RECONCILIATION in ONE BODY

Reconciliation in One Body

Based on Ephesians 2:11-22

Some years ago (February 2011) I proposed a structure of this passage

a. 11-12, uncircumcised, alien to Israel, no hope  

  b. 13, were far, became close

    c. 14-15a, He is peace, breaking the partition, stopping the hostility

    c’. 15b-16, in Himself, reconcile both to God

  b’. 17-18, blessings to those who are near and far

a’. 19-22, not strangers, but fellow citizens and members of God’s household

Most important – Jesus is the One who in Himself reconciled to God, giving access to the Father by the Holy Spirit.

Reading Thomas M. Winger commentary on Ephesians got me to re-consider the structure.

Winger points out three main blocks in the pericope (p.340):

2:11-12, The Gentile Christians’ former status, alienated from God and His people

2:13-18, The reconciling work of Christ on the cross

2:19-22, the resulting new temple, Jew and Gentiles built on Christ

Now, the elaborate structure of the passage (p.341):

a. 2:11a, Gentiles in the flesh.

 b. 2:11b, Circumcision (made in the flesh, by hands)

  c. 2:12a, separated from Christ.

   d. 2:12b, alienated from Israel.

    e. 2:12c, strangers to covenant and promise.

     f. 2:12d, no hope and godless in the world

      g. 2:13, you were far off.

       h. 2:14, He is our peace, destroyed partition, the hostility, in his flesh.

        i. 2:15, nullifying the Law, creating two into one, making peace

       h’. 2:16, reconcile both… by killing the hostility in Him.  

      g’. 2:17, you were far off.

     f’. 2:18, access in one Spirit to the Father.

    e’. 2:19a, you are no longer strangers and sojourners.  

   d’. 2:19b, you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.

  c’. 2:20, cornerstone being Christ Jesus Himself.

 b’. 2:21, grows into a holy temple, in the Lord.  

a’. 2:22, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

He also did a great job on putting a chart together of “then” (2:11-12) and “now” (2:13) (p. 339)

	Then, 2:11-12	Now, 2:13
1	In the flesh, 2:11	In the Lord, in the Spirit, 2:21-22
2	Separated from Christ, 2:12	Built up upon… Christ, 2:20
3	Alienated from… Israel, 2:12	Fellow citizens with the saints, 2:19
4	Strangers and sojourners, 2:12,19	Members of God’s household, 2:19
5	Godless, 2:12	Access… to the Father, 2:18
6	Far off, 2:13,17	Near 2:13,17
7	Hostility, 2:14,16	Peace, 2:14-17
8	Dividing wall of partition, 2:14	Joined together, holy Temple, 2:21