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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Ephesians 2:15 - 2:15
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Eph 2:15. Τὴν ἔχθραν, enmity) The Jews held the Gentiles in abomination; the Gentiles treated the Jews with scorn on account of circumcision, the Sabbath, etc.-ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ, in His flesh) So, in one body, Eph 2:16, [i.e. by His suffering and death.-V. g.]-τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν) the law of commandments, viz. ceremonial.-ἐν δόγμασι, in ordinances, in decrees) belonging to the Gospel, by which mercy was set forth to all, Col 2:14, note. [See the same words with the very same meaning, Act 16:4; Act 15:28.-V. g.]-καταργήσας, having abolished) Each ἐν [ἐν δόγμασιν and ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ] is construed, as we have already intimated, with this participle. Christ abolished, by His flesh, the enmity; [He abolished] the law of commandments by spreading over the whole world the ordinances of the Gospel. But if the expression, in ordinances, belonged to ἐντολῶν, of commandments, the expression, in His flesh, would not have been placed before, but after it. It is written, as it were, in the style of a lapidary [stilo lapidari].[32]
[32] The arrangement being such that the alternate pieces of stone match.-ED.
Τὴν ἔχθραν, the enmity,
ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ, in his flesh;
τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν, the law of commandments, ἐν δόγμασιν, in ordinances,
καταργήσας, having abolished.
-τοὺς δύο, the two) He elegantly omits men; for formerly they had scarcely maintained the name of men. The two, who were Jew and Greek.-καινὸν, new) by taking away the oldness of the letter.-ποιῶν, making) The participle making depends on the verb, might create (κτίσῃ); and having slain depends on might reconcile: each of them has the power of explaining, which is derived from what immediately precedes.-εἰρήνην, peace) This peace-making precedes its publication, Eph 2:17.