Ephesians 2:17

My Notes

What Does Ephesians 2:17 Mean?

Paul describes what Christ accomplished: He came and preached peace to two groups — those "afar off" (Gentiles, distant from God's covenant) and those "nigh" (Jews, near to the covenant promises). The same peace, preached to both, by the same person. The far and the near receive the same gospel.

The phrase "came and preached" (elthōn euēngelisato) applies to Christ's entire ministry — incarnation as the coming, gospel as the preaching. Jesus didn't send a message. He came. Personally. And He preached to both audiences: the near (Israel, in His earthly ministry) and the far (Gentiles, through the apostolic mission He commissioned).

This verse is the center of Ephesians 2:11-22, which describes the demolition of the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. Christ is the peace (verse 14). He made both one (verse 14). He abolished the enmity (verse 15). And now He preaches the peace He created to both sides of the former divide.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Do you feel 'far off' or 'nigh' right now — and does knowing both receive the same peace change anything?
• 2.How does 'He came and preached' (the incarnation as a personal visit, not a remote message) affect how you understand the gospel?
• 3.Where do you see the 'dividing wall' between different groups in your faith community — and has Christ's peace actually demolished it?
• 4.What does it mean that the near and the far receive identical access to the Father through Christ?

Devotional

He preached peace to the far and to the near. The same peace. The same preacher. Both audiences.

You were far. Or you were near. Either way, you needed the same thing: peace with God. The Gentile far from the covenant needed it. The Jew near to the covenant needed it. And Christ came — personally, physically, incarnationally — and preached it to both.

The genius of the gospel is that it doesn't create two tracks. The far and the near don't receive different gospels. They receive the same Christ, the same peace, the same access to the same Father (verse 18). The distance was different. The remedy is identical.

If you grew up in the church (near), you need the same peace as someone who just walked in off the street (far). If you've been far from God for decades, you receive the same peace as someone who's been near their whole life. The near don't get a premium version. The far don't get a discount version. Both get Christ.

"Came and preached" — He came. That's the incarnation in two words. He didn't send a memo or dispatch an angel. He came. And when He arrived, He preached. The message came inside the messenger. The peace came inside the peacemaker.

You might feel far. You might feel near. Either way, the same Christ preached the same peace aimed at you. The distance between you and God has already been crossed — not by you, but by Him. He came to you.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture