17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
17 Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders.
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
18 He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
(Read Ephesians 2:14-18)
Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believers in one church. Through the person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners are allowed to draw near to God as a Father, and are brought with acceptance into his presence, with their worship and services, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son. Christ purchased leave for us to come to God; and the Spirit gives a heart to come, and strength to come, and then grace to serve God acceptably.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 2:17
Commentary on Ephesians 2:14-18
(Read Ephesians 2:14-18)
Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believers in one church. Through the person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners are allowed to draw near to God as a Father, and are brought with acceptance into his presence, with their worship and services, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son. Christ purchased leave for us to come to God; and the Spirit gives a heart to come, and strength to come, and then grace to serve God acceptably.