Romans 12:18

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably, etc..] Or be at peace, seek after peace, pursue it, and cultivate it: with all men; with those that we are immediately concerned with, in a natural relation; so husbands should live peaceably with their wives, and wives with their husbands; parents with their children, and children with their parents; masters with their servants, and servants with their masters; and one brother, relation, and friend, with another: and so with all we are concerned with in a spiritual relation, as members of Christ, and in the same church state; such should be at peace among themselves, (<520513>1 Thessalonians 5:13); peace should rule in their…”

“If it be possible--that is, If others will let you. as much as lieth in you--or, "dependeth on you." live peaceably--or, "be at peace." with all men--The impossibility of this in some cases is hinted at, to keep up the hearts of those who, having done their best unsuccessfully to live in peace, might be tempted to think the failure was necessarily owing to themselves. But how emphatically expressed is the injunction to let nothing on our part prevent it! Would that Christians were guiltless in this respect!”

“If it be possible - If it can be done. This expression implies that it could not always be done. Still it should be an object of desire; and we should endeavor to obtain it. As much as lieth in you - This implies two things: (1) We are to do our utmost endeavors to preserve peace, and to appease the anger and malice of others. (2) We are not to “begin” or to “originate” a quarrel. So far as “we” are concerned, we are to seek peace. But then it does not always depend on us. Others may oppose and persecute us; they will hate religion, and may slander, revile, and otherwise injure us; or they may commence an assault on our persons or property. For “their” assaults we are not answerable; but we…”

“12:18 Do all that you can: Paul recognizes that our efforts to live at peace with others will sometimes be frustrated by our own moral constraints or by other people’s unwillingness to be reconciled to us.”

“Rom 14:17, Rom 14:19; Sa2 20:19; Psa 34:14, Psa 120:5-7; Pro 12:20; Mat 5:5, Mat 5:9; Mar 9:50; Co1 7:15; Co2 13:11; Gal 5:22; Eph 4:3; Col 3:14, Col 3:15; Th1 5:13; Ti2 2:22; Heb 12:14; Jam 3:16-18; Pe1 3:11 Romans 12:19”