Ephesians 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Translate, 'Might completely reconcile again both in one body (the Church, Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 3:15) unto (their original unity with) God through His cross.' The "reconcile" [apokatalaxe], found only here and Colossians 1:20, expresses not only a return to favour with one [ katallagee (G2643)], but so to lay aside enmity that complete amity follows; to pass from enmity to complete reconciliation (Tittmarsh). HAVING (AFTER HE HAD) SLAIN THE ENMITY - namely, between man and God...

16._And that he might reconcile both. _The reconciliation between ourselves which has now been described is not the only advantage which we derive from Christ. We have been brought back into favor with God. The Jews are thus led to consider that they have not less need of a Mediator than the Gentiles. Without this, neither the Law, nor ceremonies, nor their descent from Abraham, nor all their dazzling prerogatives, would be of any avail. We are all sinners; and forgiveness of sins cannot be obtained but through the grace of Christ. He adds, _in one body, _to inform the Jews, that to cultivate union with the Gentiles will be well-pleasing in the sight of God. _By the cross. _The word _cross _is added, to point out the propitiatory sacrifice. Sin is the cause of enmity between God and us; and, until it is removed, we shall not be restored to the Divine favor. It has been blotted out by the...

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 16. _THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH - IN ONE BODY_] That the Jews and Gentiles, believing on the Lord Jesus, might lay aside all their causes of contention, and become one spiritual _body_, or _society_ of men, influenced by the _Spirit_, and acting according to the _precepts_ of the _Gospel_. _HAVING SLAIN THE ENMITY THEREBY_] Having, by his death upon the cross, made reconciliation between God and man, and by his Spirit in their hearts removed the _enmity_ of their fallen, sinful nature. Dr. Macknight thinks that _abolishing the enmity_ is spoken of the removal of the _hatred_ which the Jews and Gentiles mutually bore to each other, because of the _difference_ of their _respective_ _religious worship_; and that _slaying_ the _enmity_ refers to the _removal_ of evil _lusts_ and _affections_ from the heart of man, by the power of Divine grace. This is nea

AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD - This was another of the effects of the work of redemption, and indeed the main effect. It was not merely to make them harmonious, but it was that both, who had been alienated from God, should be reconciled to “him.” This was a different effect from that of producing peace between themselves, though in some sense the one grew out of the other. They who are reconciled to God will be at peace with each other. They will feel that they are of the same family, and are all brethren. On the subject of reconciliation, see the notes on 2 Corinthians 5:18. IN ONE BODY - One spiritual personage - the church; see the notes at Ephesians 1:23. By the cr

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)....

AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD,.... This is another end of the abrogation of the ceremonial law: the Jews had run up a long score against the ceremonial law, as well as against the moral law; and Christ by fulfilling it for them, and thereby abrogating it, reconciled them; and the Gentiles could not be reconciled together with them, without the abrogation of it: and this reconciliation of them is made to God, who was the person offended; and who yet first set on foot a reconciliation, in which his glory is greatly concerned; and reconciliation with others depends upon reconciliation with him: and this is made IN ONE BODY BY THE CROSS; by which "body" is meant, the human body of Christ, which the Father prepared for him, and he assumed, and that in order to make reconciliation for his people; and is said to be "one" body, because it was in one and the same body, which he recon...

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:

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

THE GENTILE IS NOW ONE WITH THE JEW IN GOD'S NEW MAN, AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF GOD'S TEMPLE. Those who, like the readers, were once Gentiles, are especially bound to remember the condition from which they were rescued (Ephesians 2:11): at that time without Messiah, they were aliens in relation to the commonwealth of God's people, foreigners in relation to the covenants of promise, lacking in that hope of the future which the Jew had always possessed, and living in ignorance of God; such had been their condition in the world (Ephesians 2:12)_;_ but now that they are in Christ Jesus, the far-off peoples are become nigh in Messiah's blood (Ephesians 2:13); it is Messiah who is the peace both of Jew and of Gentile