Brought Near by His Blood

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called (A)the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you 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 you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Christ Our Peace

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one (B)new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might (C)reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby (D)putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For (E)through Him we both have access (F)by one Spirit to the Father.

Christ Our Cornerstone

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been (G)built (H)on the foundation of the (I)apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being (J)the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into (K)a holy temple in the Lord, 22 (L)in whom you also are being built together for a (M)dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

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11 Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God. 13 But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near [a]by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us], 15 by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace. 16 And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached the good news of peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away, and peace to those [Jews] who were near.(A) 18 For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. 22 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:13 Or in.

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.

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11 [a]Wherefore remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, and [b]called uncircumcision of them, which are [c]called circumcision in the flesh, made with hands,

12 That ye were, I say, at that time [d]without Christ, and were [e]aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were (A)strangers from the covenants of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in the world.

13 [f]But now in Christ Jesus, ye which once were far off, are made near by the blood of Christ.

14 [g]For he is our peace, which hath made of both one, and hath broken the stop of the partition wall,

15 (B)In abrogating through his flesh the hatred, that is, the Law of commandments which standeth in ordinances, for to make of twain one new man in himself, so making peace,

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in [h]one body by his cross, and [i]slay hatred thereby,

17 [j]And came, and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were near.

18 For [k]through him we both have an entrance unto the Father by one Spirit.

19 [l]Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners: but citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God.

20 [m]And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the [n]chief cornerstone,

21 In whom all the building [o]coupled together, groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord.

22 In whom ye also are built together to be the habitation of God by the Spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:11 Applying the former doctrine to the Gentiles, he showeth that they were not only as the Jews, by nature, but also after an especial sort, strangers and without God: and therefore they ought so much the rather remember that same so great a benefit of God.
  2. Ephesians 2:11 You were called no otherwise than Gentiles, that all the world might witness of your uncleanness.
  3. Ephesians 2:11 Of the Jews which were known from you by the mark of circumcision, the mark of the covenant.
  4. Ephesians 2:12 He beginneth first with Christ, who was the end of all the promises.
  5. Ephesians 2:12 You had no right or title, to the common wealth of Israel.
  6. Ephesians 2:13 Christ is the only bond of the Jews and Gentiles, whereby they be reconciled to God.
  7. Ephesians 2:14 As by the ceremonies and worship appointed by the Law, the Jews were divided from the Gentiles, so now Christ, having broken down the partition wall, joineth them both together, both in himself, and betwixt themselves, and to God. Whereby it followeth, that whosoever established the ceremonies of the Law, maketh the grace of Christ void and of none effect.
  8. Ephesians 2:16 He alludeth to the sacrifices of the Law, which represented that true and only sacrifice.
  9. Ephesians 2:16 For he destroyed death by death, and fastened it as it were to the cross.
  10. Ephesians 2:17 The preaching of the Gospel is an effectual instrument of this grace, common as well to the Jews as to the Gentiles.
  11. Ephesians 2:18 Christ is the gate as it were, by whom we come to the Father, and the holy Ghost is as it were our lodes man who leadeth us.
  12. Ephesians 2:19 The conclusion: The Gentiles are taken into the fellowship of salvation. And he describeth the excellency of the Church, calling it the city and house of God.
  13. Ephesians 2:20 The Lord committed the doctrine of salvation, first to the Prophets, and then to the Apostles, the end whereof and matter as it were and substance, is Christ. Therefore that is indeed the true and Catholic Church, which is builded upon Christ by the Prophets and Apostles, as a spiritual temple consecrated to God.
  14. Ephesians 2:20 That is, the head of the building, for the foundations are as it were the heads of the buildings.
  15. Ephesians 2:21 So that God is the workman not only of the foundation, but also of the whole building.

11 Wherefore, remember, that ye [were] once the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands,

12 that ye were at that time apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God, in the world;

13 and now, in Christ Jesus, ye being once afar off became nigh in the blood of the Christ,

14 for he is our peace, who did make both one, and the middle wall of the enclosure did break down,

15 the enmity in his flesh, the law of the commands in ordinances having done away, that the two he might create in himself into one new man, making peace,

16 and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity in it,

17 and having come, he did proclaim good news -- peace to you -- the far-off and the nigh,

18 because through him we have the access -- we both -- in one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Then, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God,

20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being chief corner-[stone],

21 in whom all the building fitly framed together doth increase to an holy sanctuary in the Lord,

22 in whom also ye are builded together, for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

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