• Willard M. Swartley: Covenant of Peace - The Missing Peace in New Testament Theology and Ethics, Eerdmans, 2006

The author informs us this book was written to demonstrate that the major writings of the New Testament (NT) canon speak significantly to peace and peacemaking.

He asks: How is it that major volumes on NT or Pauline theology would have only one or two references to peace, even though that word and associated motifs are throughout? They occur more than 100 times in NT literature - in every NT book except I John.

Twenty-five major works of theology and ethics from over the past half-century are listed in Appendix I. In only two do peace and peacemaking shape the material; in all others, it is neglected - or even missing.

In the context of a biblical missions mandate, ignoring peacemaking is inconceivable - yet this is routine in Western theology. The author notes that even major works on mission astoundingly miss peace and peacemaking.

Swartley establishes in his first chapter that the peace/gospel theme is fundamental to the core of NT teachings.

Chapter 2 looks at Old Testament (OT) understandings of shalom in Greco-Roman usage, and addresses contrary emphases. Chapters 3 to 12 discuss the sweep of New Testament books.

Three thematic chapters follow, which address discipleship and imitatio Christi ('imitation of Christ'); God's moral character, especially with reference to the 'warrior God' of the OT (with an exploration of the concept of Jesus as an extension of that motif); and the formation of Christian character in the ways of peace.

A summary chapter discusses, among other things, what it means to live in light of this teaching - personally, and corporately as God's people.

The author points out that 'historical Jesus' studies by writers such as N.T. Wright, Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan do emphasize the peace perspective of Jesus, and wonders at the gap between such research and theology studies.

However, Swartley affirms the NT canon as "[the] play to watch" - unlike many such revisionist studies, which tend to say as much about the author's preferences as about Jesus.

Swartley convincingly points out that the 'way' of Jesus was hardly one of power; rather, it was one of persecution and death. Inherent in his thesis is a question: Is the NT therefore the central world text demonstrating the deconstruction of the use of violence to maintain power?

Similarly, Swartley draws on studies which show that the early church's selection of the NT canon and the martyrdom of believers stand in vital relationship to each other - hardly the way of power posited by postmodernists.

Author and philosopher RenŽ Girard, much discussed by Swartley in the thematic chapters, in fact argues that the NT texts - like no other - ultimately deconstruct scapegoating and the scapegoat mechanism, so fundamental to all exercise of power over people.

At the end of his last chapter, Swartley quotes Richard Hays at length, commenting: "I affirm Hays' nonviolence manifesto, and call for the complement of positive peacemaking teaching and action as revealed to us by NT Scripture."

It is a missions manifesto as well. Hays wrote in part:

"One reason that the world finds the New Testament's message of peacemaking and love of enemies incredible is that the church is so massively faithless . . .

"Only when the church renounces the way of violence, will people see what the gospel means . . . The meaning of the New Testament's teaching on violence will become evident only in communities of Jesus' followers who embody the costly way of peace."

Willard Swartley's book is an outstanding clarion call to embrace the unthinkable: peace for this world, living a life of peace - and pursuing peace, as the central gospel mission.

One can scarcely imagine the revolutionary impact of a worldwide shift in the church towards the NT vision for peace and peacemaking. This is a crucial 21st century missions emphasis for biblical people.

Will the church worldwide pick up the challenge?

Wayne Northey is executive director of M2W2.

Mission Fields Spring 2007