What does "abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments" mean in Ephesians 2:15? Canonical Text (Ephesians 2:14-16) “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and to reconcile both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.” Immediate Context Paul has just declared that Gentiles, once “separate from Christ…strangers to the covenants” (2:12), are now “brought near by the blood of Christ” (2:13). The apostle’s point is vertical reconciliation with God and horizontal reconciliation between Jew and Gentile inside one redeemed people. Archaeological Confirmation of the “Dividing Wall” In 1871 and again in 1935, two limestone slabs were unearthed in Jerusalem bearing the Greek inscription: “No foreigner may enter within the barrier and enclosure around the temple; whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows.” These “Soreg” plaques correspond precisely to Paul’s image of a “dividing wall of hostility,” demonstrating the historicity of the cultural barrier Christ removes. What Is the “Law of Commandments”? 1. Ceremonial prescriptions (circumcision, dietary laws, sacrificial calendar) that separated Israel from the nations (cf. Leviticus 11; 12; 23). 2. Civil-judicial statutes tied to the theocratic nation. 3. Temple-access rules symbolized by the Soreg plaque. Paul is not saying God’s timeless moral standards (e.g., “You shall not murder,” Exodus 20:13) are void. Instead, the covenantal code that distinguished ethnic Israel and foreshadowed Christ has reached its terminus. “In His Flesh” — The Means of Abolition The phrase pinpoints the crucifixion. Christ’s literal, physical body (cf. John 19:34 — pierced side; Luke 24:39 — risen flesh and bone) is the locus where the old covenant’s sacrificial, priestly, and purity systems exhaust their purpose. Hebrews 10:10 : “By this will we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Abolition and Fulfillment, Not Contradiction Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Fulfillment (plērōsai) brings prophecy to completion; abolition (katargeō) renders obsolete what has been fulfilled. The cross therefore: • Fulfills prophetic type and shadow (Passover lamb, Day of Atonement, priesthood). • Nullifies the shadow’s binding authority once the substance arrives (Colossians 2:16-17). Purpose Clause: “Create in Himself One New Man” The Mosaic covenant produced a distinct people; the new covenant produces a trans-ethnic body. “One new man” (ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον) signifies an ontologically new corporate identity—the Church—comprising believing Jews and Gentiles on equal footing (Galatians 3:28). Continuity of Moral Law Romans 13:9-10 restates the Decalogue’s interpersonal commands and concludes, “Love is the fulfillment of the Law.” Paul elsewhere calls sexual immorality, idolatry, theft, and greed sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), proving he has not suspended God’s moral norms. What is abolished is covenantal legislation that functioned as guardian and separator (Galatians 3:24-25). Old Testament Foreshadowing of a New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31-34 predicted a covenant where God’s law would be written on hearts, not tablets. Ezekiel 36:26-27 linked inner transformation to the Spirit’s indwelling. These prophecies anticipate the very shift Ephesians 2 celebrates. The Veil Torn in Two Synoptic Gospel attestation (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) records the Temple veil tearing at Christ’s death—a historical miracle affirmed in early church writings (e.g., Tertullian, Against Marcion 4.42). The event symbolizes open access to God, paralleling the “abolishing” of ritual barriers. Philosophical and Behavioral Perspective Human attempts at self-justification breed division and hostility—observable in intergroup psychology. By removing the competitive performance code and offering grace, the gospel uniquely satisfies humanity’s need for reconciliation both vertically and horizontally. Contemporary Misconceptions Addressed 1. Antinomianism: Paul immediately calls believers to walk in “good works” prepared by God (2:10). 2. Supersessionism in a harsh sense: God retains covenantal faithfulness to ethnic Israel (Romans 11:1-2); grafting Gentiles in is addition, not replacement. 3. Marcionite dichotomy: The same God authored both covenants; the old anticipates the new. Practical Application • Racial or cultural superiority has no place in Christ’s body. • Ritualism cannot earn favor; gratitude-driven obedience follows received grace. • Assurance rests on Christ’s finished work, not fluctuating performance. Summary “Abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments” means that through His crucified body Jesus nullified the Mosaic ordinances that once separated Jew and Gentile, having already fulfilled their prophetic goal. The result is one reconciled people who approach God on the same basis—faith in the risen Savior—while still honoring the timeless moral character of God now written on their hearts by the Spirit. |
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