a particular decision, the believer may have strong assurance of the will of God and head straight in. Rule (1018) (brabeuo; related word = brabeús = an umpire) (Only use in the NT here) means literally to award the prize and is a cognate (related) to the word "prize" (brabeion = gift received as a prize or reward as result of having won in competition) used by Paul in 1Co 9:24 and Php 3:14-note. In later Greek brabeuo was frequently used in the sense of rule because a conspicuous part of a ruler’s work was to pronounce decisions in matters open to question. Brabeuo is used once in the Septuagint (LXX) in the apocryphal work Wisdom 10:12 where "Wisdom" is described as the umpire in Jacob's struggle with the "angel" (Who I think was most likely the Angel of the LORD - see especially Ge 32:30 = see Ge 32:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30). The original picture of brabeuo is that of an umpire deciding the outcome of an athletic contest. The umpire would preside over the athletic games so popular in the Greek culture (cp American sports!) and distribute the coveted prize to the winner. In the present context brabeuo is used figuratively to picture the peace of Christ arbitrating, deciding in arguments, and thereby restraining the passions of the flesh nature that might threaten to disrupt the peace in the body. The peace of Christ would settle any friction and strife so that the believers could remain strong and unified. Brabeuo is present imperative calling for this to be one's continual attitude. Thus this verse can be rephrased... "let the peace of Christ continually decide as umpire or arbitrate in your hearts." By way of application, the peace of Christ should act as our umpire when anger, envy, and other such passions arise in our hearts. Let the peace of Christ be the umpire in your heart amidst the conflicts of life, this "divine umpire" helping you decide what is right (However see the discussion below regarding using this passage to "discern the will of God".) Eadie on peace of Christ - (The Peace of Christ) was to exercise supreme command. For such is the meaning of brabeueto, as it naturally comes from its original and literal signification of presiding at the games, and then of distributing the rewards of victory.... This peace was to possess undisputed supremacy-was to be uncontrolled president in their hearts. (Colossians Commentary) Kent Hughes applies this very practically asking... How much misery we would avoid if we permitted “the peace of Christ” to umpire in our hearts. How many words we would hold back if he were the arbitrator in our lives. How many sleepless nights we would forego if we did that. How the Church needs this too, “since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Hughes, R. K.: Colossians and Philemon: The Supremacy of Christ. Preaching the Word. Westchester, Ill.: Crossway Books) The KJV Study Bible writes that Paul's intent is that when believers are at odds with each other, whatever course of action best maintains peace and fosters harmony is the course to be taken. (KJV Study Bible. Nelson) In secular Greek, brabeuo meant to be a brabeús, an umpire, director or arbiter in public Greek games. He would assign a prize in the public games. He was to be a judge and award the prize. Paul uses a derivative on brabeuo in Colossians 2:18 writing... Let no one keep defrauding (katabrabeuo = present imperative = with a negative means to stop letting this happen) you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind... Paul is using the well known illustration of a the judge at athletic games (brabeus) who would disqualify any athlete from competition if they had broken the rules of the games (see discussion of ancient athletics in context of 2Ti 2:5-note). They would not be awarded the prize (Greek = brabeion). In ancient Greece although the athlete might be disqualified from competition, they would not cease to be citizens of the country they belonged to but they would forfeit the glory and honor that was associated with wining at the Olympic games. What Paul is saying in Col 2:18 (note) is that some men were coming in and saying to the Christians who failed to keep all there man made rules (self abasement, etc) would lose their reward. Calvin explains rule in your hearts writing that Paul... employs, however, a very appropriate metaphor (Ed note: "rule" or "umpire"); for as among wrestlers, he who has vanquished all the others carries off the palm (Ed note: the prize, for the leaf of a palm was a symbol of victory), so he would have the peace of God be superior to all carnal affections, which often hurry us on to contentions, disagreements, quarrels, secret grudges. He accordingly prohibits us from giving loose reins to corrupt affections of this kind. As, however it is difficult to restrain them, he points out also the remedy, that the peace of God may carry the victory, because it must be a bridle, by which carnal affections may be restrained. Hence he says, in our hearts; because we constantly feel there great conflicts, while the flesh lusteth against the Spirit. (Gal 5:17-note) The clause, to which ye are called, intimates what manner of peace this is — that unity which Christ has consecrated among us under his own direction. For God has reconciled us to himself in Christ, (2Co 5:18) with this view, that we may live in entire harmony among ourselves. Although this verse is often applied to discern the will of God (eg, if I don't experience the "peace of Christ" then the "umpire" is saying I am out of bounds, so to speak). The idea is that when a believer loses his peace, he can know that he has in some way disobeyed God (or as someone has said “Darkness about going is light about staying.”). There is no question that when a believer obeys the will of God, they will (or should) experience God's peace; and when they disobey intentionally or unintentionally they forfeit His peace. Although certainly peace in our heart is part of discerning God's will, the context speaks more to the interpersonal relationships of those in the body of Christ. Paul's point is that if we have peace, we will certainly be more likely to experience peace in the church. If we are not experiencing peace individually, we are more likely to contribute to discord and disharmony in the church. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary writes that... Christ’s rule of peace pulls believers together in unity (cf. Col 1:15, 16, 17, 18 - see notes Col 1:15; 16; 17; 18). When differences threaten the unity of the body, the peace of Christ must be accepted as arbitrator. (Hughes, R. B., Laney, J. C., & Hughes, R. B. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers). Matthew Henry explains that this peace is... God’s being at peace with you, and the comfortable sense of his acceptance and favour: or, a disposition to peace among yourselves, a peaceable spirit, that keeps the peace, and makes peace...We are called to this peace, to peace with God as our privilege and peace with our brethren as our duty. Being united in one body, we are called to be at peace one with another, as the members of the natural body. (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible) Adam Clarke writes... No heart is right with God where the peace of Christ does not rule; and the continual prevalence of the peace of Christ is the decisive proof that the heart is right with God. When a man loses his peace, it is an awful proof that he has lost something else; that he has given way to evil, and grieved the Spirit of God. While peace rules, all is safe. To illustrate the idea of letting the peace of Christ rule in your hearts picture a baseball umpire. Baseball fans know that the man in the black suit who stands behind the catcher rules on the plays and makes the calls. He remains absolutely unruffled no matter what happens. Managers curse him and kick dirt at him, fans throw pop bottles at him, yet he remains unperturbed. That is the idea. Let the calmness of Christ rule among you. Consider Jesus in the gospels. He moves into every situation with total poise. He is not upset by others but remains calm and collected when other people are panicking around him. He is in control. That is to characterize the church in its functioning as a body. Though subjective in nature, yet very really indeed the peace of God produced by the Spirit of God (Ga 5:22-note) “acts as umpire” in the heart to make definite the right decision in accord with the divine purpose. The means used by the Spirit in making each decision is the written Word (Col 3:16; cf. Ps 119:105). As noted above, it is the Scriptures which are used to prepare the heart and cause it to yield to the sovereign purpose of God. The Spirit of God through the Word of God also produces the peace of God in the heart. We must beware, however, of a false peace in the heart. Jonah deliberately disobeyed God, yet he was able to go to sleep in the hold of a ship in a storm! “I had peace about it!” is not sufficient evidence that we are in the will of God. We must pray, surrender to His will, and seek His guidance in the Scriptures. The peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God. Jameison, Fausset and Brown write... Let the peace of Christ act as umpire when anger, envy, and such passions arise; and restrain them." in your hearts - Many wear a peaceful countenance and speak peace with the mouth, while war is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3 = Spurgeon's note; Ps 55:21 = Spurgeon's note). (A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory) Peace is not only objective and subjective, but also relational. Believers were called to live in peace in one body. Individuals who have peace with Christ and in their own hearts will live in unity and harmony with each other. The Life Application Bible Commentary has an excellent note on application... When we exercise the traits of compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and, above all, love, we are going to face conflict. Not everyone will be playing by these rules. Not all Christians show the self-restraint needed in conflict. How can we deal with these conflicts and live as God wants? When we are hurt by others or our gracious efforts are rebuked, we must have an umpire inside that says, “Peace.” We need to call a time-out on our passions and reactions; then we can think about the peace that God has won for us in Christ’s death. Paul does not teach “peace at any price.” Instead, he encourages believers to embrace God’s peace and be under his control as they make courageous moral decisions for the truth and the right. (Barton, B. B., & Comfort, P. W.: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers) Lightfoot - Wherever there is a conflict of motives or impulses or reasons, the peace of Christ must step in and decide which is to prevail. Eadie on in your heart - Let it (peace) not be a state of mind admired or envied, but one actually possessed; let it not be hovering as a hoped-for blessing on the outskirts of your spirits, but let it be within you; let it not be an occasional visitant, often scared away by dominant and usurping passion, but a central power, exercising a full and unlimited administration. Let it so govern, and happiness will be the result, every source of disquietude and element of turbulence being destroyed. The apostle thus wished the Colossians highest spiritual welfare, that their souls might enjoy unbroken quiet. A peace, which is not the peace of Christ, is often rudely disturbed, for it is but a dream and a slumber in the midst of volcanic powers, which are employing the time in gathering up their energies for a more awful conflict. There is no question, if a man possessed and cherished the ripe consciousness of his interest in Christ, if he had full assurance, and felt that God was for him-if the elements of sinful passion, either in its fouler forms of sensuality, or its darker aspects of malignity, were subdued; and if “the gentleness of Christ” were at home within him, and all the graces which possess a kindred character were around him, bound and held together by that “love which is the bond of perfectness,” that then he would enjoy a peace or a bliss second only to the elevation and felicity of heaven. Philippians 4:7. And it was no audacity in them to seek or cultivate that peace, for to it they had been called. 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