Hi to all and in Eph 2:17 it reads , And having come , He HIMSELF Preached the GOSPEL / EUAGGELIZO , Peace TO YOU , the ones Far off , and to the NEAR ONES !!
#1, There are to peoples here !!
#2 , The ONES FAR OFF !!
#3 , And the NEAR ONES !!
#4 The Greek word CAME / ERCHOMAI is in the AORIST TENSE and points back to Jesus !!
The next Greek word is PREACHED / EUAGGELIZO and points back to Jesus earthly ministry !!
It seems to me that HAVING COME points ahead to the VISIONS that Paul received during his ministry !!
We see in Gal 4:14 that Paul was welcomed as an angel of God , EVEN AS " CHRIST JESUS " and that Paul was a STAND IN for Christ during Paul's ministry !!
The Jews were the NEAR ONES !!
The GENTILES were the ones FAR OFF as Eph 2:13 refers to !!
It looks like there were 2 people and 2 programs , BUT today , there is ONLY 1P 1P called the MYSTERY , Col 1:25 and 26 !!
dan p
A point, DP - BOTH Unbelieving Israelites and Unbelieving Gentiles are in view there. Buth both as former ENEMIES of God.
BOTH were enemies - those who WERE far off "Gentiles in the flesh" and those who WERE nigh - "that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands..."
Formerly lost Gentiles...
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Formerly lost Israelites, or spiritual Uncircumcision...
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
1 Thessalonians 2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Romans 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law:
but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made UNCIRCUMCISION.
Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; ) 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
RECONCILE both? What's that about?
The same issue of Ephesians 2:1 thru 3 - formerly lost Israelite and Gentile enemies of God in need of being reconciled unto Him by the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
The dative is both.
