Eph 2:11-3:6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Eph 2:11-22: 2:11-22 Paul now focuses on the grace that God has given particularly to Gentiles (non-Jews), bringing them into his family and uniting them with Jews in a new, unified, multiethnic community—the body of Christ, the church. Paul’s emphasis on the inclusion of Gentiles might suggest they were experiencing discrimination from Jewish Christians. 2:11 Traditionally, Jews disdained Gentiles , considering them “uncircumcised heathens” who were excluded from God’s people (see Gen 17:9-14 ). Paul argues that judging people by their bodies and not their hearts is superficial—in Christ, physical circumcision means nothing (see Rom 2:28-29 ).

Summary for Eph 2:11-22: 2:11-22 ^a Paul now focuses on the grace that God has given particularly to Gentiles (non-Jews), bringing them into his family and uniting them with Jews in a new, unified, multiethnic community—the body of Christ, the church. Paul’s emphasis on the inclusion of Gentiles might suggest they were experiencing discrimination from Jewish Christians. 2:11 ^b Traditionally, Jews disdained Gentiles, considering them “uncircumcised heathens” who were excluded from God’s people (see Gen 17:9-14 ^c). Paul argues that judging people by their bodies and not their hearts is superficial—in Christ, physical circumcision means nothing (see Rom 2:28-29 ^d).
2:12 ^e Before their conversion, Gentiles had no part in God’s people or the covenant promises God had made to them; they were without God and without hope (see 4:18 ^f; Col 1:21 ^g).
2:13 ^h Only by being united with Christ Jesus through trust in him can a person be reconciled to God (see Rom 5:10-12 ⁱ; 2 Cor 5:18-21 ^j). The blood of Christ—his sacrificial death—makes this possible (see Eph 1:7 ^k; Rom 3:24-25 ^l; 5:9 ^m; Col 1:20 ⁿ; cp. Heb 9:12-15 ^o; 1 Pet 1:19 ^p; 1 Jn 1:7 ^q; Rev 1:5 ^r; 5:9 ^s).
2:14 ^t Christ himself has brought peace to us: Peace with God (2:16-17 ^u; Rom 5:1 ^v, 10-11 ^w, 18-21 ^x; Col 1:20-22 ^y) and between Jews and Gentiles (see Eph 2:15-16 ^z; 4:3 ^aa).

• the wall of hostility that separated us: Social and religious practices traditionally divided Jews from Gentiles. A low wall around the Temple in Jerusalem marked the boundary beyond which Gentiles were not allowed to step. It symbolized the distinction Jews drew between themselves and Gentiles.
2:15 ^ab ending the system of law: See Rom 10:4 ^ac; Col 2:14 ^ad; cp. Rom 6:14 ^ae; 7:4-6 ^af.

• The church is one new people, a community where love and acceptance are prized and ethnic distinctions are no longer a source of division (see Rom 15:7-12 ^ag; Gal 3:28 ^ah; cp. John 10:16 ^ai).
2:16 ^aj Christ’s death on the cross reconciles humans to God, and also Jews and Gentiles to each other.
2:17 ^ak far away ... near: This verse possibly alludes to Isa 57:19 ^al.

• The Greek text lacks the words Gentiles and Jews, but they are implied (see Eph 2:13 ^am; see also study note on 1:12-13).
2:18 ^an Because of Christ’s sacrifice for sins, both Jewish and Gentile believers receive the Holy Spirit, which makes it possible for them to approach God openly (see 3:12 ^ao; cp. Acts 10:34-37 ^ap, 44-48 ^aq; 1 Pet 3:18 ^ar).
2:19 ^as Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12 ^at, 17 ^au). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17 ^av).
2:20 ^aw Apostles are missionary evangelists commissioned by God.

• Here, the prophets appear to be New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones (see 3:5 ^ax; 4:11 ^ay; see also 1 Cor 12:10 ^az, 28-29 ^ba; 14:1-5 ^bb, 22-24 ^bc, 29-32 ^bd, 39 ^be; cp. Acts 13:1 ^bf; 19:6 ^bg; 21:9-10 ^bh). In both the Old Testament and New Testament, prophets are not primarily predictors of the future but are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Cor 12:10 ^bi).

• The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (or on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets)—that is, on their faithful witness to the saving message of Christ (see Rev 21:14 ^bj; cp. Matt 16:18 ^bk). However, the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself, the Messiah, Savior, and Lord (cp. 1 Cor 3:11 ^bl). The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building’s foundation (see Isa 28:16 ^bm; Mark 12:10 ^bn; Acts 4:11 ^bo; 1 Pet 2:6-7 ^bp).
2:21 ^bq Joined together in Christ, Gentile and Jewish Christians become a holy temple for the Lord, because the Lord himself is among his people (see Matt 18:20 ^br; 28:20 ^bs; 1 Cor 3:16 ^bt; 1 Pet 2:4-5 ^bu).

‏ Ephesians 3:1-6

Summary for Eph 3:1-13: 3:1-13 ^bv Paul now describes his own role in God’s eternal plan: to proclaim God’s grace to the Gentiles. 3:1 ^bw When I think of all this: Paul has written about the amazing salvation that God’s grace has brought to undeserving sinners who are under his judgment, and about the incredible revelation that Gentiles can also be included in God’s new family, the people of God (chs 1–2 ^bx).

• a prisoner of Christ Jesus: Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned for his witness to Christ among the Gentiles.
Summary for Eph 3:2-13: 3:2-13 ^by Paul interrupts his thought in 3:1 ^bz to discuss his own role in God’s plan. When Paul was first converted, he was given the special responsibility of extending God’s grace to the Gentiles (see Acts 9:15-16 ^ca; 22:14-15 ^cb, 21 ^cc; 26:17-18 ^cd; Rom 1:5 ^ce; 11:13-14 ^cf; 15:15-18 ^cg; Gal 1:15-16 ^ch; 2:7-9 ^ci; Col 1:25-27 ^cj; 1 Tim 2:7 ^ck; 2 Tim 4:17 ^cl).
3:3 ^cm What Paul briefly wrote earlier is a reference either to 1:9-10 ^cn (cp. 2:11-22 ^co) or to an unknown letter.

• Paul’s understanding of God’s mysterious plan (see study note on 1:8-10) came as God himself revealed it to him (see 1:9-10 ^cp; Gal 1:11-12 ^cq, 15-17 ^cr; cp. Acts 9:3-6 ^cs; 1 Cor 12:1 ^ct, 7 ^cu; Gal 2:2 ^cv).
3:5 ^cw his holy apostles: See 1:1 ^cx.

• The order of the terms apostles and prophets (see 2:20 ^cy) suggests that Paul is speaking of New Testament, not Old Testament, prophets. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the gift of prophecy is concerned less with predicting the future than with speaking a special word from God (see 1 Cor 12:10 ^cz).
3:6 ^da God’s plan that has now been revealed to Paul is that the Gentiles are now included in God’s family, the body of Christ, just as Jews are. They share equally in God’s eternal blessings.