The Meaning of Ephesians 2:13 Explained

Ephesians 2:13

KJV: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

YLT: and now, in Christ Jesus, ye being once afar off became nigh in the blood of the Christ,

Darby: but now in Christ Jesus ye who once were afar off are become nigh by the blood of the Christ.

ASV: But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  now  in  Christ  Jesus  ye  who  sometimes  were  far off  are made  nigh  by  the blood  of Christ. 

What does Ephesians 2:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

There is obvious continuity between the redeemed people of God in the Old Testament and the redeemed people of God in the New Testament. However here Paul stressed the differences between these two groups. [1] Covenant theology stresses the continuity between the two groups whereas dispensational theology stresses the differences between them. Many covenant theologians deny these differences.

Context Summary

Ephesians 2:11-22 - Reconciled And United By The Cross
The state of the unconverted must be described by a series of negations. Shut the sun out of the world, love out of the home, liberty out of the state! The unsaved know not of their infinite loss; but if they could see what we inherit through union with Jesus, they could cease to wonder that we run not with them into the same excess of riot. Does a maiden need much persuasion to cast aside paste jewels when real ones are offered her!
There was no natural affinity between Jew and Gentile. This arose partly because of diverse nationality and genius; but in addition the whole code of Jewish customs as to eating clean meats and ceremonial pollution, prevented it. All these party-walls of division were swept away by Christ. In Him, as the cornerstone, two walls, running in different directions, met. Two sections of humanity, East and West, became united to each other, because each was united to Him, and thus was formed a new unit of humanity.
What a noble conception is given of the Church and ultimately of the redeemed race, growing slowly through the ages and becoming God's dwelling-place! Notice the Trinity; through Jesus, the Eternal Father comes by His Spirit to dwell in the heart of man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 2

1  By comparing what we were by nature, with what we are by grace,
10  he declares that we are made for good works: and being brought near by Christ,
19  should not live as Gentiles and foreigners, but as citizens with the saints, and the family of God

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 2:13

But now [νυνι δε]
Strong contrast, as opposed to “at that time.” [source]
Afar off [μακραν]
Adverb (accusative feminine adjective with οδον — hodon understood). From the πολιτεια — politeia and its hope in God. Are made nigh (εγενητητε εγγυς — egenēthēte eggus). First aorist passive indicative of γινομαι — ginomai a sort of timeless aorist. Nigh to the commonwealth of Israel in Christ. In the blood of Christ Not a perfunctory addition, but essential (Ephesians 1:7), particularly in view of the Gnostic denial of Christ‘s real humanity. [source]
Are made nigh [εγενητητε εγγυς]
First aorist passive indicative of γινομαι — ginomai a sort of timeless aorist. Nigh to the commonwealth of Israel in Christ. [source]
In the blood of Christ [εν τωι αιματι του Χριστου]
Not a perfunctory addition, but essential (Ephesians 1:7), particularly in view of the Gnostic denial of Christ‘s real humanity. [source]
Now in Christ Jesus []
Now, in contrast with at that time. In Christ Jesus, in contrast with alienated from, etc. Jesus is added because the Christ who was the subject of promise, the Messiah, has come into the world under that personal name. The phrase includes the promised Messiah and the actual Savior. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 2:13

Acts 2:39 To you [υμιν]
You Jews. To your descendants, sons and daughters of Acts 2:17. To all that are afar off (πασιν τοις εις μακραν — pāsin tois eis makran The horizon widens and includes the Gentiles. Those “afar off” from the Jews were the heathen (Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 57:19; Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:17). The rabbis so used it. Shall call First aorist middle subjunctive with αν — an in an indefinite relative clause, a perfectly regular construction. The Lord God calls men of every nation anywhere whether Jews or Gentiles. It may be doubted how clearly Peter grasped the significance of these words for he will have trouble over this very matter on the housetop in Joppa and in Caesarea, but he will see before long the full sweep of the great truth that he here proclaims under the impulse of the Holy Spirit. It was a great moment that Peter here reaches. [source]
Romans 5:2 Access [προσαγωγὴν]
Used only by Paul. Compare Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12. Lit., the act of bringing to. Hence some insist on the transitive sense, introduction. Compare 1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:13. The transitive sense predominates in classical Greek, but there are undoubted instances of the intransitive sense in later Greek, and some illustrations are cited from Xenophon, though their meaning is disputed. [source]
Ephesians 3:1 Of Christ Jesus [τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἱησοῦ]
Notice the article, the Christ, and see on Ephesians 2:13. [source]
Colossians 2:13 Having forgiven us [χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν]
Freely ( χάρις gracefree gift ), as Luke 7:42; 2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:10; Colossians 3:13. Note the change of pronoun from you to us, believers generally, embracing himself. This change from the second to the first person, or, vice versa, is common in Paul's writings. See Colossians 1:10-13; Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:4; Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:3, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 4:31, Ephesians 4:32. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 2:13 mean?

Now however in Christ Jesus you the [ones] once being far off have become near by the blood - of Christ
νυνὶ δὲ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ὑμεῖς οἵ ποτε ὄντες μακρὰν ἐγενήθητε ἐγγὺς ἐν τῷ αἵματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ

νυνὶ  Now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: νυνί  
Sense: now, at this very moment.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
Χριστῷ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
οἵ  the  [ones] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ποτε  once 
Parse: Particle
Root: ποτέ  
Sense: once i.
ὄντες  being 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
μακρὰν  far  off 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: μακράν  
Sense: far, a great way.
ἐγενήθητε  have  become 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
ἐγγὺς  near 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἐγγύς  
Sense: near, of place and position.
αἵματι  blood 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: αἷμα  
Sense: blood.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.