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War or Peace?

Contradiction

Exodus 15:3 – The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.

Romans 15:33 – Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Explanation

Any contradiction here is based on the notion that a God of peace would neither engage in war nor permit war. This notion is entirely false. As humans, what peace-loving parent would not fight to protect his or her children from evil men? As we shall see, we are made in God’s image in this regard.

In the first passage, “man of war” is a Hebrew expression that indicates the LORD understands how to fight and defeat the enemy. Moses and his people had just witnessed God literally wipe out the entire Egyptian army that was hunting them down. Just moments ago they had crossed the Red Sea between two walls of water while God used a pillar of cloud to hold back their former slavemasters. After 400 years of slavery the Israelites were finally free! No wonder Moses sang that God was a great warrior! He had just saved them in the nick of time. That is the context of this verse.

It demonstrates clearly that God will defend the weak, even if that means war.

The second passage is actually a statement the apostle Paul used in several benedictions, including 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, and later in this same book. It is very similar to the Jewish benediction, “Peace be with you.” Remember that Paul was a Jew. But why would he change it to “God of peace”?

“Peace” here does not refer to the absence of national war. Paul was not praying here for the end of the Roman occupation. Rather, “peace” is a general term that has several complementary meanings.

  1. It is that state of peace that exists between God and the person who has been reconciled to Him through Christ.

    “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

  2. It is that inward, incomprehensible stability of mind and heart that the reconciled person has in the midst of temptation, dissension and persecution.

    “And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

  3. It is that unity and harmony between believers for which Christ prayed and for which we strive.

    “I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one– I in them and you in me–that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

    “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive. Your obedience is known to all and thus I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Romans 16:17-20)

Matthew Henry summarized it nicely when he penned this commentary:

“The Lord of hosts, the God of battle, is the God of peace, the author and lover of peace. He [Paul] describes God under this title here, because of the divisions among them [the church at Rome], to recommend peace to them; if God be the God of peace, let us be men of peace.”

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