the God of peace

Hebrews 13:20-25 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. Know you that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.

‘God of peace’ – God is called: The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Cor. 1:3; 11:31; Eph. 1:3; 3:14; Col. 1:3). The Father of Mercies (2Cor. 1:3). The God of all Comfort (2Cor. 1:3). The Father of Glory (Eph. 1:17). The Father of All (Eph. 4:6). The Father of Spirits (Heb. 12:9). The Father of Lights [sun, moon and stars] (Jas. 1:17). The God of Peace (Php. 4:9).

‘Great shepherd’ – Ten titles of Christ: The shepherd (Gen. 49:24; Zech. 13:7; Matt. 26:31; Mark 14:27). My shepherd (man’s, Ps. 23:1). O shepherd of Israel (Ps. 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 63:11). One shepherd (Ezek. 34:23; 37:24). My shepherd (God’s, Zech. 13:7). The shepherd of the sheep (John 10:2). The good shepherd (John 10:11, 14). Great shepherd of the sheep (Heb. 13:20). The Shepherd and Bishop of your souls (1Pet. 2:25). The Chief Shepherd (1Pet. 5:4).

‘The everlasting covenant.’The new covenant is thus called to contrast it with the temporary covenant of Moses.

‘Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.’ Two blessings for Christians.

‘Set at liberty’ – Not released from prison but sent on a special mission (cp. 1Cor. 4:17).

‘By Timothy’ The last part of the salutation was written by Timothy, not the epistle of Hebrews – that was written by Paul (2Pet. 3:15-16).

Romans 16:20-24 And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salute you, and Quartus a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

‘And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet shortly.’ This is the 4th and last New Testament prophecy in Romans unfulfilled. It will happen when he devoured by fire that will come down from God out of heaven and he will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:9-10).

‘Bruise’ [Greek: suntribo] crush in pieces, utterly defeat and bring to helplessness (Matt. 12:20; Mark 5:4; 14:3; Luke 4:18; 9:39; John 19:36; Rev. 2:27). Satan will be finally defeated at the second coming and the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-10).

‘Timotheus’ – converted by Paul on his first trip (Acts 14:6-7 with 1Tim. 1:2). Part Jew and Greek, uncircumcised, but a good Christian (Acts 16:1-3). A miracle worker like Paul (1Cor. 16:10). Paul’s companion from Derbe and Lystra on (Acts 16:1-3; 17:14-15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; Rom. 16:21; 1Cor. 4:17; Php. 2:19). On a mission (Heb. 13:23). It is believed by some that he was Paul’s scribe in writing Hebrews and Galatians. He had the gifts of the Spirit (1Tim. 4:14; 2Tim. 1:6). He was a great student of Scripture (2Tim. 1:5; 2:15; 3:15).

‘Lucius’ probably the one in Acts 13:1, or it could be Luke the evangelist and the writer of Luke and Acts who might have been the same person.

‘Jason’ – unknown, might have been the same one as in Acts 17:5, 7.

‘Sosipater’ – may be the same as in Acts 20:4. The third time Paul refers to kinsmen (16:7, 11).

‘Tertius, who wrote this epistle’ – some unknown scribe who wrote the epistle at Paul’s dictation.

‘Gaius’ – may be the same as the one in Acts 19:29, or of Derbe in Acts 20:4, but almost certainly the one in 1Corinthians 1:14.

‘Erastus the chamberlain of the city.’ Perhaps the same as the one in 2Timothy 4:20 and Acts 19:22. He was chamberlain (treasurer) at Corinth.

‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ’ there are four secrets of continued grace: Live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:5; 16-26; Rom. 8:1-13; Col. 3:5-10). Be patient in hope (Gal. 5:5; Rom. 8:24; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 6:19), continue in Christ (Gal. 5:6; John 15:1-8; Col. 2:6-7; Heb. 3:14) and continue in faith (Gal. 5:6; Col. 1:23).

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The Grace of Our Lord