Peace-A Joining
By Jonathan Mitchell
This will be a short article on the Greek noun, "eirene," which has conventionally been translated as "peace." This noun derives from the Greek verb "eiro," which means "to join." As being derived from a verb which means "to join," the noun carries the basic meaning of "a joining."
A seminal example of the meaning of this noun can be observed in Eph. 2:14. You see, He Himself is our Peace (or: continuously exists being our JOINING and harmony [of Israel with the Gentiles]) - the One making (forming; constructing; creating; producing) The Both [to be] one, and within His flesh (= physical being; or: = system-caused crucifixion) is instantly destroying (unbinding; unfastening; loosing; causing to collapse) the middle wall of the fenced enclosure (or: of the partition; which was the barrier): the enmity (cause of hate, alienation, discord and hostility; characteristics of an enemy),
15. rendering useless and inoperative (nullifying; rendering down in accord with inactivity and unemployment; abolishing) the Law (or: the custom; = the Torah) of the implanted goals (or: concerning impartations of the finished product within; from commandments; which was inward directives) consisting in decrees (or: prescribed ordinances and dogmas which are the results of opinions and perceptions of what seems right or good), to the end that He may frame (create; found and settle from a state of wildness and disorder) The Two into One qualitatively New and Different [p46 & others: common] Humanity centered within the midst of, and in union with, Himself, continuously making (progressively creating, constructing and forming) Peace by a Joining; [2 Cor. 5:17; note: these verses may fit John Milbank's phrase, "an ontology of peace"]
16. and then should fully transfer, from a certain state to another which is quite different, The Both - centered in, and within the midst of, One Body in God (or: make completely other, while moving away from what had existed, and fully reconcile The Both, in one Body, by, to, with and for God), through the cross (execution stake) - while, in the midst of Himself, killing the enmity and discordant hatred (or: killing-off the characteristics of enemies within it). [cf Rom. 6:6; 1 Cor. 10:17; Eph. 4:4; Col. 3:15]
The context of these verses begins in Eph. 2:10,
"for the fact is, we are (continually exist being) the effect of what He did (or: His creation; the thing He has constructed; the result of His work; His achievement; His opus; the effect of His Deed): people being founded from a state of disorder and wildness (being framed, built, settled and created; being changed from chaos to order), within, and in union with, Christ Jesus, based upon (or: founded and built on) Good Works (virtuous actions; excellent deeds) which God made ready in advance (prepared beforehand), to the end that we could, should and would walk about (= live our lives; order our behavior) centered within, in union with, and in the sphere of, Them." [cf Eph. 2:15, 4:24; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:14; Col. 3:10]
This describes Paul's audience who had been Gentiles, in the flesh, as stated in 2:11. But all had changed with "the effect of what [Christ] did," and thus we read in 2:13,
"But NOW, within, in union with, and centered in, Christ Jesus, you - the folks once being (continuously existing) far off (or: at a distance) - came to be (were birthed; are generated; are suddenly become) near, immersed within, and centered in union with, the blood of the Christ (or: from the Anointed One [= the Messiah])." [cf Gal. 3:28]
The blood of the Christ joined the two categories, Jew/Gentile, into being "One qualitatively New and Different (or: common) Humanity." This joining fully transferred the two previous categories (Jew; Gentile) into a different state of being, in God's economy, which is "centered in, and within the midst of, One Body in Christ (etc.)." This joining destroyed "the enmity" (vs. 14). The joining of enmity creates PEACE. This made the Gentiles "fellow-citizens of those set apart to be sacred people (or: folks residing together in a City composed of the holy ones): even God's family (members of God's household, and of God's House)" (2:19b). [cf Acts 17:29a]
This chapter ends with the metaphor of "building" a set-apart Temple (vss. 21-22):
"within, and in union with, Whom all the home-building (all the construction of the house; or: = every house that is constructed, or, the entire building), with the Blueprint being continuously fitted and progressively framed together (tightly dovetail-joined together; made a common joint by a word), is continuously and progressively being co-formed a constituent part of the structure (or: being built together into a house) - into God's down-home place (or: from God, a place of settling down to dwell; an abode from God; [the] permanent dwelling, pertaining to God; [cf Jn. 14:2, 23; 1 Cor. 3:9b-17]) within the sphere of [the] Spirit (or: in spirit; or: in the midst of a Breath-effect and an attitude; centered in Breath-effect)."
Think of it: all humanity becoming God's Temple,
"that (or: because) through Him we, The Both, continuously have (hold and possess) the procurement of access (conduct toward the presence; admission, entrée; being led), within one Spirit (or: in union with, and in the sphere of, one Breath-effect and Attitude), to (or: toward; face to face with) the Father (2:18)."
This passage clearly demonstrates God's view of His Peace... that it involves a "Joining." He joins us together, in Him. We read another witness of this, in Rom. 5:1-2,
"Therefore, being folks that were eschatologically delivered, rectified and rightwised (placed in the right relationship of covenantal solidarity in the Way pointed out and made fair, equitable, just, free from guilt and turned in the right direction) from the midst of [His] faithfulness, out of trust, and from conviction, we continuously hold and progressively have [other MSS: let us (or: we can and should) habitually retain and enjoy] Peace and a Joining, face to face with God (or: a harmonious joining with God; a joining peace [directing and conducting us] toward God), through our Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: Master, [the] Anointed Jesus), [cf Phil. 4:7; Col. 1:20; 3:15] through Whom, also, we have had and now hold the conducted approach, introduction and access (or: the act of bringing toward to gain entree), by [His] Faithfulness (or: in this trust; with that confidence; for loyalty and fidelity), into this Grace and joyous Favor within which we have stood, and in union with, and in the sphere of, which we now stand..."
As a human example of "eirene" signifying "oneness" among people, the KJV rendered Acts 7:26 (Stephen's message about Moses among his fellow Israelites),
"And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again (eirene)..." The idea of peace can mean an absence of conflict or war, but if we add in the root idea of being joined to one another, a deeper reality can affect our being and our life with others. Consider the announcement by the agent, in Lu. 2:14, "and upon earth - among humanity (or: within mankind; in union with people) - a Peace and a Joining having the qualities and characteristics of well-thinking and goodwill."
Then, in Jn. 16:33, Jesus says,
"I have spoken these things to you so that you may continuously have (hold; possess) Peace and a Joining centered in, within the midst of, and in union with, Me."
The concept of "peace" involving a "joining" gives added depth to what Paul said in Col. 3:15,
"Furthermore, let the Peace of, and the Joining from, the Christ (belonging to and originating in the [Messiah]; the harmony which is the Anointing [other MSS: God]) continuously umpire (act as a judge in the games; [thus, presuming a previous environment of conflict]) within your hearts (= in union with the core of your being)."
Jonathan
PS: John Gavazzoni comments:
"In both the cases, of the Jew and of the Gentile, the primary wall/partition of enmity was between both in their relationship to God, both being equally in bondage to the carnal mind which is enmity against God. In that respect, indeed, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have missed the mark whether with or without the law. That essential enmity, first of both toward God, produced a secondary enmity between one another. I think we could trace historically how each was infuriating toward the other: the Jew claiming, as it were, an inside track with God, being His chosen people, having been given law in its most perfect form, and enjoying a special covenant with Him. That was, whether consciously or unconsciously, infuriating to the Gentile mind, while from the Jews' end, infuriating that they, the Gentiles, refused to recognize how special they (the Jews) were to God."When their common enmity against God was abolished in Christ, it left no basis for enmity between one another, for "he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17). By both being joined to the Lord in Christ, they are, of course, joined to one another. While the Jew was close, having the law, the covenants, and the promises, close, as the saying goes, doesn't make it. Whether close or far away, their common mind-set of enmity against God left both existentially short of the mark. For the early Judaizers, even seemingly at least being convinced that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah, to accept their need to be as great as that of the Gentiles, equally as existentially separated from God (from their side/not from God's side) as those they considered morally repulsive, was too much for them to admit."
PPS: Lynda Mitchell comments:
"The Logos, coming 'from the MOUTH of God' ... 'this is My Son, hear Him'; everything that He spoke and imparted into His sent ones, never returns void. Our Father is making it clear.
"This further enlarges our capacity to understand, receive, and BE-come the PEACE that passes understanding. Jesus says these things in order that we may have PEACE. In fact, He gives us His PEACE and keeps us in perfect PEACE. We are led by PEACE. PEACE is a divine governance (let Peace rule; we are One Body), our feet are wrapped in PEACE (enemy is subdued under our feet), our hearts are guarded by PEACE (and from our hearts are the issues of LIFE). A harvest of righteousness is sown in PEACE by those who make peace. He calls the PEACE MAKERS the sons of God.
'Peace and harmony from the Joining (= shalom), and Joy (or: happiness; rejoicing) within the midst of a set-apart Breath-effect (or: centered in union with dedicated spirit and sacred attitude; or: in the sphere of Holy Spirit).'
Isaiah 55:12, 'For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in PEACE; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.'
YAY; righteousness, peace and joy... and creation singing!"
More passages to consider, for further investigation into this topic:
Acts 10:36, "The Logos (the Word; the laid-out Idea; the Thought; the Reason; the Message; the patterned Information) which He sent forth to, and then in, with, among and by the sons of Israel - repeatedly announcing the good news of ease and well-being (or: constantly proclaiming the Gospel): Peace and harmony from the Joining, through Jesus Christ ([the] Anointed One) - this One is Lord (Master) of all humans, and Owner of all things!"
Rom. 14:17, "God's Realm and Kingdom (or: the reign-and-dominion which is God; the expression, influence and activity of, and from, God's Empire and Sovereignty) is not (or: does not exist being) solid food and drink, but rather (or: to the contrary), [it is] Eschatological Deliverance flowing together in fair and equitable dealing which brings justice and right relationship, in the Way pointed out (or: being Turned in the right direction; Rightwisedness; also = covenant inclusion and participation), Peace and harmony from the Joining (= shalom), and Joy (or: happiness; rejoicing) within the midst of a set-apart Breath-effect (or: centered in union with dedicated spirit and sacred attitude; or: in the sphere of Holy Spirit)." [cf 1 Cor. 4:20]
1 Cor.7:15, "God has given you [other MSS: us] a permanent call within the midst of, in union with, and in the sphere of, Peace that is centered in harmony of the Joining."
Eph. 4:3, "repeatedly hurrying to make every effort to constantly keep (watch over to guard and protect; maintain) the Spirit's oneness (or: the unity from the Breath-effect, and of spirit; the oneness which is the Spirit; or: = agreement of [your] attitude) within the Bond (the link, tie and connection that joins two things; the binding conjunction which results in union; [cf Col. 3:14]) of the Peace (or: which is from THE JOINING of that which is bound together)." [cf Rom. 12:5]
Eph. 6:15, "the Good News (or: message of goodness, ease and well-being) of the Peace from the Joining (or: which is this Peace from that which has been Bound Together [K.S. Wuest])
Phil. 4:7, "Now then, God's Peace of the Joining (or: this [shalom] from God; or: the harmonious joining, which is God), which is continuously having a hold over (habitually having sway over; or: constantly being superior and excelling over) all mind and inner sense (or: every intellect; all power of comprehension; or: all process of thinking), will continue garrisoning (guarding; keeping watch over; protecting; maintaining) your hearts and the results from directing your minds (or: the effects of your perceptions, concepts, thoughts, reasonings and understandings; or: the dispositions, designs and purposes from you folks; [p16 adds: and bodies]) - in, resident in the midst of, centered within, in union with, and in the sphere of, Christ Jesus."
2 Tim. 2:22, "constantly run after and steadily pursue a flowing-together of turning in the right direction, from the eschatological deliverance (justice in fair and equitable dealings with rightwised relationships corresponding to the Way pointed out, in upright, covenant participation), faithfulness (trustworthiness; fidelity; allegiance), Love (unambiguous acceptance and an urge toward reunion) [and] Peace of the Joining..."
Heb. 7:2, "King of Peace and of Harmony, from the Joining."
Heb. 12:14, "You folks be continuously pursuing "Peace and Harmony of the Joining" with all people (or: a joining with all folks)."
Jas. 3:18, "Now the fruit of a flowing together of eschatological deliverance (or: fair and equitable dealings which bring rightness, justice and right relationship in accord with the Way pointed out; the condition of being rightwised, or turned in the right direction, with covenant participation) is continuously being sown in Peace and a harmonious Joining by, for and among those habitually performing (making; doing; producing; creating; building; forming) peace and harmonious joining."
[comment: this is the fruit of the Spirit, or, from the Tree of Life; cf Gal. 5:22-23; 6:7-10; Mat. 5:9]
2 Pet. 3:14, "Wherefore, beloved ones, while continually thinking toward, and assuming from a view face to face with, these things, be eager to be found [being] spotless folks and flawless ones in Him (or: by Him; with Him; to Him; for Him), in Peace and centered in union with harmony from the Joining (or: On account of which, accepted folks - while habitually appearing face to face with these [occurrences] - eagerly speed along to Him to be found unblemished and blameless folks, centered in Peace; or: Through which loved folks are constantly imagining these [situations]. Let folks [who are] by Him absent of spot and blemish be found within the midst of Peace and Joining)."
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