The Prince of Peace - definition/info
The Prince of Peace -
The problem of peace has emerged as one of the most urgent and pressing issues today. Living in an age when the terrifying vision of the prophet Jeremiah
(Jer 4:23-26) could be turned into a reality at any moment with the use of nuclear weapons, it is only natural that the maintenance of peace is a life-and death issue for all humankind.
Today when all the people in the world are in a frantic search for peace, the Christian church proclaims that Jesus Christ is "the Prince of Peace", fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah of Jerusalem. The great eighth century prophet, who lived and worked in the time of turmoil that twice threatened the survival of Jerusalem, envisioned the coming of the Messianic king, who would rule the people of God with justice and righteousness:
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given...
and his name will be called,
'Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace [sa shalom]'" (Is. 9:6)
The Christian church confesses in faith that the prophecy was realized with the coming of Jesus Christ, the Lord. What does it mean, then, that Jesus Christ is the "prince of Peace" biblically and for us today? To answer this question we shall first turn our attention to the meaning of peace in the biblical sense. The most common word in the Bible translated into "peace" is a Hebrew word "shalom". The logical starting point of our study should be an examination of the word, shalom.
First, the verbal form, shalem, means "to make whole" and derivatively "to bring to completion", "to complete", "to restore" and "to compensate". The following passage will suffice:
"Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord [Jerusalem Temple] was finished (shalem)" (I King 7:51).
Second, the adjective form of the word, shalem, means "whole" or "full".
"A full (shalem) and just weight you shall have, a full (shalem) and just measure you shall have" (Deut 25:15).
Third, the noun form of the word, shalom, means, basically, "wholeness", "fullness", "totality", "completeness". Shalom means wholeness in the sense that no component part is missing, impaired or damaged. It means also that all parts are in harmony, order and unity. From this basic meaning, shalom is used comprehensively in a variety of ways depending on the context. For example, when shalom is used in reference to physical condition, it means health in the sense that a body is in a state of wholeness. When shalom is used in the context of material condition, it means prosperity, good harvest and fertility. When shalom is used in this sense, the word is often paired with tobah, which has the specific meaning of prosperity (Deut 23:6; Ezra 9:12). When shalom is used in the context of warfare, it means victory. King David summoned Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, and inquired how the war prospered (2 Sam 11:7). David's question was literally "how was the shalom of the war?" It is a seemingly contradictory phrase if we understand shalom as meaning "peace". When soldiers return from the battle "in shalom", it means a victorious homecoming (Josh 10:21; Judg 8:9;11:31; 1 King 22:27).
Shalom is often used in reference to personal relationships, and it means "wholeness" of relationship, ie a relationship with goodwill and harmony. This is the reason why shalom was used as an identification of friend or foe when two parties encountered one another (1 King 2:13). Shalom is also used in the same sense on the level of international relations. When two countries are in the relation of shalom, it does not simply mean that there is no war between the two. Rather, it goes beyond that and means a relationship of amity, alliance and cooperation exists between them (1 King 5:12). Shalom, of course, includes the state of peace in the sense of the absence of war. But such peace is one of many manifestations of shalom. Shalom does bring peace, and the break-down of shalom often leads to war. However, the cessation of armed conflict does not automatically bring shalom. Shalom in the biblical sense is a much more comprehensive and dynamic concept than peace in a narrow sense.
When shalom is referred to in a communal context, it means the harmonious wholeness and unity of a community. The communal shalom is achieved and maintained through the realization of justice and righteousness in a community. As a Hebrew Psalmist sang, "righteousness and shalom will kiss each other" in a community where shalom prevails (Ps 85:10). There is no shalom in a society, no matter how peaceful and well-ordered on the surface, if justice is warped for the benefit of the powerful, and the poor and powerless are unfairly treated and their rights are disregarded and trampled upon. This is the reason why the prophets of Israel charged the false prophets who parroted "shalom! shalom!" when actually there was no shalom in Israel (Jer 6:14;8:11;
Ezek 13:10,13).
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In summary, shalom, whose primary meaning is "wholeness", refers not only to the state of things, but, more importantly, to the wholeness of relationship. The opposite of shalom is not, therefore, war or strife. War breaks out when there is no shalom; but it is one of the many outer signs of the broken shalom. The opposite of shalom, then, is the breakdown of community and wholeness and the disruption of unity and harmony.
The creative power of God brings shalom out of chaos. ...
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All harmonious relationships of shalom were tragically shattered by the act of rebellion on the part of human beings.
Out of the arrogant hubris "to be like God", human beings defiantly disobeyed the command of God. The rebellious disobedience resulted in the estrangement and alienation of humankind from God. This breakdown of shalom had a shattering affect on the other spheres of shalom as well. The shalom which existed between man and woman came to be replaced by the relation of domination and subordination (Gen 3:16). The relation of shalom among human beings turned into one of hatred and violence, as shown in the fratricidal story of Cain and Abel (Gen 4). The broken shalom of human beings with their creator and with their fellow creatures ultimately led to the destruction of shalom between humankind and nature. The ground began to bring forth "thorns and thistles" (Gen 3:18), and human beings, in turn, became wanton exploiters and ruthless plunderers. In short, the defiance and hubris of human beings alienated them from God, which consequently resulted in the breaking of shalom in the order of creation. Humankind became separated from the creator, from each other, and from the natural world. The wholeness of God's creation, shalom, was broken into chaotic fragmentation. The whole creation awaited for the coming of the one who would restore the broken shalom to its original wholeness.
"When the fullness of time was come", God sent his Son, Jesus. He is the one who came to heal the broken relations and recover the lost shalom. "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," St. Paul proclaims (Rom 5:1). Jesus Christ, by his work of reconciliation, restores shalom in heaven and earth. Paul says, "...through him [Jesus Christ] to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" (Col 1:20). In the Letter to Ephesians, Jesus is even called "our peace" who breaks down the wall of hostility between humankind and God. "...he is our peace, who...has broken down the dividing wall of hostility...so making peace he might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end" (Lk 2:14-16).
With the coming of Jesus Christ the way was opened for the restoration of the lost shalom to humankind. This is the reason why at Jesus' birth the angels of heaven sang, "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Lk 2:14 NIV). Jesus Christ is the great restorer of shalom and thus the Christian church throughout history has proclaimed that he is "the Prince of Peace (shalom)".
When the Christian church proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, it is not simply an affirmation of faith, but also a clear call to action. As faithful followers of the Prince of Peace, the church collectively, and all Christians individually, are called to be "shalom-makers". In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Mt 5:9). Shalom is not only a gift of grace restored for us through Jesus Christ, but also a task and responsibility entrusted to all who are rightly called "children of God". Peacemakers are not simply peaceable and peaceful persons; they are those who actively and earnestly endeavour to "make" peace, shalom, here and now. The church and Christians are called to be signs and instruments of shalom in this world still torn with strife and violence, warped with injustice and oppression, divided with enmity and hostility.
... to be "shalom-makers" it is imperative that we make our shalom with God.
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Parts of:
Jesus Christ, the prince of peace by Joon Surh Park
