Ephesians 2:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Through the cross Christ reconciled both groups to God in one body, putting the hostility to death.
What Does Ephesians 2:16 Mean?
The horizontal peace between peoples rests on a vertical peace with God. Christ reconciles 'both unto God in one body by the cross.' The same cross that joins estranged people to one another joins them all to God. Reconciliation flows in two directions from one center.
'Having slain the enmity thereby' -- the hostility itself is put to death at the cross. What killed the dividing enmity was the death of Christ. Where sin and division once reigned, the cross has done its decisive work, and a reconciled people now stands together before God in one body.
Ephesians 2:16 in the Original Language
apokatallasso (ἀποκαταλλάσσω), 'reconcile' -- to restore fully to friendship and favor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ephesians 2:16
What does Ephesians 2:16 mean?
Through the cross Christ reconciled both groups to God in one body, putting the hostility to death.