Ephesians 2:12-15 KJV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:12

Ye were without Christ - You were without the knowledge of the Messiah. You had not heard of him; of course you had not embraced him. You were living without any of the hopes and consolations which you now have, from having embraced him. The object of the apostle is to remind them of the deplorable condition in which they were by nature; and nothing would better express it than to say they were “without Christ,” or that they had no knowledge of a Saviour. They knew of no atonement for sin. They... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:13

But now, in Christ Jesus - By the coming and atonement of the Lord Jesus, and by the gospel which he preached.Ye who sometimes were afar off - Who were “formerly” - ποτὲ pote Tyndale translates it, “a whyle agoo.” The phrase “afar off” - μακρὰν makran - means that they were formerly far off from God and his people. The expression is derived from the custom of speaking among the Hebrews. God was supposed to reside in the temple. It was a privilege to be near the temple. Those who were remote... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:14

For he is our peace - There is evident allusion here to Isaiah 57:19. See the notes at that verse. The “peace” here referred to is that by which a “union” in worship and in feeling has been produced between the Jews and the Gentiles Formerly they were alienated and separate. They had different objects of worship; different religious rites; different views and feelings. The Jews regarded the Gentiles with hatred, and the Gentiles the Jews with scorn. Now, says the apostle, they are at peace.... 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 2:11-12

Ephesians 2:11-12. Wherefore To increase your sense of God’s goodness in saving you, and of the obligation he hath thereby laid on you to do good works; remember that ye being in time past Gentiles Ignorant, vicious, and idolatrous, neither circumcised in body nor in spirit; who were accordingly called Uncircumcision By way of reproach, by that which is called the Circumcision By those who call themselves the circumcised, and think this a proof that they are the people of God; and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 2:13-14

Ephesians 2:13-14. But now in Christ Jesus In consequence of your union with him, and your interest in him by faith, ye, who formerly were far off From God and his people, (as in Ephesians 2:12,) are made nigh to both, by the blood of Christ Whereby he hath atoned for your sins, and opened a free and honourable way for your approaching God, and becoming entitled to all the privileges of his people. For he is our peace Not only as he purchased it, and confers it on such as truly... 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 2:12

without = apart from. being aliens = having been estranged from. Greek. apallotrioo. Only here; Ephesians 4:18 . Colossians 1:21 . commonwealth = polity. Greek. politeia. Only here and Acts 22:28 . Israel . In the Prison Epp. only here and Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:5 . strangers . Greek. xenos . See Acts 17:21 . promise = the promise without God . Greek. atheos. Only here. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 2:13

now . Emph. sometimes = once. are = were. the blood . i.e. His death, not His life. Compare Ephesians 1:7 Romans 5:9 . Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:8 . Colossians 1:14 , Colossians 1:20 . read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:14

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

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 2:11-12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 2:13-14

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

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 2:12

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 2:13

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