Ephesians may be enabled to understand more thoroughly (1:15-21), and the present action of Christ, exalted to be Saviour and King towards and through His people (2:1-10), St Paul returns to mark more clearly their peculiar blessings as Gentiles. He points out the broad contrast between their past and present condition (11-13); and then, after describing the atoning work of Christ (14-18), shews in detail its result for them now that they are incorporated in the one Church of God (19-22).
11. Wherefore, remember that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, those called the Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands , 12 that ye were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were afar are made near in the blood of the Christ. 14 For He is our peace, He who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments expressed in ordinances; that He might create (form afresh) the twain in Himself into 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; 17 and He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you that were far off and peace to them that were near; 18 because it is through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God , 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the head corner-stone being Christ Jesus Himself; 21 in Whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy sanctuary in the Lord; 22 in Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Eph. 2:11-13. Gentiles must remember that they were once apart from Christ, alienated from the divine commonwealth, strangers to the covenants, hopeless and godless, but that now they were brought into the same position as the chosen people in the blood of the Christ.
11.
diov
...]
Wherefore remember that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, those called the Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hand... Wherefore
, in view of the glorious privileges brought to believers by the victory and triumph of Christ, and the revelation which they bring of the purpose and obligations and capacities of life,
remember
...
mnhmoneuvete
] Remembrance is enjoined also in the Apocalypse on the Angels of the Churches of Ephesus and Sardis (Apoc. 2:5; 3:3).
ta; e[qnh ejn sarkiv
] The
Gentiles
, regarded as a class in their outward, natural, human character and position, in contrast with
hJ leg. peritomh; ejn sarkiv
.
With ejn sarkiv , where flesh is regarded as an element of life, must be compared kata; savrka , where flesh is regarded as the standard and rule of life. The two phrases are used together in 2 Cor. 10:3. Compare Rom. 8:4, 5, 8 ff., 13.
The characterisation of Gentiles and Jews by the addition in the flesh serves a double purpose. It marks the definite exclusion of the Gentiles from the only Covenant which GOD had then made with men, and at the same time the inadequacy of that Covenant, received only outwardly, to meet human needs even provisionally. The Gentiles were outside the Society, to which GOD had been pleased to make His promises, and therefore necessarily disqualified for its blessings: the Jews, on the other hand, keenly alive to the inferior position of all other men, too often rested in the outward mark of a divine relationship, by which they were distinguished, and so in their pride missed the spiritual teaching, of which circumcision was the symbol and the preparation (Rom. 2:25 ff.).