Ephesians:2:11-22

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rwp @Ephesians:2:11 @{Wherefore } (\dio \). This conjunction applies to the Gentile Christians the arguments in strkjv @2:1-10 |. {That aforetime ye } (\hoti pote humeis \). No verb is expressed , but in verse 12 | Paul repeats \hoti en t “i kair “i ekein “i \ (for \pote \) "that at that time " and inserts \ˆte \ (ye were ). {Uncircumcision } (\akrobustia \), {circumcision } (\peritom ˆs \). The abstract words are used to describe Gentiles and Jews as in strkjv @Galatians:5:6 ; Rom strkjv @2:27 |. {Made by hands } (\cheiropoi ˆtou \). Agreeing with \peritom ˆs \. Verbal (Mark:14:58 |) from \cheiropoie “\ like \acheiropoi ˆtos \ in strkjv @Colossians:2:11 |. rwp @Ephesians:2:12 @{Separate from Christ } (\ch “ris Christou \). Ablative case with adverbial preposition \ch “ris \, describing their former condition as heathen . {Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel } (\ap ˆllotri “menoi t ˆs politeias tou Isra ˆl \). Perfect passive participle of \apallotrio “\, for which see strkjv @Colossians:1:21 |. Here followed by ablative case \politeias \, old word from \politeu “\, to be a citizen (Phillipians:1:27 |) from \polit ˆs \ and that from \polis \ (city ). Only twice in N .T ., here as commonwealth (the spiritual Israel or Kingdom of God ) and strkjv @Acts:22:28 | as citizenship . {Strangers from the covenants of the promise } (\xenoi t “n diath ˆk “n t ˆs epaggelias \). For \xenos \ (Latin _hospes_ ), as stranger see strkjv @Matthew:25:35 ,38 ,43f .|, as guest-friend see strkjv @Romans:16:23 |. Here it is followed by the ablative case \diath ˆk “n \. {Having no hope } (\elpida m ˆ echontes \). No hope of any kind . In strkjv @Galatians:4:8 | \ouk \ (strong negative ) occurs with \eidotes theon \, but here \m ˆ\ gives a more subjective picture (1Thessalonians:4:5 |). {Without God } (\atheoi \). Old Greek word , not in LXX , only here in N .T . Atheists in the original sense of being without God and also in the sense of hostility to God from failure to worship him . See Paul 's words in strkjv @Romans:1:18-32 |. "In the world " (\en t “i kosm “i \) goes with both phrases . It is a terrible picture that Paul gives , but a true one . rwp @Ephesians:2:13 @{But now } (\nuni de \). Strong contrast , as opposed to "at that time ." {Afar off } (\makran \). Adverb (accusative feminine adjective with \hodon \ understood ). From the \politeia \ and its hope in God . {Are made nigh } (\egen ˆth ˆte eggus \). First aorist passive indicative of \ginomai \, a sort of timeless aorist . Nigh to the commonwealth of Israel in Christ . {In the blood of Christ } (\en t “i haimati tou Christou \). Not a perfunctory addition , but essential (1:7 |), particularly in view of the Gnostic denial of Christ 's real humanity . rwp @Ephesians:2:14 @{For he is our peace } (\autos gar estin h ˆ eir ˆn ˆ h ˆm “n \). He himself , not just what he did (necessary as that was and is ). He is our peace with God and so with each other (Jews and Gentiles ). {Both one } (\ta amphotera hen \). "The both " (Jew and Gentile ). Jesus had said "other sheep I have which are not of this fold " (John:10:16 |). {One } (\hen \) is neuter singular (oneness , unity , identity ) as in strkjv @Galatians:3:28 |. Race and national distinctions vanish in Christ . If all men were really in Christ , war would disappear . {Brake down the middle wall of partition } (\to mesotoichon tou phragmou lusas \). "Having loosened (first aorist active participle of \lu “\, see strkjv @John:2:19 |) the middle-wall (late word , only here in N .T ., and very rare anywhere , one in papyri , and one inscription ) of partition (\phragmou \, old word , fence , from \phrass “\, to fence or hedge , as in strkjv @Matthew:21:33 |)." In the temple courts a partition wall divided the court of the Gentiles from the court of Israel with an inscription forbidding a Gentile from going further (Josephus , _Ant_ . VIII . 3 , 2 ). See the uproar when Paul was accused of taking Trophimus beyond this wall (Acts:21:28 |). rwp @Ephesians:2:15 @{Having abolished } (\katarg ˆsas \). First aorist active participle of \katarge “\, to make null and void . {The enmity } (\t ˆn echthran \). But it is very doubtful if \t ˆn echthran \ (old word from \echthros \, hostile , strkjv @Luke:23:12 |) is the object of \katarg ˆsas \. It looks as if it is in apposition with to \mesotoichon \ and so the further object of \lusas \. The enmity between Jew and Gentile was the middle wall of partition . And then it must be decided whether "in his flesh " (\en t ˆi sarki autou \) should be taken with \lusas \ and refer especially to the Cross (Colossians:1:22 |) or be taken with \katarg ˆsas \. Either makes sense , but better sense with \lusas \. Certainly "the law of commandments in ordinances (\ton nomon t “n entol “n en dogmasin \) is governed by \katarg ˆsas \. {That he might create } (\hina ktis ˆi \). Final clause with first aorist active subjunctive of \ktiz “\. {The twain } (\tous duo \). The two men (masculine here , neuter in verse 14 |), Jew and Gentile . {One new man } (\eis hena kainon anthr “pon \). Into one fresh man (Colossians:3:9-11 |) "in himself " (\en haut “i \). Thus alone is it possible . {Making peace } (\poi “n eir ˆn ˆn \). Thus alone can it be done . Christ is the peace-maker between men , nations , races , classes . rwp @Ephesians:2:16 @{And might reconcile } (\kai apokatallax ˆi \). Final clause with \hina \ understood of first aorist active subjunctive of \apokatallass “\ for which see strkjv @Colossians:1:20 ,22 |. {Them both } (\tous amphoterous \). "The both ," "the two " (\tous duo \), Jew and Gentile . {In one body } (\en heni s “mati \). The "one new man " of verse 15 | of which Christ is Head (1:23 |), the spiritual church . Paul piles up metaphors to express his idea of the Kingdom of God with Christ as King (the church , the body , the commonwealth of Israel , oneness , one new man in Christ , fellow-citizens , the family of God , the temple of God ). {Thereby } (\en aut “i \). On the Cross where he slew the enmity (repeated here ) between Jew and Gentile . rwp @Ephesians:2:17 @{Preached peace } (\eu ˆggelisato eir ˆn ˆn \). First aorist middle of \euaggeliz “\. "He gospelized peace " to both Jew and Gentile , "to the far off ones " (\tois makran \) and "to the nigh ones " (\tois eggus \). By the Cross and after the Cross Christ could preach that message . rwp @Ephesians:2:18 @{Through him } (\di ' autou \). Christ . {We both } (\hoi amphoteroi \). "We the both " (Jew and Gentile ). {Our access } (\t ˆn prosag “g ˆn \). The approach , the introduction as in strkjv @Romans:5:2 |. {In one Spirit } (\en heni pneumati \). The Holy Spirit . {Unto the Father } (\pros ton patera \). Songs:the Trinity as in strkjv @1:13f |. The Three Persons all share in the work of redemption . rwp @Ephesians:2:19 @{Songs:then } (\ara oun \). Two inferential particles (accordingly therefore ). {No more } (\ouketi \). No longer . {Sojourners } (\paroikoi \). Old word for dweller by (near by , but not in ). Songs:Acts:7:6 ,29 ; strkjv @1Peter:2:11 | (only other N .T . examples ). Dwellers just outside the house or family of God . {Fellow-citizens } (\sunpolitai \, old , but rare word , here only in N .T .), members now of the \politeia \ of Israel (verse 12 |), the opposite of \xenoi kai paroikoi \. {Of the household of God } (\oikeioi tou theou \). Old word from \oikos \ (house , household ), but in N .T . only here , strkjv @Galatians:6:10 ; strkjv @1Timothy:5:8 |. Gentiles now in the family of God (Romans:8:29 |). rwp @Ephesians:2:20 @{Being built upon } (\epoikodom ˆthentes \). First aorist passive participle of \epoikodome “\, for which double compound verb see strkjv @1Corinthians:3:10 ; Co ; strkjv @2:17 |. {The foundation } (\epi t “i themeli “i \). Repetition of \epi \ with the locative case . See strkjv @1Corinthians:3:11 | for this word . {Of the apostles and prophets } (\ton apostol “n kai proph ˆt “n \). Genitive of apposition with \themeli “i \, consisting in . If one is surprised that Paul should refer so to the apostles , he being one himself , Peter does the same thing (2Peter:3:2 |). Paul repeats this language in strkjv @3:5 |. {Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone } (\ont “s akrog “nianiou autou Christou I ˆsou \). Genitive absolute . The compound \akrog “niaios \ occurs only in the LXX (first in strkjv @Isaiah:28:16 |) and in the N .T . (here , strkjv @1Peter:2:6 |). \Lithos \ (stone ) is understood . Jesus had spoken of himself as the stone , rejected by the Jewish builders (experts ), but chosen of God as the head of the corner (Matthew:21:42 |), \eis kephal ˆn g “nias \. "The \akrog “niaios \ here is the primary foundation-stone at the angle of the structure by which the architect fixes a standard for the bearings of the walls and cross-walls throughout " (W . W . Lloyd ). rwp @Ephesians:2:21 @{Each several building } (\p ƒsa oikodom ˆ\). Songs:without article Aleph B D G K L . \Oikodom ˆ\ is a late word from \oikos \ and \dem “\, to build for building up (edification ) as in strkjv @Ephesians:4:29 |, then for the building itself as here (Mark:13:1f .|). Ordinary Greek idiom here calls for "every building ," not for "all the building " (Robertson , _Grammar_ , p . 772 ), though it is not perfectly clear what that means . Each believer is called a \naos theou \ (1Corinthians:3:16 |). One may note the plural in strkjv @Mark:13:1 | (\oikodomai \) of the various parts of the temple . Perhaps that is the idea here without precise definition of each \oikodom ˆ\. But there are examples of \p ƒs \ without the article where "all " is the idea as in \p ƒs ˆs ktise “s \ (all creation ) in strkjv @Colossians:1:15 |. {Fitly framed together } (\sunarmologoumen ˆ\). Double compound from \sun \ and \harmologos \ (binding , \harmos \, joint and \leg “\), apparently made by Paul and in N .T . only here and strkjv @Ephesians:4:16 |. Architectural metaphor . {Into a holy temple } (\eis naon hagion \). The whole structure with all the \oikodomai \. Another metaphor for the Kingdom of God with which compare Peter 's "spiritual house " (\oikos pneumatikos \) in which each is a living stone being built in (1Peter:2:5 |). rwp @Ephesians:2:22 @{Ye also are builded together } (\kai humeis sunoikodomeisthe \). Ye Gentiles also . Present passive indicative (continuous process ) of common old verb \sunoikodome “\, to build together with others or out of varied materials as here . Only here in N .T . In strkjv @1Peter:2:5 | Peter uses \oikodomeisthe \ for the same process . {For a habitation } (\eis katoik ˆt ˆrion \). Late word (LXX ), in N .T . only here and strkjv @Revelation:18:2 |. From \katoike “\, to dwell , as strkjv @Ephesians:3:17 |. Possibly each of us is meant here to be the "habitation of God in the Spirit " and all together growing (\auxei \) "into a holy temple in the Lord ," a noble conception of the brotherhood in Christ .

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