Efesios 2:15, Efesios 2:16 NTV

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:14-16

Christ our Peace. He is so by effecting two reconciliations, and thus obliterating two deep and long-standing alienations. He "hath made both one" Jew and Gentile—and "he hath reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross." Christ is our Peace, not simply as our Peacemaker, but as our Peace objectively considered and with regard to our relation to God; for the apostle represents our nearness to God as grounded in Christ as our Peace. He is therefore our Peace, as he is called our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:14-19

Christ and his work of reconciliation. Here we have three topics: I. CHRIST OUR PEACE . Observe the several statements ( Ephesians 2:14-17 ). 1. He made both Jew and Gentile one (see Exposition). 2. He broke down the middle wall of partition. 3. He abolished the cause of enmity between Jew and Gentile—the Law of commandments in ordinances. 4. He constituted himself a new Man, to which both Jew and Gentile belong. 5. He thereby reconciled both to God. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:15

( To wit, the enmity .) It is a moot point whether τὴν ἔχθραν is to be taken as governed by λύσας in Ephesians 2:14 , or by καταργήσας in the end of this verse. Both A.V. and R.V. adopt the latter; but the former is more textual and natural. Another question is—What enmity? Some say between Jews and Gentiles; others, between both and God. The latter seems right; where "the enmity" is so emphatically referred to, it must be the great or fundamental enmity, and the whole tenor of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished - Having brought to naught, or put an end to it - καταργήσας katargēsas.In his flesh - By the sacrifice of his body on the cross. It was not by instruction merely; it was not by communicating the knowledge of God; it was not as a teacher; it was not by the mere exertion of power; it was by his flesh - his human nature - and this can mean only that he did it by his sacrifice of himself. It is such language as is appropriate to the doctrine of the atonement - not indeed... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 2:15-18

Ephesians 2:15-18. Having abolished in his flesh By the sufferings and death endured therein; the cause of enmity between the Jews and Gentiles, even the law of ceremonial commandments, contained in ordinances Consisting in many institutions and appointments concerning the outward worship of God; such as those of circumcision, sacrifices, clean and unclean meats, washings, and holy days; which, being founded in the mere pleasure of God, might be abolished when he saw fit. These... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

Jew and Gentile made one in Christ (2:11-22)For centuries there had been bitterness and tension between Jews and Gentiles, mainly because of the way proud Jews looked down on Gentiles. Jews had circumcision as the sign that they were God’s people; Gentiles did not. Because they were not God’s people, Gentiles enjoyed none of Israel’s privileges through the covenants and promises. They had no hope for a Messiah and no knowledge of God (11-12). The Jews, having been chosen to receive God’s law,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 2:15

abolished = done away with. Greek. katargeo. See Romans 3:3 . His flesh . i.e. His death. enmity . See Romans 8:7 . the law . . . in ordinances = the law of the dogmatic commandments. Compare Romans 8:4 . ordinances . Greek. dogma. See Co Ephesians 1:2 , Ephesians 1:14 . for to make = in order that (Greek. hina) He might create (as Ephesians 2:10 ). twain = the two, Jew and Gentile. one new man = into (Greek. eis) one new (Greek. kainos. See Matthew 9:17 ) man. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace.Abolished in his flesh ... The thought here is similar to that in Hebrews 10:20, where the new and living way is said to have been opened up through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, thus lending probability to the view of Russell that Paul was referring to the veil of the temple ("middle wall" in Ephesians 2:14) which was... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 2:15

Ephesians 2:15. Having abolished—the enmity,— It was the ritual law of the Jews which kept them and the Gentiles at an irreconcileable distance, so that they could come to no terms of a fair correspondence: the force whereof was so great, that even after Christ was come, and had put an end to the obligation of that law, yet it was almost impossible to bring them together; and this was that which in the beginning most obstructed the progress of the gospel, and disturbed the Gentile converts. The... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:15

15. Rather, make "enmity" an apposition to "the middle wall of partition"; "Hath broken down the middle wall of partition (not merely as English Version, 'between us,' but also between all men and God), to wit, the enmity ( :-) by His flesh" (compare Ephesians 2:16; Romans 8:3). the law of commandments contained in—Greek, "the law of the commandments (consisting) in ordinances." This law was "the partition" or "fence," which embodied the expression of the "enmity" (the "wrath" of God against... read more