Paul
Christ's peace and the unity of Jews and Gentiles
Paulus reminds Gentile Christians that they once were without Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and without hope. But through Christ's blood they have been brought near. Christ is their peace; he broke down the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles, set aside the law with its commandments, and created one new humanity out of the two. Through the cross he reconciled both to God in one body. Now those who believe are no longer foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone – a holy temple and a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2,11-22
11So then, remember that you were once Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcised"—a circumcision performed in the flesh by human hands.
Διὸ μνημονεύετε ὅτι ⸂ποτὲ ὑμεῖς⸃ τὰ ἔθνη ἐν σαρκί, οἱ λεγόμενοι ἀκροβυστία ὑπὸ τῆς λεγομένης περιτομῆς ἐν σαρκὶ χειροποιήτου,
12Remember that at that time you were without Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
ὅτι ⸀ἦτε τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ χωρὶς Χριστοῦ, ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι τῆς πολιτείας τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ξένοι τῶν διαθηκῶν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ἐλπίδα μὴ ἔχοντες καὶ ἄθεοι ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
νυνὶ δὲ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ὑμεῖς οἵ ποτε ὄντες μακρὰν ⸂ἐγενήθητε ἐγγὺς⸃ ἐν τῷ αἵματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and torn down the dividing wall of hostility through his flesh,
αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ἀμφότερα ἓν καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας, τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ,
15abolishing the law with its commandments and regulations, so that in himself he might create the two into one new humanity, making peace,
τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν καταργήσας, ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν ⸀αὑτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον ποιῶν εἰρήνην,
16and might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, by which he put the hostility to death.
καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ·
17And he came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near;
καὶ ἐλθὼν εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ ⸀εἰρήνην τοῖς ἐγγύς·
18for through him we both have access to the Father in one Spirit.
ὅτι διʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν οἱ ἀμφότεροι ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα.
19So you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,
ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ ⸀ἐστὲ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ,
20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ ⸂Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ⸃,
21In him the whole structure is joined together and rises into a holy temple in the Lord;
ἐν ᾧ ⸀πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ,
22and in him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι.