Ephesians 2:11-22 Lesson 371

Ephesians 2:11-22
Lesson 371

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Once without hope, now united in Christ.
Sinners and Christ.

Jesus is the way to peace.

What is -

Circumcision -
Circumcision is the cutting away of the foreskin from the male genitals. To Jews, it represents their relationship with God. Circumcision began as an Old Testament rite to serve as "a token of the covenant" between God and the Jewish people (Genesis 17:11). God promised Abraham He would protect Jews, bless them with many descendants (Genesis 15:5), and give them a homeland (Genesis 15:18). In return, Abraham vowed to obey God and to circumcise every boy child (Genesis 17:1-14; Leviticus 12:3). Circumcision shows that a Jewish man belongs to God (Genesis 17:9-14), but it is not required of Christians (Romans 4:9-11; 1 Corinthians 7:18-19; Galatians 5:2-6; 6:15; Colossians 2:11). Circumcision without hands is spiritual and not physical. It refers to the cutting away of sin from one's heart (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:28-29).

Study Tip:

Repetition is a tool writers use to highlight key points.
When you see themes repeated in the Bible, this is a clue that God considers them essential.
Hover over these passages a little longer to grasp their whole meaning.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Ephesians

The King James Bible

Ephesians 2:11-22
United in Christ

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Margin notes:

"Gentiles." (2:11) - Non-Jews.

"You are called Uncircumcision." (2:11) - The word circumcision was another name for Jews. Uncircumcision refers to Gentiles, anyone not under God's first Covenant (agreement). Remember, most of Ephesus' converts were Gentiles and thus uncircumcised.

"Circumcision." (2:11) - Again, this refers to Jews. Being circumcised was a symbolic sign of the Covenant between God and the Jewish people. But, after generations of practicing circumcision, Jews had lost its true meaning. The Bible tells us that true circumcision is of the heart, that is, faith in God (Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:11).

"Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel." (2:12) - Jews considered Gentiles as unclean outsiders.

"Strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." (2:12) - Gentiles knew little about God, His covenant with the Jewish people, or His promise of a Messiah. They were without hope. See Romans 1:22-32 for a description of life without God.

"But now." (2:13) - Two important words. After Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, the relationship between Jews and Gentiles, and mankind and God changed forever.

"Ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (2:13) - Means; "You (Gentiles) who were once far from God are now near to God, thanks to the blood of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Colossians 1:20)." Jesus died to save us.

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one." (2:14) - God created one church out of two people (Jews and Gentiles).

"Hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." (2:14) - Jesus broke down the wall separating Jew and Gentile. Now, anyone who wishes can join God's family (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11).

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances." (2:15) - By dying on the cross, Jesus erased the difference between Jew and Gentile, abolished the Mosaic Law with its rites and ceremonies, and replaced it with salvation by faith (Matthew 5:17-18).

"To make in himself of twain one new man." (2:15) - "To make two people (Jew and Gentile) into one new person."

"That he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross." (2:16) - Jews and Gentiles can now know God through Jesus. See Romans 6:6 and Galatians 2:20.

"Preached peace to you which were afar off." (2:17) - God promised Jews through the Old Testament that there would be a Messiah. Gentiles were not part of the Old Covenant and thus were considered "afar off" from God.

"Them that were nigh." (2:17) - Jews were considered near to God because they had faith in Him and His promise to send a Messiah.

"Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (2:18) - Through Christ, we (Jew and non-Jew) can approach God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the door to God and salvation (John 10:9).

"Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (2:20) - A cornerstone is the most important stone in a building. Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, as prophesied in Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16. See also Matthew 21:42 and Acts 4:11.

"Fitly framed together." (2:21) - "Joined together."

New Living Translation

Ephesians 2:11-22
Oneness and Peace in Christ

11 Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called "uncircumcised heathens" by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

A Temple for the Lord

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.

20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. Who is the "one new man"? (2:15)




"The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible."

American evangelist Dwight L. Moody.  (1837-1899)

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. In Jewish culture, "man" meant mankind.  Before Jesus, Jews were culturally and religiously different from Gentiles and considered them unclean heathens. When Christ replaced the Mosaic Law with salvation by faith (Colossians 2:14), everyone who believed in Jesus (Jew or Gentile) became one people, Christians. The rites of Judaism, which acted as a wall between Jew and non-Jews, were gone.  Regardless of their background, the faithful became one family (2:14), reconciled by the cross (2:16).

Before the crucifixion, humanity was dead in sin and alienated from God. Instead of being enslaved to Satan, we have been given our freedom. Since the crucifixion, we can approach God via the Holy Spirit (2:18) and are no longer "strangers" (2:19).  Thanks to the resurrection, we are now all children of God and alive in Christ.



Application thought for the day:

Name one thing this segment taught you about reconciliation with God, ethical living (2:19), and the transformation of the Christian's life.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2022 evolke

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