Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Universal in its desire, appears to be a rare commodity. In the ancient world, brute force and violence were the primary tools for establishing peace. Among the ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans, war dominated at every level of society. People became adept at defending their property and their relations. Laws came into being in recognition of this basic human tendency at the interpersonal and societal level: The strongest and smartest win, and everyone else suffers.

The Pax Romana—that is, the Roman peace—was remarkable for its longevity. By various estimates, Rome’s dominance in the ancient world extended upwards of seven centuries. Its remains are still visible today in the Roman ruins around the Mediterranean and as far as the British Isles. Great structures, like the Coliseum in Rome, still stand—albeit in ruins—an ever-present reminder of the supremacy of the empire’s might. The peace extended to its citizenry, but not to the millions of conquered people who became slaves to the highest bidders.

At the time of Paul’s writings, in the first century, the Christians had marginal political freedom. But life for most was miserable. On top of the physical stresses of life, social and interpersonal tensions existed back then as they do now. The church at Corinth was a prime example, rife with divisions, conflicts, selfishness and immorality of the worst kind. The city had a reputation throughout the empire of being a grossly immoral place, so that a common slur used to describe a sexually loose or immoral woman was this: “She is a Corinthian woman.” The Corinthian believers seem to have brought much of their pre-conversion lifestyle into the church with them. If any gathering of believers needed peace among themselves and with God, it was the Corinthians!

It was to this people that Paul wrote, “Live in peace.” A life of peace displays evidence of having been imbued with the God of love and peace. That is His nature. He desires to bring peace between man and Himself, overcoming the alienation between humankind and God that began in the Garden of Eden. Paul writes similarly to another group, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 5:23). God brings peace among Christians through our sanctification.

Lord, help me to live in peace with that brother or sister who comes to mind right now.