Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Rather, make "enmity" an apposition to "the middle wall of partition." 'Hath broken down the middle wall of partition (not merely, as the English version, "between us," but also between all men and God) - to wit, the enmity (resulting between Jew and Gentile from the law, and chiefly between both and God) (Romans 8:7) in His (crucified) flesh; i:e., in virtue of it' (Colossians 1:21: cf. Romans 8:3; Romans 5:16). The law of commandments...

15._Having abolished in his flesh the enmity. _The meaning of Paul’s words is now clear. _The middle wall of partition _hindered Christ from forming Jews and Gentiles into one body, and therefore the wall has been _broken down. _The reason why it is broken down is now added — _to abolish the enmity, _by the flesh of Christ. The Son of God, by assuming a nature common to all, has formed in his own body a perfect unity. _Even the law of commandments contained in ordinances. _What had been metaphorically understood by the word _wall _is now more plainly expressed. The ceremonies, by which the distinction was declared, have been abolished through Christ. What were circumcision, sacrifices, washings, and abstaining from certain kinds of food, but symbols of sanctification, reminding the Jews that their lot was different from that of other nations; just as the white and the red cross distingui...

14-18 Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believers in one church. Through the person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners are allowed to draw near to God as a Father, and are brought with acceptance into his presence, with their worship and services, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son. Christ purchased leave for us to come to God; and the Spirit gives a heart to come, and strength to come, and then grace to serve God acceptably....

Verse 15. _HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH_] By his _incarnation_ and _death_ he not only made an atonement for sin, but he appointed the _doctrine of reconciliation_ to God, and of _love to each other_, to be preached in all nations; and thus glory was brought to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will were diffused among men. The _enmity_ of which the apostle speaks was reciprocal among the _Jews_ and _Gentiles_. The _former_ detested the _Gentiles_, and could hardly allow them the denomination of _men_; the _latter_ had the _Jews_ in the most sovereign contempt, because of the peculiarity of their religious rites and ceremonies, which were different from those of all the other nations of the earth. _THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS_] Contained in, or rather _concerning_, _ordinances_; which law was made merely for the purpose of keeping the Jews

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 teaching it directly - but still such as one would use who believed that doctrine, and such as no other one would employ. Who would now say of a moral teacher that he accomplished an important result by “his flesh?” Who would say of a man that was instrumental in reconciling his contending neighbors, that he did it “by his flesh?” Who would say of Dr. Priestley tha

EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 2:1 SPIRITUAL HISTORY OF THE EPHESIANS. This passage corresponds to Genesis 1:1. It is a history of creation, and we note the same great stages. 1. Chaos (Genesis 1:1). 2. The dawn—the Spirit of God moving on the face of the waters (Genesis 1:4). 3. The work of creation—in successive stages (Genesis 1:4-1)....

HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH THE ENMITY,.... The ceremonial law, as appears by what follows, EVEN THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES; which consisted of many precepts, and carnal ordinances; and is so called because it was an indication of God's hatred of sin, by requiring sacrifice for it; and because it was an occasion of stirring up the enmity of the natural man, it being a burden and a weariness to the flesh, by reason of its many and troublesome rites; and because it was the cause of enmity between Jew and Gentile: the Jews say g, that Sinai, the mount on which the law was given, signifies "hatred"; and that it is so called because from it descended שנאה, "hatred" or "enmity" to the nations of the world: now this Christ abolished, "in his flesh", or by it; not by his incarnation, but by the sacrifice of his flesh, or human nature, and that as in union with his divine...

Ephesians 2:1. _And you he hath quickened._ Is it so? Could the apostle say that to you, and to me? Ephesians 2:1. _Who were dead in trespasses and sins;_ Look back to what you used to be, to the hole of the pit whence ye were digged: «You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:2. _Wherein in time past ye walked_ With a terrible activity of spiritual death; Ephesians 2:2. According to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

NEW MAN Here the "new man" is not the individual believer, but the church, considered as the body of Christ in the sense of (Ephesians 1:22); (Ephesians 1:23); (1 Corinthians 12:12); (1 Corinthians 12:13); (Colossians 3:10); (Colossians 3:11). (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 12:23). _...

3. THE MYSTERY MADE KNOWN Chapter S 2:11-3:21 _ 1. The condition of the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11)_ 2. But now in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:13) 3. The new and great relationship (Ephesians 2:19) 4. The Mystery made known and Paul's ministry (Ephesians 3:1) 5. The prayer (Ephesians 3:14) 6. The doxology (Ephesians 3:20) With the eleventh verse of the second chapter we reach a new divisio