Gentiles and Jews Ephesians 2:11

 

Paul the apostle told the Ephesians they were God's “workmanship” or “creative poem” who were “created in Christ Jesus unto good works”. God had “before ordained” that they “should walk in” these “good works”, and in chapter two and verse eleven of his letter, Paul refers to the “Gentiles and Jews” as he shared concerning the “Uncircumcision” and the “Circumcision” where we read:

Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

The verse begins, “Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,...” Paul began with the word, “Wherefore” or “on account of, through which thing, therefore and consequently” “remember” which means “be mindful of, call to mind, think of and feel for a person or thing, hold in memory and keep in mind”, “that you being in time past” or “formerly or afore-time ” “Gentiles” which in Greek is the word “ethnos” and refers to “a multitude associated or living together, a company, troop or swarm” “in the flesh” which literally means “the soft substance of the living body which covers the bones and is permeated with blood” and metaphorically means “the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God”. Paul requested that the “Gentiles” “remember” how they were once “heathens” before they received Jesus Christ as their Savior.

The verse continues, “who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;” Paul added, “who are called” which means “affirmed, maintained, exhorted, advised, commanded, directed and mentioned as” “Uncircumcision” which literally means “having the foreskin” and refers to “a Gentile” “by that which is called” or “affirmed, maintained, exhorted, advised, commanded, directed and mentioned as” “the Circumcision” which refers to “the term used of the Jews when the foreskin is removed” “in the flesh” which means “the soft substance of the living body which covers the bones and is permeated with blood and the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God” “made by hands” or “made by the skill of men”. Paul refers to the “Gentiles” as “uncircumcised” and the “Jews” as the “circumcised” as pertaining to their “flesh”.

When we think through these words of Paul, he was writing to the “uncircumcised” “Gentiles” who were deemed of lesser value than the “circumcised” “Jews”. Paul's inclusion of these “uncircumcised Gentiles” by God demonstrates just how abounding is His grace. Both “Jew” and “Gentile”, “Uncircumcised and Circumcised” have the grace of God available to them. Though the “Gentiles” may have been thought less of by the “Jews”, they were not by God Almighty. May all who read these words understand the availability of the Salvation of God through Jesus Christ to everyone no matter what their origin of birth.

Next time Paul refers to the time when the Ephesian were “without Christ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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