College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Ephesians 2:11-22
Previewing in Outline Form (Ephesians 2:11-22)
D.
Once aliens, now fellow-citizens with the saints. Ephesians 2:11-22. (This section is addressed to Gentile Christians, Ephesians 2:11.)
1.
Former condition far off. Ephesians 2:12.
a.
Separate from Christ.
b.
Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel.
(An alien is a foreign-born resident of a country, in which he does not possess the privileges of a citizen.)
c.
Strangers from the covenants of the promise.
d.
Having no hope.
e.
Without God in the world.
2.
Present condition made nigh in Christ's blood. Ephesians 2:13-18.
a.
He (Christ) is our peace, Ephesians 2:14.
b.
He makes both Jews and Gentiles one. Ephesians 2:14-18.
1)
He broke down the middle wall of partition between them, abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments, Ephesians 2:14-16.
a)
He did this that He might create in Himself one new man of the two. Ephesians 2:15 b.
b)
He did this to reconcile both unto God in one body. Ephesians 2:16.
2)
He preached peace to those far off and those that were nigh. Ephesians 2:17.
a)
He provides access to the Father for both Jews and Gentiles. Ephesians 2:18.
3.
Grand summary, Ephesians 2:19-22.
a.
We are no more strangers and sojourners, Ephesians 2:19.
b.
We are fellow-citizens with the saints.
c.
We are members of the household of God.
d.
We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ being the chief corner-stone. Ephesians 2:20-22.
1)
In Him all the building grows into a holy temple. Ephesians 2:21.
2)
In Him ye are builded together for an habitation of God. Ephesians 2:22.
Fact Questions
104.
What is the section Ephesians 2:11-22 called?
105.
What are the subdivisions of this section?
106.
What is an alien?
Text (Ephesians 2:11-12)
11 Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; 12 that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:11-12)
86.
What is the benefit of remembering the bad character of our ancestors who lived before Christ came to earth?
87.
What was the feeling held by the Jew toward those he called Uncircumcision?
88.
How would the Gentiles be any more separate from Christ (the Messiah) than the Jews were before Christ came?
89.
What misfortune was it to the Gentiles to be alienated from the commonwealth of Israel?
90.
What is a covenant?How many promises were attached to the covenants referred to? What was the promise? Name any individuals with whom God made a covenant containing the promise.
91.
Are there still people who have no hope and are without God in the world? Is such a condition any longer necessary?
Paraphrase
11.
Wherefore, to strengthen your sense of God's goodness in saving you (Ephesians 2:8), and of the obligation that He has thereby laid on you to do good works (Ephesians 2:10), you Ephesians should remember that you were formerly Gentiles by natural descent, people who are called Uncircumcised and Unholy by the nation (the Jews) which is called Circumcised with a circumcision made with men's hands on the flesh, and which considers itself holy on that account and entitled to the promises.
12.
Remember always that you were at that time before Christ came, without any knowledge or hope of the Messiah, which the Jews knew and rejoiced in; you were alienated from the state of Israel, which God had chosen as His own people (Deuteronomy 14:2); you were unacquainted with the covenants (agreements and arrangements) such as God made with Abraham and David that contained the promise of the Messiah; having no hope of immortality or forgiveness of sins; and without God and the life that He imparts (Ephesians 4:18).
Notes (Ephesians 2:11-12)
1.
Remembering the darkness in which our ancestors lived before Christ came (and in which we would still be living if He had not come) should make us humble and devoted to good works in the name of Christ.
2.
We often boast of our superior American civilization, and sometimes even of our superior white race. We need to remember that before Christ came our ancestors practiced human sacrifice in Britian (among the Druids), The savagery of the Irish, the Gauls (French), and the Germans was no better, All the good within us and within our society has come to us through the Christ. But many snub (and indeed crucify) the Christ who has so abundantly favored us.
3.
There are those delightful English (and American) people so broadminded that they would let the heathen alone (and not send missionaries to them). Where did these delightful large-minded Christians come from? From heathendom. There was a time when their ancestors painted themselves blue, and did not wear any clothing worth mentioning, and were not indisposed to eat one another when circumstances seemed to point in the direction of that kind of gruesome festival. Yet these people who have come from heathenism gather their fur cloaks around them and say that perhaps it would be just as well to let the heathen alone. Persons who talk so never saw Christ, never felt the power of His love, have absolutely nothing whatever to do with Christ; and when they touch the cup of His blood, they bring their blasphemy to a culmination. (Joseph Parker)
4.
The hopelessness of the Gentiles before Christ came is well illustrated by an ancient letter from one woman to another. The writer of the letter had previously lost a son, and was writing to console another woman who had lost her son some time later:
Irene to Taonnophris and Philo, good comfort. I am so sorry and weep over the departed one as I wept for Didymas. And all things, whatsoever were fitting, I have done, and all mine, Epaphroditus, and Thurmuthian, and Philion, and Appollonius and Plantas. But nevertheless, against such things one can do nothing. Therefore comfort ye one another. Farewell. (From Rimmer, Crying Stones. Used by permission.)
5.
God made numerous covenants with individuals (and groups) in Old Testament times that contained the promise of the Messiah (Christ). Examples are 1) the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 22:15-18; Galatians 3:15-16); 2) with David (2 Samuel 7:12-16); 3) with Joshua, the high priest (Zechariah 3:6-8); 4) with all who hunger and thirst (Isaiah 55:3-5).
But the Gentiles knew nothing of these gracious, glowing covenants of the promise. They were strangers to them.
Fact Questions
107.
Name four of the five things stated that the Gentiles did not have before Christ.
108.
What promise did the covenants of the promise contain?
Text (Ephesians 2:13)
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.
Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:13)
92.
Who are those who were far off? Far off from what (Ephesians 2:12)?
93.
In whom are those who were once far off now made nigh?
94.
Why is the blood of Christ needed to make us nigh?
Paraphrase
13.
But now, in contrast to your former far-off and hopeless state, you Gentiles who are in Christ Jesus, that is, in His body, the church, are made to be near to God through the blood that Jesus shed to bring us unto God. (1 Peter 3:18)
Notes (Ephesians 2:13)
1.
What a contrast is indicated by that little word but. It implies all the difference between the savagery of heathenism, and godly civilized people who call on the name of the Lord.
2.
No man can hope to be brought near to God except by the precious blood of Christ.
Fact Questions
109.
In what are the Gentiles made nigh?
Text (Ephesians 2:14-16)
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, 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; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:14-16)
95.
Who is our peace? What does it mean when it says, He is our peace?
96.
Who are the both that were made one?
97.
What was the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles? Ephesians 2:15 can give you the answer to this.
98.
How did the Law of commandments cause enmity between Jew and Gentile?
99.
When did Christ abolish the Law of Commandments? (See Colossians 2:14.)
100.
Can you see the appropriateness in the description of the united Jews and Gentiles as one new MAN? (See Ephesians 1:23)
101.
In whom did Christ create the Jews and Gentiles into one new man?
102.
Note that both Jews and Gentiles need to be reconciled unto someone. Unto whom? (Ephesians 2:16)
103.
In what one body were both Jews and Gentiles reconciled?
104.
If the enmity of Ephesians 2:15 is the enmity between Jew and Gentile, between whom is the enmity of Ephesians 2:16?
Paraphrase
14.
For Christ is the author of the peace that we have with one another and with God. He has made both Jew and Gentile to be one people of God, and He has abolished the law of Moses which served as a partition between Jews and Gentiles for centuries.
15.
He broke down this middle wall of partition when He died upon the cross, and thereby abolished the law of Moses with its commandments in the form of ordinances, such as circumcision, meats, washings, and holy days, that He might create the two (Jew and Gentile) into one new man in His own body (the church), thus making peace between them.
16.
Christ abolished the law of commandments that He might reconcile completely both Jew and Gentile into one body (church), reconciling them unto God through the cross, having by it (the cross) slain the sinful passions of both Jews and Gentiles, which were the cause of their enmity toward God.
Notes (Ephesians 2:14-16)
1.
An illustration of the barrier, the middle wall of partition, between Jews and Gentiles before the Christian age can be seen in the signs placed at the gates leading into the inner courts of the temple in Jerusalem, warning the Gentiles not to go farther. One sign read, No foreigner is allowed within that balustrade and embankment about the sanctuary. Whoever is caught (violating this rule) will be personally responsible for his ensuing death.
2.
The enmity between Jews and Gentiles is well demonstrated by Peter's statement to Cornelius: Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation (Acts 10:28). Note also that the Jews would not come into the house of Pilate (John 18:28-29).
3.
The ceremonies of the Law made (and still make) the Jews peculiar in the eyes of the Gentiles. Consider their peculiar diet and Sabbath laws for example. Their laws are diverse from all the people; neither keep they the king's laws (Esther 3:8).
But the Law also caused the Jews to look down on the Gentiles. To them anyone who did not keep the law was almost beneath contempt.
At one time the Law served the very needful purpose of keeping the Jews separated from the idolatry of the Gentiles. But after the Savior of the whole world came, there was no need to keep them separated longer.
4.
Few of us would be Christians today if we had to keep all the customs of Moses, to say nothing of all the traditions of the Jewish rabbis. We thank God, then, that when Christ came and died, He abolished in His flesh the commandments contained in the form of ordinances (Colossians 1:20-22). When this barrier between the Jews and Gentiles was removed, the Gentiles could join the Jews in one body.
5.
Christ abolished the Law for two reasons:
1)
To create the Jews and Gentiles into one body (church).
2)
To reconcile both unto God Ephesians 2:16.
6.
The enmity of Ephesians 2:15 refers to the enmity between Jew and Gentile, The enmity in Ephesians 2:16 probably refers to the enmity between all men and God, It is a universal rule that whenever anyone does a harm or injustice to another, that the person who has done wrong will hold enmity against the one he has wronged, even if the one who is wronged forgives him. When any man is a sinner, he has enmity against God because of his evil works (Colossians 1:21).
However, there is no stronger persuasion to move the sinner to be reconciled to God than that furnished by the death of Christ.
Fact Questions
110.
What did Christ break down?
111.
What was the cause of the enmity between Jews and Gentiles?
112.
Into what did Christ create the two (Jews and Gentiles)?
113.
What two purposes did Christ have in mind when He abolished the Law?
114.
What did Christ slay through the cross? (Ephesians 2:16)
Text (Ephesians 2:17-18)
17 and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: 18 for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.
Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:17-18)
105.
Who was it that came and preached?
106.
Had Christ preached to the Ephesians personally (Matthew 15:24)? If not, how can it be said that He preached peace to you?
107.
Who are those far off, and those who are nigh?
108.
What is an access?
109.
What is the one Spirit? How does the Spirit give us access to the Father?
Paraphrase
17.
And Christ, having come in the person of His apostles and preachers, preached good tidings of peace to you Gentiles who were far off from God and to the Jews who were near to God because of their privileged position in ages past.
18.
Thus Christ accomplished His work of making the Jews and Gentiles one, because that through Him, we both (Jews and Gentiles) have the way of approach and the introduction unto the Father by the one Spirit that was given to both of us.
Notes (Ephesians 2:17-18)
1.
After Christ had removed the Law as a barrier between Jew and Gentile by dying on the cross, He came (not personally, but through His Apostles and preachers, John 13:20), and preached good tidings of peace to the Gentiles who were far off (Ephesians 2:13), and to the Jews who were near. As a rule, the Jews were closer to God than the Gentiles, for they had known the true God for centuries, while God had allowed the Gentiles to walk in their own ways.
2.
Through Christ both the Jews and Gentiles have the access (way of approach and introduction) to the Father (God) by the one Holy Spirit. No one can talk to a king unless he is introduced by the proper people. Through Christ we can come into the Father's presence, whether we be Jew or Gentile, for Christ has given to us both the same Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us. (See Romans 8:26)
Fact Questions
115.
What did Christ preach?
116.
To what two classes of people did Christ come and preach?
117.
How can Christ be said to have preached to the Ephesians?
118.
What do we have unto the Father through Christ?
119.
In what do we have our access unto the Father?
Text (Ephesians 2:19-20)
19 So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;
Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:19-20)
110.
What is the cause that we are no longer strangers and sojourners (Ephesians 2:17-18)? What do the words strangers and sojourners mean?
111.
Who are the saints with whom we are now fellow-citizens?
112.
What is the household of God?
113.
According to 1 Corinthians 3:11, Christ is the only foundation. How, then, can we be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets?
114.
Are the prophets referred to here the Old Testament prophets or the New Testament prophets? What reasons do you give for your answer?
115.
What would be the purposes of a chief corner-stone?
Paraphrase
19.
Therefore then, seeing that you Gentiles have equal access to the Father in the one church with the Jews, you are no longer strangers to the covenants of the promise, nor outsiders dwelling by the people of God (Ephesians 2:12), but you are joint-citizens with the saints (the Israelites), and are members of the household of God, the church, which constitutes His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 3:6).
20.
Being built into the church with the Jews upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, namely upon Christ Jesus Himself, who is the stone at the extreme corner, uniting the walls into one building.
Notes (Ephesians 2:19-20)
1.
As a result of what Christ has done in abolishing the law of Moses and making peace between Jew and Gentile and between all men and God, we (Gentile Christians) are no longer strangers (foreigners, aliens) and outsiders, but we are fellow-citizens with the saints, the Jewish Christians, and we all belong to the household (or family) of God, which is the church.
2.
We have heard immigrants to the United States tell of their happy experiences in our free country. If it is wonderful to be a citizen in the U.S.A., it is MARVELOUS to be a citizen of the kingdom of God.
3.
The foundation of the apostles and prophets is the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets in preaching Christ. For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).
4.
The prophets mentioned here are probably those prophets who lived in the times of the apostles, the New Testament prophets such as Agabus, Silas, etc. (Acts 11:27-28; Acts 13:1; Acts 15:32; Ephesians 3:5). Our reasons for believing this are as follows:
1)
The prophets are listed after the apostles. Certainly the Old Testament prophets came before the apostles in time, but the New Testament prophets followed the apostles.
2)
The Old Testament prophets taught the people to observe the law of Moses (Malachi 4:4). How could they be the foundation of the church, when the Law was the wall of partition between the Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-15)?
3)
The Old Testament prophets desired to know the gospel of Christ, but were never permitted to know it (1 Peter 1:10-12). They could hardly, then, be the foundation of Christ's church.
4)
The New Testament prophets would be more familiar to the predominantly Gentile church in Ephesus than the Old Testament prophets.
5)
The reference to the apostles and prophets in Ephesians 3:5 certainly has reference to the New Testament prophets.
5.
In the temple of God, Christ Jesus is the chief corner stone. This stone was larger than the other stones, and was placed at the extreme corner where the two walls met. It thus united the two walls into one building, and gave strength to the whole building. The two walls are the Gentiles and Jews, united by Christ into one church.
6.
What a precious privilege this is to know that we are builded upon Christ Jesus into the temple of God. We are built upon a better foundation than the temple of Diana, which sat only upon wooden piles driven deeply into the earth.
7.
To the Christians at Ephesus, dwelling in the shadow of the great temple of Diana and daily seeing its outward grandeur, the references in this epistle to that spiritual building of which Christ was the cornerstone and they a part of its noble superstructure, must have spoken with a force, an appropriateness, and a reassuring depth of meaning that cannot be overestimated.
Fact Questions
120.
If we are no longer strangers and foreigners from God, what are we (Ephesians 2:19)?
121.
What is the foundation of the apostles and prophets?
122.
Who is the chief cornerstone? What is a chief cornerstone like, and what does it do?
123.
What are the walls which are united by the chief cornerstone?
124.
Why would the reference to the temple of God be especially appropriate to the Ephesians?
Text (Ephesians 2:21-22)
21 in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:21-22)
116.
Who is referred to by the Whom of Ephesians 2:21?
117.
What is each several building?Does this refer to individuals, the church as a whole, denominations, or congregations?
118.
How is each several building prepared so as to grow (Ephesians 2:21)?
119.
Into what does each several building grow?
120.
Can we build the temple of God with hands? Why or why not?
121.
How does God inhabit His temple?
122.
Does God's Spirit dwell in His temple as a whole, or in the individual souls in it?
Paraphrase
21.
In Christ, the chief cornerstone, the building, the universal church, being joined together in a harmonious way, is growing by the addition of converts into a holy temple (or sanctuary) in the Lord.
22.
In which temple (or, in whom) you (both Jews and Gentiles) are being builded together for a habitation of God, who inhabits it not in any visible symbol, such as the statue of Diana, or even the glory in the tabernacle, but by the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you both as individuals and as a body (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:16).
Notes (Ephesians 2:21-22)
1.
We interpret the phrase each several building as referring to the universal church, as the King James Version says, all the building, or the whole building. This harmonizes with the context which refers to Christ as the chief cornerstone of all the church.
The word building refers to an individual congregation in 1 Corinthians 3:9. And here in Ephesians 2:22 individuals are spoken of as being builded together. But we still prefer the interpretation we have given.
Certainly each several building does not refer to various denominations which all together make up the universal church. You cannot make a scriptural unit by combining many unscriptural units.
2.
In Christ all the building (or each several building) is fitly framed together. (This same expression is used in Ephesians 4:16 to describe the church as the body of Christ.) Truly the enmity between Jews and Gentiles, and the enmity between all men and God is broken down in the church, and thus every part is fitly framed together into one structure. It is necessary for it to be fitly framed together before it will grow.
3.
In the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple of Solomon, God dwelt in the cloud of glory. But now God dwells in the spiritual temple (the church) through the Holy Spirit in the individual believers. Also the Spirit dwells in them as congregations 1 Corinthians 3:16.
4.
Not only does the whole church grow into a holy temple in the Lord, but each individual believer is personally builded into the habitation for God in the Spirit. Being a part of church fellowship at its greatest extent is necessary. But unless each individual is a perfectly formed building stone, there will never be any great temple formed of many stones. We have to have both an individual relationship to Christ, and then also full participation with other saints in the church. Are you a living stone in the temple of God (1 Peter 2:14)?
Fact Questions
125.
What phrase of three words describes the condition of the building that grows?
126.
Into what does all the building grow?
127.
For what are we builded together?
128.
How does God inhabit His spiritual temple?