Ephesians 2:12-18 Remember that you were at that time without Christ; you were excluded from citizenship in the nation of Israel; you were foreigners regarding the Agreements of God’s promises. You had no hope and were without God in the world.

AUV⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹² [Remember] that you were at that time without Christ; [you were] excluded from citizenship in the nation of Israel; [you were] foreigners regarding the Agreements of [God’s] promises. You had no hope and were without God in the world. ¹³ But now [that you are] in [fellowship with] Christ, you [Gentiles], who were once far away [from God], have been brought near [to Him] through the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For Christ is [the source of] our peace. He made both [Jews and Gentiles] one people, and broke down the barrier wall of hostility that divided them, ¹⁵ by abolishing in His fleshly body the [entire Jewish] law of commandments contained in decrees. [This was] so that He could create in [unity with] Himself one new person [i.e., the church] out of the two peoples [i.e., Jews and Gentiles], thereby bringing about peace [between them]. ¹⁶ [This was also intended] to reestablish harmony between both of these peoples and God in [this] one body, through [Christ’s death on] the cross. By doing this He put to death the hostility [between them]. ¹⁷ And Christ came and preached peace to you [Gentiles], who were far away [from God], and peace to those [Jews] who were near [to Him]. ¹⁸ For through Him we [Jews and Gentiles] both have access to the Father by means of one Holy Spirit.