Section 5 of 182:11–22Ephesians

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King James VersionEphesians 2:11–22

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

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;

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.

Scripture text: King James Version, Standardized 1769 text. Public domain in the United States.About this Bible text

Ephesians 2:11–22

Christ Makes One Reconciled People

Christ makes one new humanity without erasing Israel.

Gentiles were far off, strangers to the covenants of promise. Christ is our peace. In his flesh he broke down the dividing wall, created one new humanity, and reconciled both to God in one body through the cross. Jewish believers are not a problem to be solved. Gentile believers are not honorary winners of someone else's story.

Refuse any reading that treats the church as a replacement that discards Israel. The gospel gathers; it does not sneer.

No one in this household is a second-class saint.

You are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built on the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself the cornerstone, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

If your church treats some people as guests who should stay grateful and quiet, you are rebuilding the wall Christ died to open.

How this should shape us

In a modern congregation, notice who is treated as a guest who should stay grateful and quiet, and bring them all the way in. Tell a gathering story that does not discard Israel or sneer at Jewish believers.

Teach it back

Explain Ephesians 2:11–22 in your own words. Include what came before, why this section appears here, the main movement, and one interpretation the context rules out.

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Go deeper

The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.

Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties

Where do careful interpreters disagree?

Best judgment: The precise scope of ‘the law of commandments in ordinances’ in verse 15 is disputed, as are details of ‘apostles and prophets’ and the architectural term in verse 20. The paragraph strongly supports this controlling conclusion: through Christ's flesh and cross, the former dividing order and hostility no longer determine access, and Jewish and Gentile believers are created into one reconciled people under Christ.

How certain? probable

Research trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

Supports: The exact KJV wording and immediate English context for Ephesians 2:11–22.

eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Ephesians 2; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Supports: The critically edited Greek wording and sentence relationships used to check the passage.

Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Eph.txt, Ephesians 2, verses within Ephesians 2:11–22.

NET Bible — Ephesians with translators' notes

Supports: Material translation choices, syntax notes, and textual variants checked for this passage.

NET Bible, Ephesians 2, translator and textual notes attached to the verses in Ephesians 2:11–22.

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians

Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, older interpretive options, and passage boundaries tested against primary evidence and newer research.

T. K. Abbott, Ephesians, pp. 54–75.

STEP Bible Data

Supports: A cross-check of Greek forms and reasonable lexical range for reader-facing word notes.

STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, Ephesians 2, verses within Ephesians 2:11–22.

Ephesians

Supports: A current whole-letter check on the passage's argument, major theological claims, scriptural background, and place in Ephesians.

S. M. Baugh, Ephesians, open commentary, section treating Ephesians 2:11–22.

The ethics of ‘the new man’ in Ephesians 4:17–6:20

Supports: Gentile audience identity, one-new-humanity language, and the relation between reconciliation and the community's later conduct.

Elna Mouton, The ethics of ‘the new man’ in Ephesians 4:17–6:20, audience discussion and sections connecting 2:11–22 with the letter's ethical movement.

Sources for This Section

These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.

Biblical text

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society

USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.

Supports: The exact KJV wording and immediate English context for Ephesians 2:11–22.

Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Ephesians 2; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.

Open source ↗

Greek textual evidence

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos

Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010

Supports: The critically edited Greek wording and sentence relationships used to check the passage.

Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Eph.txt, Ephesians 2, verses within Ephesians 2:11–22.

Open the Ephesians Greek text file ↗

Translation and textual notes

NET Bible — Ephesians with translators' notes

Biblical Studies Press

Biblical Studies Press, digital edition accessed 2026

Supports: Material translation choices, syntax notes, and textual variants checked for this passage.

Exact location: NET Bible, Ephesians 2, translator and textual notes attached to the verses in Ephesians 2:11–22.

Open NET Ephesians 2 ↗

public domain critical commentary

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians

T. K. Abbott

T. & T. Clark, 1897

Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, older interpretive options, and passage boundaries tested against primary evidence and newer research.

Exact location: T. K. Abbott, Ephesians, pp. 54–75.

Open source ↗

Lexical and grammatical evidence

STEP Bible Data

Tyndale House Cambridge

Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026

Supports: A cross-check of Greek forms and reasonable lexical range for reader-facing word notes.

Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, Ephesians 2, verses within Ephesians 2:11–22.

Open source ↗

modern open commentary

Ephesians

S. M. Baugh

The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2022

Supports: A current whole-letter check on the passage's argument, major theological claims, scriptural background, and place in Ephesians.

Exact location: S. M. Baugh, Ephesians, open commentary, section treating Ephesians 2:11–22.

Open source ↗

peer reviewed open access study

The ethics of ‘the new man’ in Ephesians 4:17–6:20

Elna Mouton

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 2013

Supports: Gentile audience identity, one-new-humanity language, and the relation between reconciliation and the community's later conduct.

Exact location: Elna Mouton, The ethics of ‘the new man’ in Ephesians 4:17–6:20, audience discussion and sections connecting 2:11–22 with the letter's ethical movement.

Open source ↗

Ephesians 2:11–22, King James Version

Christ makes one new humanity without erasing Israel.

No one in this household is a second-class saint.

How this should shape us

Teach it back

Go deeper

Where do careful interpreters disagree?

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

NET Bible — Ephesians with translators' notes

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians

STEP Bible Data

Ephesians

The ethics of ‘the new man’ in Ephesians 4:17–6:20