Peaceable Followers of Christ: Moroni 7

The only time the phrase “peaceable followers of Christ” is used in the entire canon of scripture is in Moroni 7:3!

Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.

And the only two times the word “peaceable” is used in the Book of Mormon is in Moroni 7:3-4.  Here’s verse 4.

And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men.

Looking for Comparable New Testatment Peaceful Followers

So in my scripture study, I chose to follow the word “peaceable” to see what new insight I could glean.

The 1828 Websters Dictionary offered expected definitions.

PE’ACEABLE, adjective Free from war, tumult or public commotion. We live in peaceable times. The reformation was introduced in a peaceable manner.

1. Free from private feuds or quarrels. The neighbors are peaceable These men are peaceable

2. Quiet; undisturbed; not agitated with passion. His mind is very peaceable

3. Not violent, bloody or unnatural; as, to die a peaceable death.

PE’ACEMAKER,noun One who makes peace by reconciling parties that are at variance.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9.

Peaceable in the New Testament

I searched the word “peaceable” in New Testament contexts relatively similar to Moroni 7 and found several similar examples in the form of “peacemaker,”

Hebrews 12:11 “It yieldeth the peaceable fruit” “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

James 3:17-18  “first pure, then peaceable” “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Searching for Meanings in Greek on Bible Hub

The Greek word for peaceable in those verses is eirēnikós.

Cognate: 1516 eirēnikós – what pertains to peace, i.e. God’s gift of wholeness which results from knowing (discerning) the Lord’s will and obeying it.

Wow!  That is beautiful! “God’s gift of wholeness which results from knowing (discerning) the Lord’s will and obeying it.” I felt so joyful just reading that sentence!

I decided to search its Greek root.  That is eiréné.

From Bible Hub 1515. eiréné

Eiréné is a Greek word commonly translated as peace or peaceable in the New Testament.  All neatly packaged on the same page in Bible Hub are some of the most interesting unwrappings of the word for me.

Strong’s Concordance

eiréné: one, peace, quietness, rest.

Original Word: εἰρήνη, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: eiréné
Phonetic Spelling: (i-ray’-nay)
Definition: one, peace, quietness, rest
Usage: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.

HELPS Word Studies

eirḗnē (from eirō, “to join, tie together into a whole“) – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God’s gift of wholeness).

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

According to a conception distinctly peculiar to Christianity, “the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoerer sort that is”: Romans 8:6; ἐν εἰρήνη namely, ὄντες; is used of those who, assured of salvation, tranquilly await the return of Christ and the transformation of all things which will accompany that event … Comprehensively, of every kind of peace (blessing), yet with a predominance apparently of the notion of peace with God …

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

one, peace, quietness, rest.

Probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity — one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again. (emphasis added)

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

The Beatitudes peacemaker’s Greek meaning is also fabulous!

Matthew 5:9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

That verse’s Greek word for peace is eirēnopoiós.

Cognate: 1518 eirēnopoiós (from 1517 /eirēnopoiéō, “make peace”) – properly, a peacemaker, bravely declares God’s terms which makes someone whole (used only in Mt 5:9). See 1515 (eirēnē).

This is the only use of this cognate/version of this word in the New Testament. It literally derives from “peace” listed above and “to make, do.”  Blessed are those who make peace, who bravely declares God’s terms to make someone whole.  How profound!

From Bible Hub 269. amachos

Titus 3 is devoted to peacemaking so I looked up the word for peace in that chapter.

Strong’s Concordance

amachos: abstaining from fighting

Original Word: ἄμαχος, ον
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: amachos
Phonetic Spelling: (am’-akh-os)
Definition: abstaining from fighting
Usage: peaceable, abstaining from fighting, not contentious.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

ἄμαχος, (μάχη), in Greek writings (from Pindar down) commonly not to be withstood, invincible; more rarely abstaining from fighting (Xenophon, Cyril 4, 1, 16; Hell. 4, 4, 9); in the N. T. twice metaphorically, not contentious: 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2.

Amachos has a fascinating derivation—a and maché.

“a” is Alpha!  As in Alpha and Omega. But did you know that when attached to words, it negates the word?  I didn’t.

A – alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. 1/a (alpha) is used as a prefix … and typically means “no” or “not” (= “un-,” “without”).

Maché means “a fight. (earlier: a battle, conflict, hence) in the sphere of words, etc: strife, contention, quarrel.”

Maché is also in Titus 3 juxtaposed to its peaceable “amachos” as Paul warns the saints in verse 9 to avoid strivings and contentions about the law.

So adding “alpha” onto “fight” negates the fight and makes peaceable!

Being Peaceable Followers of Christ

I immediately thought of the war in heaven where Lucifer opposed the will of God (maché) the Savior stood (Alpha) and ultimately triumphed over the conflict.  I also thought of Joseph Smith’s recollection of war of words and tumults of opinions and also being nearly overcome by an unseen adversary as he tried to pray juxtaposed to Jesus Christ’s appearance in the First Vision.

This corresponds so well to Mormon’s letter to the peaceable followers of Christ.  They lived during intense fighting/battle/conflict/strife/contention. Mormon said, “The whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.”  Yet somehow, some of the people, the peaceable followers, obtained rest in the Lord.

And that is our opportunity, too.