Reading for January 28th

 Read Ephesians 2.1-22. In 2.1-22:God's reconciling grace. God saves humankind from enemy powers and Christ ends the enmity between Jews and gentiles. In verse 1-10: Contrast between past walk (vv. 1-3) and present walk (4-10). In verse 2: Lived, literally "walked," connects the former walk (2.2) and the new way of walking in 2.10 (see 4.1, 17; 5.2,  8, 15). Ruler of power of the air, Satan (4.27; 6.11-12). In verse 3; Flesh, fleshly disposition. In verses 5-6: By grace you have been saved, similar to Paul's language elsewhere, but he never views resurrection of believers as a present reality. In verse 10: The good works that the community does are possible because God has created them in Christ. The life they lead is the way (literally "walk," v.1) God has made possible. In verses 11-22 Jews and gentiles are reconciled to God in the body of Christ. Inverse 12: Aliens, those without knowledge (Col 1.21).In verse 13: The far off ... brought near (also 2.17), possibly drawn from Isa 57.19. In verse 14: Dividing wall, possibly the Temple barrier separating the court of the gentiles from the parts of the Temple open only to Jews. In verse 18: Access, the right of approach, as if to a king (3.12). In verse 19: Hose hold of God: For the patriarchal writer, God is Father over the social relations in the believers family (1.3, 17; 2.18; 3.14; 4.6; 5.20; 6.23), In verse 20: Paul speaks of Christ as a foundation (1 Cor 3.10-15), but not apostles and prophets. Cornerstone or Keystone, a messianic term (Isa 28.16, perhaps Ps 118.21-23). Comments or Questions..