(January 21st) “Grace” & “Peace” and what they mean

The friendly greeting of “grace and peace” is an opening statement found at the beginning of many New Testament letters. Individually they constitute both a Greek and a Hebrew expression of hospitality and affection. A Jew might enter the home of his national brother and say “shawlome” (meaning, safety or as it is usually translated: “peace”) as a common courtesy. Likewise a Greek would enter the home of another Greek and say “kharise” (meaning favor, or as it is usually rendered: “grace”).

To non-Christians, these are merely words of friendship and courtesy. They would be offered as half-heartedly as people today who say “good morning” to a passer-by on the street. First-century Christians, however, took the words and gave them a deeper, spiritual significance. When a non-believer says the words, they imply “grace and peace” from one man to another (a more flattering way of saying “I won’t kill you if you let me in your house.”).

When a Christian says these words to another, they imply “favor and safety” from God to man, as Paul says in the opening to 1 Corinthians:  “Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, he offers a prayer for an absence of hostility to exist between God and his brethren. Certainly Christians want to get along with those of the world, but the peace Christians are concerned with and the favor we seek more than anything is from God. Such Grace and Peace is available only through Jesus Christ. Though Paul’s letters often involved much rebuking to erring brethren, it meant something to hear that his thoughts always began with a word of brotherly affection, and a desire for God to find favor with them.

Now a days the phrase is not commonly used. The spirit of the phrase lives on, however. With every inviting welcome we offer our brethren, we continue the attitude of brotherly love that Paul and the other writers wrote of in the first century. Today as you go about your day, be kind and courteous to all men, but especially be mindful of those who are–like you–called out of the world (Galatians 6:10).

Have a great day!