Unity in Christ

11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”(A) which is done in the flesh by human hands.(B) 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise,(C) without hope(D) and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood(E) of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one(F) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create(G) in himself one(H) new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body(I) through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.[a] 17 He came and proclaimed the good news(J) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.(K) 18 For through him we both have access(L) in one Spirit to the Father.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:16 Or death in himself

All Believers are One in the Messiah

11 So then, remember that at one time you gentiles by birth[a] were called “the uncircumcised” by those who called themselves “the circumcised.” They underwent physical circumcision done by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah,[b] excluded from citizenship in Israel,[c] and strangers to the covenants of promise. You had no hope and were in the world without God. 13 But now, in union with the Messiah[d] Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.[e]

14 For it is he who is our peace. Through his mortality[f] he made both groups one by tearing down the wall of hostility that divided them.[g] 15 He rendered the Law inoperative, along with its commandments and regulations, thus creating in himself one new humanity from the two, thereby making peace, 16 and reconciling both groups to God in one body through the cross, on which he eliminated the hostility. 17 He came and proclaimed peace for you who were far away and for you who were near. 18 For through him, both of us[h] have access to the Father by one Spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:11 Lit. in the flesh
  2. Ephesians 2:12 Or Christ
  3. Ephesians 2:12 Or from the commonwealth of Israel
  4. Ephesians 2:13 Or Christ
  5. Ephesians 2:13 Or Christ
  6. Ephesians 2:14 Lit. flesh
  7. Ephesians 2:14 Lit. the dividing wall of hostility
  8. Ephesians 2:18 I.e. both Jews and gentiles