“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
– Galatians 5:22 -23 (NKJV)
The Greek word for “peace” here is eirene (ay-Ray-nay) and it refers to both internal peace in our hearts and relational peace with others.
The word for “peace” here is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit can mean “harmonious relations and freedom from disputes.”
Peace in English describes a state of being,
Peace in Hebrew describes a harmonious state of relationships.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– Romans 5:1 (NKJV)
Peace in Greek, eirene, means the opposite of war, and reconciliation.
“Hippie” peace:
The word “Hippie” is a broad term for someone who rejects mainstream values and embraces counterculture. The hippie subculture occurred in the 60’s and 70’s.
The First Advent – The arrival of Jesus.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
– Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV)
Advent Peace
What does this peace mean? What does this look like?
Peace on earth is not referring to peace among men, but peace between God and mankind.