Unity in Christ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n2:11-12<\/a> Gentiles in the flesh<\/strong>: Not only were the Gentiles morally separated from God (vv. 1-3),<\/a> but they were also separated from God\u2019s covenant people. They were without any knowledge of Christ and had no rights in God\u2019s family and were not recipients of God\u2019s covenants. They were without hope<\/strong> and ultimately without God. Paul did not reproach the Gentiles for their plight; he merely recorded the sad truth of the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2:13<\/a> Paul used the strong transitional phrase But now in Christ Jesus<\/strong> to point to the Gentiles\u2019 new relationship in Christ. The Gentile believers no longer were in their alienated state. They knew Christ, took part in God\u2019s covenant blessings, and had hope and fellowship with God. This remarkable turnaround took place \u201cin Christ Jesus.\u201d Those who trust in him have a present salvation and a future hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA New Man<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n2:14-16<\/a> Who made both groups one<\/strong>: This verse emphasizes the centrality of Jesus Christ in bringing Gentiles and Jews together, not only with one another but also with God. Christ is both our peace<\/strong> and our peacemaker. His reconciling death on the cross has made the two\u2014Jews and Gentiles\u2014into one. Gentiles do not become Jews, but the two groups become one at a deeper level than ethnicity, forming Christ\u2019s church.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe new humanity is greater than the former humanity; God has torn down the dividing wall of hostility<\/strong> and removed the hatred forever. By \u201cdividing wall\u201d Paul likely had in mind the area in the Jerusalem temple that separated the court of the Gentiles from the temple. Around the temple was the court of priests. East of this was the court of Israel. Farther east was the court of women. These three courts were all on the same elevation as the temple. From here a walled platform was five steps away. Fourteen steps away was another wall, which was the outer court of the Gentiles. There was an inscription on this wall warning Gentiles of their ensuing death if they entered the enclosure around the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Christ this dividing wall was broken down, thus banishing the specific commandments that separated Jews from Gentiles because Gentiles did not observe the Jewish law. The burden of the commandments was taken away at the cross in our Lord\u2019s crucified body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2:16<\/a> Reconcile both to God<\/strong>: The phrase extends the concept of \u201cpeace\u201d and involves the idea of restoration to a unity. The goal was not merely to reconcile two groups but to reconcile them to God. The one body<\/strong> is the church, the new humanity, the place of peace. At the cross, everything that caused the disunion was destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA New Family<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n2:17<\/a> Far away<\/strong> and near<\/strong> refer to Gentiles and Jews and derives from Is 57:19<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2:18<\/a> Access<\/strong> to the Father is available to all who come to Christ. The imagery is of a court official who escorts visitors into the king\u2019s presence. Through Christ\u2019s reconciling work we have been ushered into God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2:19<\/a> Foreigners<\/strong> means short-term transients, nonresidents with no rights. Strangers<\/strong> is a similar word, pointing to resident foreigners who had settled permanently in the country of their choice but who nevertheless had only limited rights. These terms described the Gentiles\u2019 position before Christ. Fellow citizens . . . and members<\/strong> are terms that picture the Gentiles\u2019 new position. Now they enjoy all the privileges of God\u2019s household, where \u201chousehold\u201d describes their togetherness and inclusion. Believers are adopted into God\u2019s family and are united with the saints of every era\u2014past, present, and future.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA New Temple<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n2:20<\/a> God\u2019s new family is not only a new nation, but also a new building with a distinctive foundation. The apostles and prophets<\/strong> in their unique relationship to Christ, exemplified by the authoritative teachings they communicated to the church, are the foundation<\/strong>. Paul proclaimed Christ Jesus as the cornerstone<\/strong> of the foundation. \u201cCornerstone\u201d holds an entire structure together. In ancient structures it was placed at a right angle joining two walls, with the royal name inscribed on it to signify the ruler who took credit for the building\u2019s erection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2:21<\/a> \u201cBy virtue of its connection to the Lord<\/strong> Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, the universal church as a whole<\/strong> is in the process of becoming the holy<\/strong> dwelling place of God. The passive being put together<\/strong> indicates this is not being accomplished by us, but by God himself\u201d (Peter T. O\u2019Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians).<\/p>\n\n\n\n2:22<\/a> You are also being built together<\/strong>: The description of a building under construction is indicated by the word \u201cgrows\u201d (v. 21<\/a>). It conveys the idea of a dynamic church in the process of expansion. The major theme of union with Christ reappears in Paul\u2019s conclusion to this chapter. Paul declared that God\u2019s abode is not in the Jerusalem temple but in the church, through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the community of believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe CSB Study Bible<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/CSBStudyBibleSocial-1024x580.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is a great study Bible to add to your library. Developed with the Christian Standard Bible<\/a>, this resource can help you know God\u2019s Word better and change you for the better. Visit our store<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2:13<\/a> Paul used the strong transitional phrase But now in Christ Jesus<\/strong> to point to the Gentiles\u2019 new relationship in Christ. The Gentile believers no longer were in their alienated state. They knew Christ, took part in God\u2019s covenant blessings, and had hope and fellowship with God. This remarkable turnaround took place \u201cin Christ Jesus.\u201d Those who trust in him have a present salvation and a future hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:14-16<\/a> Who made both groups one<\/strong>: This verse emphasizes the centrality of Jesus Christ in bringing Gentiles and Jews together, not only with one another but also with God. Christ is both our peace<\/strong> and our peacemaker. His reconciling death on the cross has made the two\u2014Jews and Gentiles\u2014into one. Gentiles do not become Jews, but the two groups become one at a deeper level than ethnicity, forming Christ\u2019s church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new humanity is greater than the former humanity; God has torn down the dividing wall of hostility<\/strong> and removed the hatred forever. By \u201cdividing wall\u201d Paul likely had in mind the area in the Jerusalem temple that separated the court of the Gentiles from the temple. Around the temple was the court of priests. East of this was the court of Israel. Farther east was the court of women. These three courts were all on the same elevation as the temple. From here a walled platform was five steps away. Fourteen steps away was another wall, which was the outer court of the Gentiles. There was an inscription on this wall warning Gentiles of their ensuing death if they entered the enclosure around the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Christ this dividing wall was broken down, thus banishing the specific commandments that separated Jews from Gentiles because Gentiles did not observe the Jewish law. The burden of the commandments was taken away at the cross in our Lord\u2019s crucified body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:16<\/a> Reconcile both to God<\/strong>: The phrase extends the concept of \u201cpeace\u201d and involves the idea of restoration to a unity. The goal was not merely to reconcile two groups but to reconcile them to God. The one body<\/strong> is the church, the new humanity, the place of peace. At the cross, everything that caused the disunion was destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:17<\/a> Far away<\/strong> and near<\/strong> refer to Gentiles and Jews and derives from Is 57:19<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:18<\/a> Access<\/strong> to the Father is available to all who come to Christ. The imagery is of a court official who escorts visitors into the king\u2019s presence. Through Christ\u2019s reconciling work we have been ushered into God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:19<\/a> Foreigners<\/strong> means short-term transients, nonresidents with no rights. Strangers<\/strong> is a similar word, pointing to resident foreigners who had settled permanently in the country of their choice but who nevertheless had only limited rights. These terms described the Gentiles\u2019 position before Christ. Fellow citizens . . . and members<\/strong> are terms that picture the Gentiles\u2019 new position. Now they enjoy all the privileges of God\u2019s household, where \u201chousehold\u201d describes their togetherness and inclusion. Believers are adopted into God\u2019s family and are united with the saints of every era\u2014past, present, and future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:20<\/a> God\u2019s new family is not only a new nation, but also a new building with a distinctive foundation. The apostles and prophets<\/strong> in their unique relationship to Christ, exemplified by the authoritative teachings they communicated to the church, are the foundation<\/strong>. Paul proclaimed Christ Jesus as the cornerstone<\/strong> of the foundation. \u201cCornerstone\u201d holds an entire structure together. In ancient structures it was placed at a right angle joining two walls, with the royal name inscribed on it to signify the ruler who took credit for the building\u2019s erection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:21<\/a> \u201cBy virtue of its connection to the Lord<\/strong> Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, the universal church as a whole<\/strong> is in the process of becoming the holy<\/strong> dwelling place of God. The passive being put together<\/strong> indicates this is not being accomplished by us, but by God himself\u201d (Peter T. O\u2019Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2:22<\/a> You are also being built together<\/strong>: The description of a building under construction is indicated by the word \u201cgrows\u201d (v. 21<\/a>). It conveys the idea of a dynamic church in the process of expansion. The major theme of union with Christ reappears in Paul\u2019s conclusion to this chapter. Paul declared that God\u2019s abode is not in the Jerusalem temple but in the church, through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the community of believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a great study Bible to add to your library. Developed with the Christian Standard Bible<\/a>, this resource can help you know God\u2019s Word better and change you for the better. Visit our store<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA New Man<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A New Family<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A New Temple<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The CSB Study Bible<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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