Nougat 5

We’re familiar with God’s characteristics (attributes) presented in names of God – eg El Shaddai: the (Many-breasted) All Sufficient One; YHWH: I AM; YHWH Jireh: the LORD will provide; and El Rohi: God Who sees and hears. There are several others that capture our experiences of God, so it sometimes seems strange or off putting to see God described as ‘God of’. For me, it evokes a sense of trying to make God god, diminishing God’s power and supremacy over all else. In today’s Holy Nougat however, we find that the ‘God of Peace’ also addresses an attribute of God. It begs the question – for which I am not sure I have the answer – is there a difference?

“Now, may the God of peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭23‬ ‭CEB‬‬

The God of Peace

We first meet the title YHWH Tsalom (Salaam, Shalom) in Judges 6:24, where Gideon built an altar to God and named it the Lord is Peace. Ironically, Gideon’s experience occurred under dire conditions, so much so that Gideon had doubts about his visitor’s identity. Having received proof of God’s presence in his midst, Gideon was understandably mortified. As he quaked in the presence of God Almighty, God’s Peace was bestowed upon him. Was that the God of Peace, the Peace of God or God manifested as Peace in that moment?

In that moment, what God offered was assurance of Life, forgiveness for Gideon’s doubt and the end of Fear.

The church in Thessaloniki were facing somewhat similar challenges as the Children of Israel in Gideon’s time. In spite of their commitment to God, life was not easy for the believing community. Unlike the Israelites, they were awaiting Christ’s return (as we are), and nothing seemed to be happening. With the testing of their faith, Paul encouraged them to live their faith boldly, seeking to please God, not human leaders.

As he closed his letter, Paul had several words of advice/instruction – live in love, live peacefully, encourage positive living, chastise the unruly ones, encourage those losing hope, rejoice through suffering, examine prophecies, and do not quench God’s Spirit. He covered every base!! I suspect that Paul knew that the question bubbling up from the church would be – How?!

He preemptively offered a transformation from the God of Peace. Given the multiple references to God in 1 Thessalonians 5, it is safe to believe that Paul was still referring to the Triune God. Moreover, his usage of the term ‘very’, presented here as ‘Himself’, affirms that Paul referenced the First Person of the Trinity, not Pax or Eirene, the goddess of peace.

That leads me to conclude that A) like Christ, Paul sought to connect with ideas already familiar to his audience; and that not only does God’s Peace supersede those of other gods, but that God’s Peace also has the power to transform us, while pulling us God-ward. That’s how all the pieces are accomplished.

With Paul I pray, may God’s Peace keep us and our very God of Peace keep us completely dedicated to God’s purpose in and for our lives in every circumstance we face.

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May all we seek be found in Christ