Ephesians 2:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore remember, that ye 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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul asks us to remember how far outside we once stood, so the nearness Christ gives will land with full weight.
The Context of Ephesians 2:11
Paul is writing to Gentile believers, people born outside Israel and its covenants. In his day a wall ran through the temple courts separating Gentiles from the inner sanctuary, with a posted warning of death for any Gentile who crossed it, the very kind of division this passage says Christ has broken down (2:14).
What Does Ephesians 2:11 Mean?
Paul gives his readers a gentle command: remember. Remember who you were, Gentiles in the flesh, called by a dismissive name, Uncircumcision, by those who carried the covenant sign. There was a real distance here. The Gentiles stood outside Israel's promises, far from the place where God had made Himself known. Paul does not let them forget the gap, because the next verses are about how it was closed.
He notes that the dividing mark was made by hands, a hint that something greater is coming, a nearness not made by human hands at all. In Christ the far-off are brought near (verse 13), and the wall that kept outsiders out is taken down. Remembering the old distance is how we feel the wonder of belonging, and that belonging is the gift of the cross.
Ephesians 2:11 in the Original Language
mnemoneuo (μνημονεύω), 'remember' -- to keep in mind, to call to memory; not idle recollection but a deliberate holding of the past before us.
How to Apply Ephesians 2:11 Today
There is value in remembering how far off we once stood, because it lets the nearness Christ gives us land with its full weight. Whatever our background, in Him the distance is closed and we are brought near.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ephesians 2:11
What does Ephesians 2:11 mean?
Paul asks us to remember how far outside we once stood, so the nearness Christ gives will land with full weight.
What is the context of Ephesians 2:11?
Paul is writing to Gentile believers, people born outside Israel and its covenants. In his day a wall ran through the temple courts separating Gentiles from the inner sanctuary, with a posted warning of death for any Gentile who crossed it, the very kind of division this passage says Christ has broken down (2:14).
How can I apply Ephesians 2:11 today?
There is value in remembering how far off we once stood, because it lets the nearness Christ gives us land with its full weight. Whatever our background, in Him the distance is closed and we are brought near.