The Lord of Peace: Christ Our Peace in Pauline Theology

Abstract

Despite ongoing contemporary efforts by such New Testament scholars as Willard Swartley in the U.S., Pieter de Villiers in South Africa, and William Campbell in the U.K., the claim that peace is central to Pauline theology (including Christology) and ethics has not been universally acknowledged, as evidenced in even some of the most recent and most comprehensive treatments of Paul. N.T. Wright's new book, Paul and the Faithfulness of God, however, begins to correct this deficiency. This article will review a portion of the evidence in Paul for Jesus as both (1) the crucified and resurrected Messiah who inaugurated God's promised eschatological peace and (2) the present Lord who continues to form each ἐκκλησία into a peaceful, peacemaking community. In each role, Jesus is both the source and the shape of God's shalom. While this evidence demonstrates the centrality of peace and peacemaking to Pauline Christology, it also shows that Paul does not think of Christ as peacemaker in isolation, but only in conjunction with God the Father and the Spirit, on the one hand, and in union with the ἐκκλησία on the other.