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If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Christians should be peace-seeking people.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cit is possible<\/span>\u201d is dunaton<\/span><\/em>, a word we\u2019ve seen before. It refers to \u201cpower, authority, or ability.\u201d Literally, what Paul is saying is, \u201cIf you have the ability\u201d or \u201cIf it is within your power.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs much as depends on you<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek words to ex hum\u014dn<\/em><\/span>. This literally translates to \u201cthe thing out of you\u201d or \u201cthat which comes from you.\u201d It could be interpreted as \u201cthe from you part\u201d or \u201cthe part that you are responsible for.\u201d<\/p>\n The words \u201clive peaceably<\/span>\u201d are from the Greek verb eir\u0113neu\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is derived from the noun eir\u0113n\u0113<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cpeace.\u201d So, eir\u0113neu\u014d<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cto be at peace.\u201d It is interesting to note, however, that the root of this word is probably the verb eir\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto join.\u201d Hence, to be at peace with someone implies that you are joined together with them for your mutual benefit. It does not simply imply a passive act (that you leave each other alone) but an active one (that you join together with another person to produce good).<\/p>\n Following up on Paul\u2019s previous instruction to us; not being reactive (giving evil for evil) but being proactive (preparing good things for others), he now gives us some more instruction on how the members of the body of Christ should behave.<\/p>\n He says, \u201cIf you have the ability, your part is to join together with others in peaceful coexistence.\u201d Paul is not implying that some Christians have the ability to be at peace with others while other Christians don\u2019t; rather, he is expressing the reality that not all people will allow others to live peaceably with them. We have all known people who behave out of anger toward everyone else, unwilling to let anyone be nice to them. And there are others who have an intense hatred for all Christians, refusing to be at peace with us. Thus, it is not always possible for us to be at peace with others.<\/p>\n Paul\u2019s point is that we should make every effort to be at peace with all men. Our part of any relationship, the part that we are held responsible for, is to make every effort to be at peace with all people, even those who hate us, even those whose lifestyle is drastically different from our own, even those who don\u2019t believe in God and who live in a manner that we know is not pleasing to Him, even those who intentionally make life difficult for us. We are not responsible for the actions of others, but we are responsible for our own actions. And we don\u2019t have to compromise our own beliefs and values to do so.<\/p>\n Once again we can look to our Lord Jesus as the example of this kind of living. Consider this: even though He got angry at the money changers in the temple and verbally condemned the Pharisees for being hypocrites, He did not make any selfish acts of hostility against anyone. We should model our behavior after His.<\/p>\n And – just as He does, we should hate the sin but love the sinner!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
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