer circumstances. Romans 8:6 says, “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” When we depend on our own strength, we experience anxiety and restlessness. Walking in the Spirit gives us his peace.
Second, we can’t earn God’s peace. In a world emphasizing achievement and success, it can tempt us to think peace comes once we get things right or reach a certain level of maturity. However, God gives peace as a gift, not a reward. Jesus already sent his peace to us in grace. We receive it because of our submitted relationship with him. We find rest when we let go of striving and realize his peace is already ours through his sacrifice and presence.
Third, God’s peace isn’t meant to remain with us. Jesus freely shared his peace. As his followers, we do the same. God calls us to extend his peace to others, drawing them to the Lord of Peace. Jesus teaches his followers to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), spreading the message of reconciliation and showing others the peace that comes from a life surrendered to God. If we act from anxiety and fear, how can we bring peace to others who need it? Living in the Spirit of peace, we comfort those around us and reflect God’s character by being a people of kindness, patience, and love. Through our actions and words, we point people to Christ and invite them into the peace only he can provide.
Sharing God’s peace makes us ambassadors of his Kingdom, life as God created it to be. We can’t force anyone to accept this peace; it must happen willingly in submission to the Lord of Peace. However, we can model shalom in our lives, showing how God transforms and sustains us.
Peace.
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