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 |
