Revisiting the Meaning of “Peace” – Advent of Christmas (One)

For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on His shoulders.
And He will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6

I began an Advent reading plan with my YouVersion Bible, and it presented a side of “peace” I’ve never paid attention to before.

“In the Bible, the word peace can refer to the absence of conflict, but it also points to the presence of something better in its place. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for peace is “shalom”.

In the New Testament, the Greek word is “eirene”.

The most basic meaning of shalom is “complete” or “whole”. The word can refer to a stone that has a perfect, whole shape with no cracks. It can also refer to a completed stone wall that has no gaps and no missing bricks.

Shalom refers to something complex with lots of pieces that is in a state of completeness.

Wholeness.” (Source: The Bible Project — YouTube Video: Shalom — Peace)

For most of my life, I’ve considered “peace” as the absence of chaos and confusion and the presence of calm and clarity. The most powerful experience I had with this “feeling” was when I was in the throes of a near-fatal heart attack nearly three years ago. I’d strayed far from God because I was angry with Him. Realizing that I could die, I wanted to be reconciled with Him, not separated — so I prayed for His forgiveness.

This overwhelming sense of peace filled me, and I no longer worried about death, for I was made right with God. And after reading (listening to this video), I realized that this feeling of peace was more than a sense of calm and clarity — it was because I was made “complete” and “whole” with Him.

Biblical peace is not passive but involves actively restoring what is broken and bringing things into a state of completeness. This restoration is made possible by Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace.

Colossians 2:10 — “So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority”. This verse emphasizes that in Christ, we are made full and complete.

Sin separates us from God, but Jesus made a way through His birth and sacrificial death on our behalf.

Hark! The herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled.”