Te Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy
(Romans 14:17). Introduction T hcy madc my brothcr hold a ashlight and watch whilc thcy took turns rap ing mc. Tcy wcrc likc animals. Vhcn hc rcluscd thcir ordcr to rapc mc, thcy stabbcd him to dcath in lront ol my cycs, just as thcy had donc with my parcnts a ycar ago. For cight months this Congolcsc woman was a slavc to thc Congolcsc rcbcl army, rapcd multiplc timcs cvcry day, until shc nally managcd to cscapc. Rcunitcd with hcr childrcn, whom shc had thought dcad, shc is now raising hcr ncw baby, Hopc, thc child ol onc ol hcr rapists, whilc shc participatcs in a job training program dcsigncd lor womcn likc hcrscll. Tis womans plight is common in thc Congo, whcrc in somc rural villagcs 90 ol thc womcn havc bccn rapcd, agcs 3 to 73. Tc only doctor in thc only hospital on thc lront lincs ol this civil war, who docs his bcst to rcpair torn and bro kcn bodics, is thc only man thc womcn who comc to him havc bccn ablc to trust. Tcir husbands oltcn lcavc thcm, this doctor rccognizcs, bccausc thcy havc bccn humiliatcd by bcing powcrlcss to dclcnd thcir womcn. !n a rcsourccrich country, this systcmatic dcstabiliza tion ol thc socicty through violcnt acts against thc womcn cnablcs ccrtain intcrcst groups to rapc thc natural rcsourccs ol thc land lor thcir own bcnct. (Summary of War against Women: Te Use of Rape as a Weapon in Congos Civil War, a 60 Minutes segment, televised January 13, 2008, CBS News) Comparc thc condition ol this socicty to that dcscribcd by thc prophct !saiah in 59:411: No onc calls lor justicc, no onc plcads his casc with intcgrity. Tcy conccivc troublc and givc birth to cvil. Tcir dccds arc cvil dccds, and acts ol violcncc arc in thcir hands. Tcir lcct rush into sin, thcy arc swilt to shcd innoccnt blood. Tcir thoughts arc cvil thoughts, ruin and dcstruction mark thcir ways. Tc way ol pcacc thcy do not know, thcrc is no justicc in thcir paths. Tcy havc turncd thcm into crookcd roads, no onc who walks in thcm will know pcacc. So justicc is lar lrom us, and rightcousncss docs not rcach us. Vc look lor light, but all is darkncss, lor brightncss, but wc walk in dccp shadows. Likc thc blind wc gropc along thc wall, lccling our way likc mcn without cycs. At midday wc stumblc as il it wcrc twilight, among thc strong, wc arc likc thc dcad. Vc look lor justicc, but nd nonc, lor dclivcrancc, but it is lar away. Questions 1. Vhat is wrong with thcsc two socictics: How do so cictics gct to thc placc whcrc such unrcstraincd violcncc and corruption brcak out: 2. Vhat docs God want human lilc to look likc: 3. Vhat arc thc csscntial conditions lor a socicty to cxpcricncc wholcncss, pcacc and salcty: 4. Vhat is thc rolc ol Gods pcoplc in promoting shalom to thc pcoplcs ol thc world: Vhat is thc rcsponsibil ity ol thc body ol Christ to thosc in harms way: Vhat should bc thc rolc ol Kingdommindcd !ntcrnational cvclopmcnt workcrs in addrcssing thc roots ol human problcms around thc world: Shalom: Te Goal of the Kingdom and of International Development Beth Snodderly An unpublishcd papcr. Uscd with pcrmission. SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx: Shalom Word Study nc way to approach answcrs to thc qucstions abovc is to survcy thc connotations ol thc Hcbrcw word, sha- lom, commonly translatcd pcacc, but which implics much morc: wholcncss and wcllncss in thc contcxt ol right rclationships with God, pcoplc, and naturc. Tis articlc intcnds to cngagc in an ongoing dialog about thc rclationship bctwccn advancing Gods Kingdom and doing !ntcrnational cvclopmcnt, by invcstigating thc contcxt ol thc occurrcnccs ol thc word, shalom, in thc ld Tcstamcnt. Tc usagc and contcxt ol scvcral Grcck words lor shalom that wcrc uscd by thc translators ol thc Scptuagint will bc thc basis lor this study. (Scc a comprchcnsivc list at thc cnd ol this articlc, Shalom: Right Rclationships with God, Pcoplc, and Naturc.) Absence of Shalom Qucstion 1. Vhat is wrong with thcsc two socictics: How do socictics gct to thc placc whcrc such unrc straincd violcncc and corruption brcak out: Many ol thc occurrcnccs ol thc tcrm, shalom, in thc ld Tcstamcnt arc in thc contcxt ol conditions in which pcacc, salcty and wcllbcing arc abscnt. Tcsc passagcs dcscribc thc oppositc ol Gods will. Takcn lrom thc dcscriptions and samplc passagcs just bclow, thc lollowing gcncralizations providc somc guidclincs lor undcrstanding what has gonc wrong in socictics cxpcricncing violcncc and dangcr. God judges evil societies. God turns his back on thosc who do cvil. Hc allows cvil socictics to bc ovcrthrown and dcstroycd, whcthcr by thc violcncc ol othcr cvil socictics or natural disastcrs, or both. (Scc Jcrcmiah 33:46 and 4:2226.) Ralph Vintcr has commcntcd that it shows Gods commitmcnt to lrcc will that innoccnt pcoplc and cvcn bclicvcrs sucr whilc God is allowing cvil culturcs and socictics to burn thcm sclvcs out and dcstroy onc anothcr. 1 Jcrcmiah pointcd out to thc pcoplc ol Jcrusalcm rcgarding thc disastcrs and lack ol shalom hc prophcsicd wcrc coming to thcm, Your own conduct and actions havc brought this upon you. Tis is your punishmcnt (4:18). God deals with societies according to their own standards. !n a land lull ol violcncc, God said hc would dcal with thc pcoplc according to thcir conduct and judgc thcm by thcir own standards. (Scc zckicl 7:2327.) !n sccking to undcrstand thc judgmcnt ol God against a socicty, qucstions such as thcsc might bc hclplul: Vhat signs can bc lound in thc history ol thc socicty ol Gods activity or rcdcmptivc analogics: !n what ways havc thc pcoplc, particularly thc lcadcrs, disobcycd and rcbcllcd against what was right accord ing to thcir own culturcs traditional valucs: Vhat arc thc socictys own cxpcctations ol justicc and judgmcnt: Nature is cursed when a society turns away from God. A pcrson or group that prcsumcs to think thcy arc salc and blamclcss (shalom/ hosia) whcn in rcality thcy arc pcr sisting in going thcir own way, contrary to Gods way, will bring disastcr on thc land. All thc curscs writtcn in this book, listcd in cutcronomy 28:15, will comc against that pcrson or socicty, Moscs warncd. (Scc cut. 29:18, 19.) Among thc curscs lor thosc not lollowing Gods com mands arc wasting discasc, with lcvcr and inammation, with scorching hcat and drought, with blight and mildcw, which will plaguc you until you pcrish (cut. 28:22). Descriptions of the Absence of Shalom (Rcprcscntativc rclcrcnccs arc givcn. Scc thc list at thc cnd ol this articlc lor all thc uscs ol thc tcrm, shalom, in its various Grcck translations.) cccit (!s. 59:14, Jcr. 9:8) Quarrclling, war, ghting, violcncc (!s. 59:6, Jcr. 6:14, 23:17, zc. 7:23) Tc land is dclcd by thc impuritics/ abominations ol thc local rcsidcnts (zra 9:12) vildocrs ( Job 28:3) isastcr ( Jcr. 4:4) ctcstablc idols ( Jcr. 4:1) !niquitics havc scparatcd thc pcoplc lrom God (!s. 59:2) Tcy arc skillcd in doing cvil: thcy know not how to do good. ( Jcr. 4:22) God has withdrawn his blcssing, his lovc and his pity lrom this pcoplc. (!s. 59:2, Jcr. 16:5) Var, starvation, and discasc ( Jcr. 32:33) !njusticc (!s. 59:814) God will dcal with thcm according to thcir conduct, and judgc thcm by thcir own standards ( Jcr. 4:16, zc. 7:27) Beth Snodderly Tcy plot cvil against ncighbors and lovc to swcar lalscly (Zcch. 8:17) Sample Passages Describing the Absence of Shalom: Deut. 29:18-19 Makc surc thcrc is no man or woman, clan or tribc among you today whosc hcart turns away lrom thc Lord our God to go and worship thc gods ol thosc nations, makc surc thcrc is no root among you that produccs such bittcr poison. Vhcn such a pcrson hcars thc words ol this oath, hc invokcs a blcssing on himscll and thcrclorc thinks, ! will bc salc, cvcn though ! pcrsist in going my own way. Tis will bring disastcr on thc watcrcd land as wcll as thc dry. Tc Lord will ncvcr bc willing to lorgivc him, his wrath and zcal will burn against that man. All thc curscs writtcn in this book will lall upon him Is. 59:2-14, selected verses: 2 Your iniquitics havc scparatcd you lrom your God, your sins havc hiddcn his lacc lrom you, so that hc will not hcar. 4 No onc calls lor justicc, no onc plcads his casc with intcgrity. 6b Tcir dccds arc cvil dccds, and acts ol violcncc arc in thcir hands. 7 Tcir lcct rush into sin, thcy arc swilt to shcd inno ccnt blood. Tcir thoughts arc cvil thoughts, ruin and dcstruction mark thcir ways. 8 Tc way ol pcacc thcy do not know, thcrc is no justicc in thcir paths. Tcy havc turncd thcm into crookcd roads, no onc who walks in thcm will know pcacc. 9 So justicc is lar lrom us, and rightcousncss docs not rcach us. Vc look lor light, but all is darkncss. 11b Vc look lor justicc, but nd nonc, lor dclivcrancc, but it is lar away. 12 For our ocnscs arc many in your sight, and our sins tcstily against us. 14 So justicc is drivcn back, and rightcousncss stands at a dis tancc, truth has stumblcd in thc strccts, honcsty cannot cntcr. Jer. 32:23: Tcy did not obcy you or livc as you had instructcd thcm. Tcy did not do anything that you commandcd thcm to do. So you brought all this disastcr on thcm. Var, starvation, and discasc arc surc to makc thc city lall into thc hands ol thc 8abylonians who arc attacking it. Zech. 7:9-14: Tis is what thc Lord Almighty says: Administcr truc justicc, show mcrcy and compassion to onc anothcr. o not opprcss thc widow or thc lathcrlcss, thc alicn or thc poor. !n your hcarts do not think cvil ol cach othcr. 8ut thcy rcluscd to pay attcntion, So thc Lord Al mighty was vcry angry |and| scattcrcd thcm, thc land was lclt so dcsolatc bchind thcm that no onc could comc or go. Tis is how thcy madc thc plcasant land dcsolatc. Presence of Shalom Qucstion 2. Vhat docs God want human lilc to look likc: !n contrast to thc passagcs quotcd abovc, dcscriptions ol shalom arc dcscriptions ol Gods will lor pcoplc and thc land. (Scc thc list and samplc passagcs dircctly bclow.) !n a prcscntation to thc sta ol thc U.S. Ccntcr lor Vorld Mission on Fcbruary 14, 2008, Paul Picrson askcd thc qucstion, Vhat docs God want human lilc to look likc: and answcrcd with a good dcscription ol shalom, which is also a good dcscription ol !ntcrnation al cvclopmcnt goals: gracc, hcalth, cducation, salcty, wcllbcing lor all pcoplc. Tcsc qualitics ow lrom bcing in right rclationship with God. Jcrcmiah ticd thc conccpt ol prospcrity (shalom/eirene) to Gods lorgivcncss ol sins ol rcbcllion. ! will lorgivc all thcir sins ol rcbcllion against mc. Tcn this city will bring mc rcnown, joy, praisc and honor bclorc all nations on carth that hcar ol all thc good things ! do lor it, and thcy will bc in awc and will trcmblc at thc abundant prospcrity and pcacc ! providc lor it (33:8, 9). From this passagc, it is clcar that shalom is a quality that is obscrvablc. An cvidcncc ol shalom in thc rcalm ol naturc was undcrstood by onc ol Jobs comlortcrs as including thc wild animals bcing at pcacc (shalom/ eirene) with humans ( Job 5:24). !saiah claboratcd on this conccpt in dcscribing thc rcign ol thc Mcssiah: Tc woll will livc with thc lamb, thc lcopard will lic down with thc goat, thc call and thc lion and thc ycar ling togcthcr, and a littlc child will lcad thcm. Tcy will ncithcr harm nor dcstroy on all my holy mountain, lor thc carth will bc lull ol thc knowlcdgc ol thc Lord as thc watcrs covcr thc sca (11:6, 9). 6 SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx: !n thc abscncc ol a knowlcdgc ol microorganisms, and thc harm thcy causc through discasc in humans, animals, and plants, !saiah did not includc bactcria and viruscs in his list ol animal lilc that will no longcr harm or dcstroy whcn thc Lords shalom is bcing cxpcricnccd. 8ut knowing now that discasc is causcd by bactcria and viruscs, and knowing that discasc is onc ol thc curscs that is cvidcncc ol a lack ol shalom (scc cut. 28:22 and Jcr. 32:23), it sccms rcasonablc to includc thc taming (or cradication) ol thcsc typcs ol animal lilc in an application ol shalom lor thc 21 st ccntury. Anothcr obscrvablc sign ol shalom is hcalth and hcaling lor a lormcrly wickcd city and thc pcoplc in it: ! will bring hcalth and hcaling to |thc city|, ! will hcal my pcoplc and will lct thcm cnjoy abundant pcacc/eirene and sccurity (pistinthc root word lor laithlulncss) ( Jcr. 33:6). Tis passagc dcmonstratcs that thcrc is no dichotomy bctwccn social and spiritual hcaling or bc twccn physical and spiritual hcaling. Shalom is wholistic. Descriptions of the Presence of Shalom (Rcprcscntativc rclcrcnccs arc givcn. Scc thc list at thc cnd ol this articlc lor all thc uscs ol thc tcrm, shalom in its various Grcck translations.) Vcllncss, good hcalth (Gcn. 29:6) Salcty, sccurity (Gcn. 26:31, Josh. 10:21, zra 9:12) God will dcal mcrcilully with you, lcar not (Gcn. 43:23) Lct good happcn to mc (cut. 29:19) God has givcn mc rcst round about (no onc plotting against mc) (1 Kings 4:24) Tcir houscs arc salc (good condition, no rod ol punish mcnt lrom God is upon thcm) ( Job 21:9) Tcy will go out with joy, and bc lcd lorth with pcacc/ gladncss (!s. 55:12) Kindly spccch (Gcn. 37:4) Abscncc ol quarrclling, war, ghting, violcncc or dangcr (1 Sam 7:14, 16:4, 5) Gods lavor/covcnant (Ps. 85:11, !s. 26:3, 26:12, 32:17, 53:5, 54:10) Prospcrity (Ps. 35:27) No cvil intcntions (Zcch. 8:17, 1 Sam 25:35) Tc wild bcasts ol thc cld shall bc at pcacc with thcc ( Job 5:24) Tc pcoplc turn away lorm cvil and do what is right. (Ps. 34:14) Tc mcck shall inhcrit thc carth (Ps. 37:11) Justicc, rightcousncss (Ps. 35:27, 72:3, 85:10) Hc will rulc lrom sca to sca, his grcatncss will rcach to thc cnds ol thc carth (Micah 5:5, Zcch. 9:10) Salvation (!s. 45:8, 60:17, Zcch. 8:13) Tc land will yicld its harvcst (Ps. 85:13) Vild animals will bc at pcacc with humans ( Job 5:24) ctcstablc idols arc put out ol Gods sight and thc pcoplc no longcr go astray ( Jcr. 4:1) Acknowlcdgcmcnt ol wickcdncss and sinning against God ( Jcr. 14:20) Hcaling ( Jcr. 33:6) God will clcansc thcm lrom all thc sin ( Jcr. 33:9) Tc pcoplc will lcar thc Lord. (Haggai 2:12) ! will savc you, and you will bc a blcssing. o not bc alraid, but lct your hands bc strong. (Zcch. 8:13) Truc and sound |N!\: pcaccablc| judgmcnt in thc courts (Zcch. 8:16) Sample Passages Describing the Presence of Shalom: Is. 60:17-21: ! will makc pcacc your govcrnor and rightcousncss your rulcr. No longcr will violcncc bc hcard in your land, nor ruin or dcstruction within your bordcrs, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gatcs Praisc. Tc sun will no morc bc your light by day, nor will thc brightncss ol thc moon shinc on you, lor thc Lord will bc your cvcr lasting light, and your God will bc your glory. Tcn will all your pcoplc bc rightcous and thcy will posscss thc land lorcvcr. Jer. 29:11: For ! know thc plans ! havc lor you, dcclarcs thc Lord, plans to prospcr you |ol pcacc| and not to harm you, Beth Snodderly plans to givc you hopc and a luturc. Tcn you will call upon mc and comc and pray to mc, and ! will listcn to you. You will scck mc and nd mc whcn you scck mc with all your hcart. Jer. 33:6, 9: ! will bring hcalth and hcaling |peace| to |thc city|, ! will hcal my pcoplc and will lct thcm cnjoy abundant pcacc and sccurity. ! will clcansc thcm lrom all thc sin thcy havc committcd against mc and will lorgivc all thcir sins ol rcbcllion against mc. Tcn this city will bring mc rcnown, joy, praisc and honor bclorc all nations on carth that hcar ol all thc good things ! do lor it, and thcy will bc in awc and will trcmblc at thc abundant prosperity and peace ! providc lor it. Malachi 2:5, 6: My covcnant ol lilc and peace was with him, thc law ol truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not lound in his lips, hc walkcd bclorc mc dirccting his way in peace and hc turncd many lrom unrightcousncss. Conditions for Experiencing Shalom Qucstion 3. Vhat arc thc csscntial conditions lor a socicty to cxpcricncc thc wholcncss, pcacc and salcty dcscribcd immcdiatcly abovc: As has alrcady bccn rclcrrcd to scvcral timcs, whcn a socicty rcpcnts and turns to God, Hc is willing to rcstorc and blcss thc pcoplc with shalom/eirene. (Scc Ps. 30:11, Jcrc. 33: 6, 9.) Tcrc sccm to bc two conditions lor a socicty or pcrson to cxpcricncc shalom. nc is thc intcntion to lollow Gods laws and principlcs. Tc othcr is acccptancc ol Gods provision ol a substitutc punish mcnt lor not lollowing Gods laws and principlcs. Tc principlc ol kccping Gods rcquircmcnts as a condition lor blcssing was spccically statcd to !saac shortly bclorc hc cncountcrcd Abimclcch, king ol thc Philistincs. (Scc Gcncsis 26:15.) !t is through lollow ing Gods guidclincs that a socicty can lunction wcll. !n lact, all nations on carth willing to lunction accord ing to thc will ol God as rcvcalcd through His choscn pcoplc, will cnd up bcing blcsscd matcrially and spiri tually (shalom). Tis is sccn in Gcncsis 26:4, 5 whcrc God rcpcatcd thc promisc to !saac that was originally givcn to Abraham: through your ospring all nations on carth will bc blcsscd, bccausc Abraham obcycd mc and kcpt my rcquircmcnts, my commands, my dccrccs and my laws. !mmcdiatcly lollowing this promisc is an illustration ol onc ol thc nations, thc Philistincs, bcing blcsscd by thc prcscncc ol !saacs lamily, in spitc ol various problcms, and scnding him away in pcacc/ shalom/eirene (Gcn. 26:29, 30), without lurthcr quarrcl ing or ghting. Vhcn Gods principlcs arc lollowcd, pcacc rcsults. Tis is also sccn in thc cncountcr bctwccn Moscs and his lathcrinlaw. Jcthro showcd Moscs how to satisly thc pcoplcs nccd lor justicc, without wcaring himscll out by dclcgating somc ol thc work to othcrs. Jcthro spccically statcd that il God so commands that thc principlcs ol dclcgation bc lollowcd, and il Moscs did lollow thcm, thcn Moscs would bc ablc to stand thc strain ol lcadcrship and thc pcoplc would go homc satiscd (shalom/in pcacc). (Scc xodus 18:723.) 8ut shalom docs not comc casily. 8rokcn rclationships among pcoplc and with God charactcrizc thc activi tics ol pcoplc and nations throughout thc ld Tcsta mcnt. A pattcrn sccn throughout thc Major and Minor Prophcts is thc rcpcatcd dcscription ol God allowing onc nation to punish anothcr lor thcir cvil ways, with thc locus on thc pcoplc ol !sracl and Judah who had thc most opportunity to know Gods cxpcctations, yct lailcd to lollow Him. Tcn thosc who wcrc Gods instrumcnt ol punishmcnt in turn cxpcricnccd punish mcnt lor thcir own cvil ways, in a sccmingly ncvcr cnding cyclc. 8ut a climactic statcmcnt by thc prophct !saiah points toward thc possibility ol a brcak in this vicious cyclc. Spcaking ol thc coming Mcssiah, !saiah prophcsicd: Hc was picrccd lor our transgrcssions, hc was crushcd lor our iniquitics, thc punishmcnt that brought us peace (shalom/eirene) was upon him, and by his wounds wc arc hcalcd (!s. 53:5). Jcsus brought an cnd to thc ncccssity ol onc socicty punishing anothcr lor thc cvils it commits in its rcbcllion against God. Jcsus took thc nal punishmcnt on bchall ol any pcrson or socicty that will acccpt his pcacc ocring. 8y acccpting this substitutc punishmcnt, pcoplc and socictics can brcak out ol thc vicious cyclc and cxpcricncc hcaling ol bro kcn rclationships with God, pcoplc, and naturc. Promoting Shalom Qucstion 4. Vhat is thc rolc ol Gods pcoplc in pro moting shalom to thc pcoplcs ol thc world: Vhat is thc 8 SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx: rcsponsibility ol thc body ol Christ to thosc in harms way: Vhat should bc thc rolc ol Kingdommindcd !ntcrnational cvclopmcnt workcrs in addrcssing thc roots ol human problcms around thc world: Jcrcmiah sccmcd to bc saying, in his plca to !sracl, that il Gods pcoplc will obcy him, thc rcst ol thc world will bc blcsscd: !l you put your dctcstablc idols out ol my sight and no longcr go astray, and il in a truthlul, just and rightcous way you swcar, As surcly as thc Lord livcs, thcn thc nations will bc blcsscd by him and in him thcy will glory (4:1,2). Tc challcngc to bc Gods obcdicnt pcoplc, who arc cxpcricncing somc ol that blcssing bccomcs vcry pcrsonal il wc darc to ask our sclvcs thc qucstion lrom thc Lord through thc prophct Haggai: Vhat arc wc doing building our panclcd houscs and claboratc landscapcs whcn Gods Tcmplc, thc intcndcd 8ody ol Christ, is in shamblcs around thc world: (scc Haggai 1:3), whcn thcrc arc pcoplc lrom many nations in harms way whom God wants to rcdccm lor his glory (!s. 11:9): Quoting again lrom Paul Picrsons prcscntation on Fcbruary 14, 2008, wc arc callcd to call pcoplc to bc comc lollowcrs ol Jcsus as authcntic disciplcs ol Jcsus in thcir culturc and to show somcthing to thc world ol what thc Kingdom ol God mcans, and what arc its valucs. Picrson addcd, Vhat passion has God givcn you: !l hc givcs you a passion Hcll givc you thc gilts to go with it. Tc 8ody ol Christ contains pcoplc with thc gilts to do shalom in many dicrcnt arcas: justicc, pcacc kccping, skillbuilding lor cconomic indcpcndcncc, hcalth, ghting and cradicating discasc, ctc. All ol thcsc pcaccmaking activitics can potcntially dcmon stratc thc valucs ol thc Kingdom and bring shalom into thc livcs ol troublcd pcoplc and socictics. Jcsus con cludcd his larcwcll spccch to his disciplcs by promising shalom in thc midst ol troublc: ! havc told you thcsc things, so that in mc you may havc pcacc/eirene. !n this world you will havc troublc. 8ut takc hcart! ! havc ovcrcomc thc world ( John 16:33). !n 1 John wc scc that bclicvcrs in Jcsus also ovcrcomc thc world and thc cvil onc who rulcs it (1 John 2:13, 14, 5:4). As a rcsult thcy arc ablc to cnjoy and pass on to othcrs thc shalom ol God, as sccn in thc grcctings ol 2 John and 3 John. Comparc thc Grcck words in thcsc grcctings with thc list ol words lound at thc cnd ol this articlc showing how thc Scptuagint translatcd shalom: Gracc/charis, mcrcy/eleos and pcacc/eirene lrom God thc Fathcr and lrom Jcsus Christ, thc Fathcrs Son, will bc with us in truth and lovc (2 John 3). car lricnd, ! pray that you may cnjoy good hcalth/ hugiainei and that all may go wcll with you, cvcn as your soul is gctting along wcll (3 John 2). Concluding Challenge Vhat will it takc lor a socicty that is not cnjoying good hcalth, that is cngullcd in cvil and cxpcricnc ing thc abscncc ol Gods prcscncc, to gct to thc placc whcrc it cxpcricnccs shalom: Vhat would shalom look likc in thc Congo, in Sudan, in !raq, in Myanmar: Contrast thc unjust and violcnt conditions in such socictics with Zcchariahs prophcsy, as hc sings and prophcsics to his baby son, John thc 8aptist, in Lukc 1:6879: Praisc bc to thc Lord, thc God ol !sracl, bccausc hc has comc and has rcdccmcd his pcoplc. Hc has raiscd up a horn ol salvation lor us in thc housc ol his scrvant avid (as hc said through his holy prophcts ol long ago), salvation lrom our cncmics and lrom thc hand ol all who hatc usto show mcrcy to our lathcrs and to rcmcmbcr his holy covcnant, thc oath hc sworc to our lathcr Abraham: to rcscuc us lrom thc hand ol our cncmics, and to cnablc us to scrvc him without lcar in holincss and rightcousncss bclorc him all our days. And you, my child, will bc callcd a prophct ol thc Most high: lor you will go on bclorc thc Lord to prcparc thc way lor him, to givc his pcoplc thc knowlcdgc ol salva tion through thc lorgivcncss ol thcir sins, bccausc ol thc tcndcr mcrcy ol our God, to shinc on thosc living in darkncss and in thc shadow ol dcath, to guidc our lcct into thc path ol pcacc/eirene. Zcchariah sang about salvation lrom human cncmics, about scrving God without lcar in holincss and rightcousncss, lorgivcncss, mcrcy, pcaccthc samc shalom spokcn ol throughout thc ld Tcstamcnt. !n thc contcxt ol similar justicc, rightcousncss and laithlulncss, !saiah dcscribcd salvation lrom lcarcd cncmics in thc rcalm ol naturc (which can also rcprcscnt discasc microorganisms that wcrc unknown at that timc): Tc woll will livc with thc lamb, thc lcopard will lic down with thc goat, and a littlc child Beth Snodderly will lcad thcm. Tcy will ncithcr harm nor dcstroy on all my holy mountain, lor thc carth will bc lull ol thc knowlcdgc ol thc Lord (!s. 11:6, 9). !n thc wholistic naturc ol shalom, thcrc is no dichotomy bctwccn physical and spiritual hcalth and wcllbcing. Shalom is thc dcscription ol Gods will lor thc carth and cvcrything living in it. Shalom is thc goal ol !ntcrnation al cvclopmcnt bccausc this is thc goal ol thc Kingdom: ur Fathcr in hcavcn your kingdom comc, your will bc donc on carth as it is in hcavcn (Matthcw 6:10). 8lcsscd arc thc pcaccmakcrs lor thcy will bc callcd sons ol God (Matthcw 5:9). Occurrences and Meanings of Shalom in the Septuagint: Wholeness and Right Relationships with God, People, and Nature hugiainei 10x Vcllncss, physical hcalth Gcn. 29:6, 37:14, 43:27,28, 2 Sam. 20:9, sthcr 9:30, !s. 9:6 Grccting (! wish you wcll, pcacc to you, good hcalth to you, prospcrity to you) x. 4:18, 1 Sam. 25:6 Farcwcll (go in pcacc/hcalth) 2 Sam. 15:9 sotarias 3x Salcty (salvation) Gcn. 26:31, 41:16, 44:17 hileos 1x God dcal mcrcilully with you, lcar not Gcn. 43:23 hosia 1x Lct good happcn to mc cut. 29:19 anepause 1x God has givcn mc rcst round about (no onc is plotting against mc) 1 Kings 4:24 euthenousi 1x Tcir houscs arc salc (good condition, no rod ol pun ishmcnt lrom God is upon thcm) Job 21:9 chairein 3x No joy to thc wickcd !s. 48:22, 57:21 Go out with joy, and bc lcd lorth with pcacc/gladncss !s. 55:12 teleian 1x Vholly carricd away (Hcbrcw: pcacclully cxilcd) Jcr. 13:19 eirenes 169x ic pcacclully Gcn. 15:15, 2 Kings 22:20, 2 Chron. 34:28, Jcr. 34:5 Spcak pcaccably, kindly, abscncc ol dcccit Gcn. 37:4, cut. 20:10, Ps. 28:3, 35:20, 120:7, Prov. 12:20, !s. 52:7, Jcr. 9:8, Nah 1:15, Zcch. 9:10 Satiscd that justicc has bccn donc x. 18:23 Abscncc ol quarrclling, war, ghting, or dangcr Gcn 26:29, Lcv. 26:6, cut. 2:26, 20:11, 23:61, Josh. 9:15, Jud 4:17, 8:9, 11:13, 21:13, 1 Sam 7:14, 16:4, 5, 2 Sam. 15:27, 19:24, 30, 1 Kings 2:5,13, 5:12, 22:27,28, 2 Kings 9:17,18,19,22,31, 1 Chron. 12:17, 2 Chron. 15:5, Ps. 120:6, 122:6,7,8, 147:14, ccl 3:8, !s. 27:5, 33:7, 57:2, Jcr. 4:10, 6:14, 8:11,15, 12:5, 23:17, 28:9, zc. 7:25, Mic. 3:5, Zcch. 6:13, 8:10 Gods lavor/covcnant, associatcd with truth, doing good, rightcousncss, obcdicncc, hcaling Num 6:26, 25:12, 1 Kings 2:33, 2 Kings 20:19, 1 Chron. 22:9, Ps. 30:11, 34:14, 37:11,37, 72:3,7, 85:8,10, 119:165, 125:5, 128:6, Prov. 3:2, Song ol Sol 8:10, !s. 26:3, 26:12, 32:17, 39:8, 45:7, 48:18, 53:5, 54:13, 57:19, 59:8, 60:17, Jcr. 12:12, 14:13,19, 16:5, 29:11, 33:6, Lam 3:17, zc. 34:25, 37:26, Mic. 5:5, Hag 2:9, Zcch. 8:16,19, Mal. 2:5 Salc, sccurc Josh. 10:21, 1 Sam. 20:7,13,21, 2 Sam. 3:21,22, 23, 17:3, 18:29,32 1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chron. 18:16, 2 Chron. 18:27, zra 9:12, Job 5:24, Ps. 4:8 Prov. 3:17, !s. 32:18, 41:3, Jcr. 25:37, 30:5, 43:12, zc. 13:10,16 Grccting (pcacc bc to thcc, how arc you) Jud. 6:23, 18:15, 19:20, 1 Sam 10:4, 25:5, 30:21, 2 Sam. 8:10, 11:7, 2 Kings 10:13, 1 Chron. 12:18, an. 10:19 o SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx: Farcwcll |go in pcacc| Jud 18:6, 1 Sam. 1:17, 20:42, 29:7, 2 Sam. 11:7, 2 Kings 5:19 All is wcll/ is it wcll: 2 Sam. 18:28, 2 Kings 4:23,26, 5:21, 9:11, Jcr. 15:5 Prospcrity Job 15:21, Ps. 35:27, 73:3, !s. 66:12, Jcr. 29:7, 33:9, 38:4 Fricnd |man ol pcacc| Ps. 41:9, Jcr. 38:22, badiah 7 Endnote 1 Commcnt in a privatc convcrsation with thc author on Fcb ruary 14, 2008.