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Romans 12:18
“If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.”
The Apostle Paul, writing from Corinth around 57 CE, addresses the Christian community in Rome, a diverse group of Jewish and Gentile believers grappling with internal divisions and external pressures. Chapter 12 shifts from theological doctrine to practical exhortations for living out their faith.
What steps might you take to create or maintain peace in a difficult relationship or situation today?
Then — the setting
Paul's letter to the Romans was written to a community in the heart of the Roman Empire, a city characterized by immense cultural, religious, and social diversity. Within the early Christian community itself, there were significant tensions between Jewish believers (who had been expelled from Rome by Claudius in 49 CE and later returned) and Gentile believers. These tensions likely revolved around issues of Mosaic Law, cultural practices, and differing understandings of what it meant to follow Christ. Beyond internal strife, Christians faced suspicion and occasional hostility from the broader Roman society, which viewed their monotheistic and exclusive worship with skepticism, sometimes seeing them as antisocial or even rebellious. This verse acknowledges the reality of such conflict while urging a proactive stance toward peace.
Across the Testaments
In the Old Testament, the concept of 'shalom' (peace) is multifaceted, encompassing not just the absence of conflict but also wholeness, well-being, and flourishing, often tied to right relationship with God and covenant faithfulness. Prophets frequently envisioned a future of universal peace (e.g., Isaiah 2:4). While the Old Testament records numerous conflicts and calls for justice, it also values reconciliation (e.g., Proverbs 15:1). The New Testament, particularly in Paul's writings, builds on this foundation, emphasizing peace as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and a defining characteristic of the Christian life. Paul's instruction here echoes and expands upon Jesus's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, where peacemaking is extolled (Matthew 5:9), though Paul's 'if it is possible' adds a pragmatic nuance acknowledging external limitations on achieving peace.
Keep thinking
Read alongside it
Jesus blesses those who work for peace.
A call to pursue peace with all people and holiness.
Encourages turning from evil, doing good, and seeking peace.
Ask your own follow-up