… that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Summary: Paul’s words summarize the goal of Christianity: the absence of conflict, pain, and suffering.
A chess game is, in a sense, a model of life in miniature. It begins with a field of play, the chessboard, and revolves around a struggle between two opposing forces. The game begins with an “opening,” and continues with most of the action happening in the “middle game.” Finally, after many battles and strategic moves, there are only a few pieces left. If one side can conquer the other side’s king, the struggle is over, and peace is achieved. This is called the “end game.”
For us Christians, Paul has just described the goal of life: “That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
It doesn’t sound complicated or expensive. Why then is this so difficult to achieve?
The answer to that question is the key to everything, and it also happens to be staring us in the face. Paul’s own words stand as a stark testimony to the truth: Peaceful and quiet lives go hand in hand with “godliness and holiness.”
Hmmm …
What does that mean?
To find the answer, we have to look through the instruction manual God has provided for us, the Bible. In English, where the NIV uses the word “godliness,” the original Greek word is “eusébeia.”*This word combines “eu,” meaning “well” or “rightly,” with “sebomai,” meaning “to revere, worship, show devotion.” The intent is more than inner belief. Godliness, in this sense, is living as God wants us to live.
This is where we encounter the struggle. To live as God lives is to love as God loves (1 John 4:8).
The curse of sin is that we want to put ourselves first. That is not how we live a “peaceful and quiet life!” Putting ourselves first is a recipe for conflict.
Paul’s prayer for “kings and all those in authority” actually applies to us, too. Our inner “self” wants to claim authority over our lives. The result of submitting to our own authority is the exact opposite of a “peaceful and quiet life.”
In the chess game of life, our real “opening move” is submitting to Jesus Christ. The “middle game” is learning how to live in submission. The “end game” is what we all want — peaceful and quiet lives.
Application: Live as God would have you live.
Food for Thought: What does a “peaceful and quiet life” look like in real-world terms?
*”G2150 – eusebeia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 19 Mar, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2150/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
What does a “peaceful and quiet life” look like in real-world terms?
A “peaceful and quiet life” in real-world terms is pursuing peace. We must have peace with God first. A heart that seeks peace with God will find it. Jesus provides us with the means to both attain it and continually keep it. The Holy Spirit guides us to the peace of Christ by empowering us to speak truth in love, and to do the next righteous thing, according to God’s good Will. God has already made the path to peace with Him, we just need to seek it. We must let go of ourselves and seek complete dependence on Him, and He will give us peace.
1 Peter 3:10-11
For “Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.”
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Romans 8:6
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
I can think of several men, brothers in Christ, that no matter what happens around them they live a “peaceful and quiet” life. I could look at them and say it is just their personality, but they would say otherwise. No, it is simply that when storm-clouds appear, they pray, they give it to Jesus, and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit, they read the Word, and they believe and trust that all things will work together for good for those that love God. They pursue the peace of Christ, and He gives it to them.
Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
P.S. Today I learned that Peter (in 1 Peter 3:10-11) is quoting Psalm 34:12-14!
Thank you, Chris.
You didn’t say this outright, but your words describe a peace that exists apart from the disruptions of this world. I think that is spot on.
Good response CH. Thank you.