Peace from the Offended.
By Editor
A writer in the Social Democratic Herald, referring to the common rendering of Luke 2:14, "On earth peace, good will toward men," says: "Such is NOT the language as recorded by the evangelist, as any tyro in Greek can see for himself by turning to the original. It is one of the changes made by the King James translators. The true rendering is: 'On earth peace TO MEN OF GOOD WILL.' For, 'There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.' Nor did Jesus proclaim peace to them in His fierce denunciation of the 'generation of vipers.'" Not to defend the Common Version, or discuss that phase of it at all, we note this: It is a perversion of Gospel teaching to say that Jesus did not proclaim peace to all. He came for that very purpose—to bring fulness of peace to a rebellious world. The other passage, quoted from Isaiah 57, shows this: "Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can not rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:19-21. The only reason why the wicked do not have peace is that they do not accept it. Jesus said to the troubled sea, "Peace, be still," and the mighty waves were stilled. The same word will bring peace to the heart of the wicked if he will turn to God. To Israel, that had sinned above all the nations, God said, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil." Jer. 29:11. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:7. God's blessed Gospel proclaims peace to all who will receive it, who will surrender to God.