The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 69

got the blessing in, i.e. by vital union and the absence of any specific allusion, it is follow ship with, him. The "without Christ" best to nnder3tand the words generally, of ver. 12 contrasts powerfully with "in "broke down that which served as a middle Cllrist Jesus" of this verse; and the addi- wo.ll of partition "-what is mentioned im- tion of "Jesus" to the name is significant, mediately in the following verse. denoting his saving power, denoting One who Ver. 15.-(To wit, the enmity.) It is a. is not merely an official Savionr, but to whom moot point whether ·dw lxOpav is to be taken we get linked by all manner of endearing as governed by 1'.6<1as in ver. 1!, or by K"-"'ap- qualities and personal attractions, whose y//<1as in the end of this verse. Both A. V. human name is Jesus, been.use he saves his and R.V. adopt the latter; but the fnrm,,r i~ people from their sins. Ye that once were more textual e.ncl nature.I. Another question fe.r off a.re become nee.r. The apostle has is-What enmity? Some say between Jews slidden into a new figure; formerly the con- and Gentiles; others, between both and trast was between deatll and life, now it is God. The latter seems right: where" the between distance and ne:ll'lless. Not merely enmity" ie so emphatically referred to, it geographical distance, or remoteness in re- must be the great or fundamental enmitv, spect of outward position, but moral distance and the whole tenor of the passage is to the too : ye were fe.r off from God, i.e. from his effect that in the removal of the enmity of favour, his fellowship, his gracious pardon- the sinner to God, the abolition of the ing and renewing gre.ce. In this sense too enmity between Jew and Gentile was pro- ye e.re now brought near. God is become vided for. In his :flesh. These words are not your God e.nd Father. Your orbit is changed to be connected with the enmity, for then to e. near e.nd blessed position, where the they would require .,.~v before them, but light of God's countenance falls upon yolL with 7,.l,uas (ver. 14) or 1<a"Tapyfiuas (ver. 15). In the blood of Christ, This is the par- In his flesh, crucified, broken, for our sins, ticular instrument of the change; not Christ virtue.Uy broke down the enmity merely Christ manifesting the Father's readi- (comp. Col. i. 22). Having abolished the ness to receive you, but shedding his blood law of oomme.ndmente in ordinances. Some to me.ke atonement for you (see eh. i. 7). think that" in ordinances" ( ev 6&;,µau,, doc- The preposition lv (not merely 6ul) is age.in trines) denotes the mecms by whieh the Law significant, denoting more the.n the instru- was abolished-by means of doctrines, i.e. mentality, viz. personal connection with the doctrines of Christianity. But New the blood, as if sprinkled on us, so that we Testament 6&-yµa is not eqnal to" doctrine."' ,ue symbolically in it. Cleansing us from "In ordinances" limits the law of com- all sin, it brings us nigh. mo.ndments. The law abolished or super- Ver. 14.-For he is our pee.ce. Explanatory seded by Chrut wns the law of positirn of the preceding verse-of the way by which requirements embodied in things decreed, we a.re brought nigh. Christ is not only evidently the ceremonial lo.w of the Jews; our Peacemaker, but our Peace, e.nd that certainly not the more.l le.w (see Rom. iii. 31). in the fullest sense, the very substance By removing this, Jesus removed that which and living spring of it, establishing it at had become the occasion of hitter feeli .gs the beginning, keeping it up to the end ; between Jew e.nd Gentile; the Jew looking and the complex notion of peace is here down proudly on the Gentile, and the Gen- not only peace between Jew e.nd Gentile, tile despising what he deemed tile fantastic but between Goel e.nd both. Consult Old rites of the Jews. That he might create the Testament predictions of peace in connec- two in himself into one new man. The icle,i tion with Messiah (Isa. ix. 5, 6; Mice.h of e. corporate body comes here into ,iew. v. 5; Zech, ix. 10, etc.). Who me.de both Christ's object was not merely to restore one; literally, both things, both elements; individuo.ls, but to rear a Church, composed eo that there is now no ground for separating of many units incorporated into one body. between e. Jewish element e.nd e. Gentile; This idea is prominent in the rest of the they are unified. And broke down the middle Epistle. Henoe the strong word 1C"T1U?J, well of the p&rtition. The genera.I idea. ie create ; not only is every believer a new obvione; the particular allusion is less creation, but the corporate org,mization eo.sily seen. Some think it is to the veil into which they are built is also " creation. ~bat sepe.re.ted the holy of holies from the The two e.re mo.<le "one new mo.n;" the lioly place (Heh. x. 20); but that conld Gentile is not turned into e. Jew, nor the hardly be called e. wall. Others the wall Jew into e. Gentile, but both into one new the.t sepe.rated the court of the Jew from mBn, thus removing all groun<l.s of jealousy. that of the Gentiles; but. tho.t wall we.a This transformation is "in himself:" in vital literally standing when the apostle wrote, union to Christ they are formed into one and besides, the Ephesians could not be ·body, No Church connection of m,m with supposed to be eo fo.ruiliar with it e.s to man is tllo true connection, unless it is me.ke it e. euitable illustration for them. In founded on e. muluRI connection with Christ. EPHESIANS, F 66 'l'HE EPIS'l'LE TO THE EPHESIANS. [cH, II, 1-22.