Chapter 2 -Same story, two perspectives
Paul tells the story of humanity’s former condition, and their new condition in Christ from two perspectives
1-10
Cosmos | 11-22
Covenant | |
Former condition | And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. | Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. |
Agents of death | the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. | the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances
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God’s response | But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus | But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. |
The new humanity result | For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, |
Sons of disobedience, children of wrath (2:2-3)
- “Sons”, used in this manner in the OT, usually refers to a member group of people. For example, “sons of the prophets” in 2 Kings 2:7.
- Combining it with a verb of negative punishment is something we find in the OT as well.
then it shall be if the wicked man deserves to be beaten (lit: son of beating), the judge shall then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt. Deuteronomy 25:2
“This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you must surely die (lit: are surely sons of death), because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head.” 1 Samuel 26:16
Our Peace (2:14)
- Peace (Hebrew shalom, Greek eirene)can refer to the absence of conflict, but can also have another shade of meaning; complete/whole
- To bring peace, is to make complete/whole
- God’s plan was always to have a global family (remember the promise to Abraham), and the current Jew-Gentile division did not reflect that. God being our peace in the context of Ephesians is therefore the formation of a new family here the Jew-Gentile relationship is restored to wholeness, making a new humanity
just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones on which no man had wielded an iron tool; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. Joshua 8:31
Now three times in a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he built to the LORD, burning incense with them on the altar which was before the LORD. So he finished the house. 1Kings 9:25
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. Luke 8:48 (KJV)
And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well (sozo; lit: has saved you); go in peace.” Luke 8:48