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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-13

In these verses the apostle proceeds in his account of the miserable condition of these Ephesians by nature. Wherefore remember, etc., Eph. 2:11. As if he had said, ?You should remember what you have been, and compare it with what you now are, in order to humble yourselves and to excite your love and thankfulness to God.? Note, Converted sinners ought frequently to reflect upon the sinfulness and misery of the state they were in by nature. Gentiles in the flesh, that is, living in the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 2:11-22

2:11-22 So then remember, that once, as far as human descent goes, you were Gentiles; you were called the uncircumcision by those who laid claim to that circumcision which is a physical thing, and a thing produced by men's hands. Remember that at that time you had no hope of a Messiah; you were aliens from the society of Israel, and strangers from the covenants on which the promises were based; you had no hope; you were in the world without God. But, as things now are. because of what Christ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus ,.... Being openly and visibly in Christ, created in him, and become believers in him; as they were before secretly in him, as chosen and blessed in him before the foundation of the world: ye who sometimes were far off ; who in their state of unregeneracy were afar off from God, and from his law, and from any spiritual knowledge of him and fellowship with him; and from Jesus Christ, and from the knowledge of his righteousness, and the way of salvation by him; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:13

Ye who sometimes were far off - To be far off, and to be near, are sayings much in use among the Jews; and among them, to be near signifies, To be in the approbation or favor of God; and to be far off signifies to be under his displeasure. So a wicked Jew might be said to be far off from God when he was exposed to his displeasure; and a holy man, or a genuine penitent, might be said to be nigh to God, because such persons are in his favor. Every person who offered a sacrifice to God was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:13

Verse 13 13.But now in Christ Jesus. We must either supply the verb, now that ye have been received in Christ Jesus, or connect the word now with the conclusion of the verse, now through the blood of Christ, — which will be a still clearer exposition. In either case, the meaning is, that the Ephesians, who were far off from God and from salvation, had been reconciled to God through Christ, and made nigh by his blood; for the blood of Christ has taken away the enmity which existed between them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-13

Contrast between the past and the present. The Ephesians are here called to look back, to remember what they were; not, however, with the feeling of a man who has raised himself in the world , and whom such retrospect usually fills with pride, but with the feeling of those whom God has raised, a feeling that ought to produce the deepest humility and gratitude. I. THE PAST is presented under two aspects—one having respect chiefly to their outward condition, the other chiefly to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

The spiritual temple. In the apostle's prayer for the Ephesians the power of God to us-ward who believe was illustrated first in the experience of our risen and reigning Head, and secondly in the experience of us as risen and. reigning members of his mystical body. The unity of the members, however, has not been as fully brought out in the preceding verses as Paul desired, and so we have in the section now before us the subject amplified and completed mainly round the figure of a " ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

Union of Jews and Gentiles in the Christian Church. "Wherefore remember, that aforetime." The Ephesian Christians are reminded of what they were "aforetime," that is, before they received the gospel. It is a good exercise of memory for us all to go back on what we once were. For we did not all receive the gospel when it was first presented to us. Many of us who now believe were for years in a state of indifference; How well, then, does it become us to "remember" our former unconverted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

Gospel reconciliation—its subjects, agency, and results. "Wherefore remember, that ye being in lime past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 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: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of... read more

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