Access in One Spirit to the Father - Week 4

Ephesians 2:11-22

Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

1. Read v. 11. What does "Gentile" mean? What does "Gentiles in the flesh" mean? Where does circumcision originate (see Genesis 17:9-14)? Why does the Church teach that circumcision is not necessary for Gentile believers in Christ (see Acts 15)? Why does "the circumcision" refer to Gentiles as "the uncircumcision"?
(a) The term Gentiles means:

A word of Latin origin and usually employed in the plural. In the English versions of both Testaments it collectively designates the nations distinct from the Jewish people. The basis of this distinction is that, as descendants of Abraham, the Jews considered themselves, and were in fact, before the coming of Christ, the chosen people of God. As the non-Jewish nations did not worship the true God and generally indulged in immoral practices, the term Gôyîm "Gentiles" has often times in the Sacred Writings, in the Talmud, etc., a disparaging meaning. Since the spread of Christianity, the word Gentiles designates, in theological parlance, those who are neither Jews nor Christians. In the United States, the Mormons use it of persons not belonging to their sect. (Catholic Encylopedia)

(b) The phrase "Gentiles in the flesh" is a reference to the uncircumcised. (c) Circumcision originates as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham:

And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house, or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money, shall be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." (Gen 9-14, RSV)

(d) The Church teaches that circumcision is not necessary for Gentile believers in Christ because of a passage from Acts. In response to some who wanted all believers to be circumcised and adhere to the Mosaic Law, Peter gives the following response:

And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. (Acts 15:7-11, RSV)

(e) "The circumcision" refers to the Gentiles as "the uncircumcision" as a reflection of the divide that existed between them prior to Christ.

2. Read v. 12. Paul tells the Gentiles that they were separated from Christ "at that time". What time? What does Paul mean by "separated from Christ"? What are the "covenants of the promise"? Why does Paul say Gentiles were "without hope and without God in the world?"
(a) The time that Paul is referring to is the time prior to the Resurrection. (b) By "separated from Christ", Paul means that the Gentiles were not the "chose people of God". (c) The "covenants of the promise" are a reference to the Old Testament Covenants which prefigured the Christ. In other words, the Covenant of the New Testament was a fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament Covenants. (d) Paul is merely pointing to the fact that, as a general case, the beliefs of the Gentiles did not coincide with belief in the one true God.

3. Read v. 13. To what have Gentiles been "brought near"? How?
(a) The Gentiles have been brought "near" to being the people of God. (b) It is in Christ Jesus that this has been accomplished.

4. Read v. 14. According to Paul, what is the source of peace among the "circumcision" and the "uncircumcision"? What is the source of the hostility Paul speaks of? What is the "dividing wall" referring to (use a commentary to find out)?
(a) Jesus is the source of peace among the "circumcision" and the "uncircumcision". (b) The source of hostility is the dividing wall. (c) The "dividing wall" is probably a reference to a wall about the temple which Gentiles could not pass. This temple wall is a concrete example of the separation that existed between Jew and Gentile.

5. Read v. 15. What are the "commandments and ordinances" Paul speaks of here? How does Christ "create one new man in place of the two"?
(a) The "commandments and ordinances" are the works of the Mosaic Law. (b) Christ "creates one man in the place of two" by removing the distinction between Jew and Gentile and providing an opportunity for all to be the people of God.

6. Read v. 16. Through what means are Jews and Gentiles reconciled?
(a) It is through the cross, the sacrifice of Christ, that Jews and Gentiles are reconciled.

7. Read v. 17. Who was "far off"? Why? Who was "near"? Why? What sort of "peace" is preached by Christ?
(a) The Gentiles were "far off" (b) They were "far off" because they were not God's chosen people. (c) The Jews were "near". (d) They were the chose people of God. (e) The sort of "peace" preached by Christ is, as stated in Philippians:

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, RSV)

In other words, Christ preaches peace as a mystery.

8. Read v. 18. How does the image of "access" to the Father by the Spirit relate to the image of Temple worship?
(a) "Access" to the Father by the Spirit is akin to access to the Holy of Holies in the Temple. In the Temple, only the High Priest, and only one day a year, could enter the Holy of Holies. No other Jew could enter, and certainly not any Gentile. Gentiles were not even allowed to enter the Temple grounds. Thus, to have this kind of access is something that once was rare.

9. Read v. 19. What is the difference between a citizen and a stranger? What is the "household of God"? Why does Paul emphasize that we are citizens "with the saints and members of the household of God" rather than merely emphasizing that we are citizen of heaven with Christ?
(a) A citizen is someone who belongs where a stranger does not. (b) The "household of God" refers to the Church. (c) Paul emphasizes citizenship "with the saints and members of the householed of God" rather that citizenship in heaven to underscore the physical and tangible nature of the Church.

10. Read v. 20. Why does Paul use architectural imagery here? What building is he thinking of?
(a) Paul uses architectural imagery to illustrate the progressive construction of the Church. (b) Paul is thinking of the Temple as foreshadowing of His Church.

11. Read v. 21. What structure is Paul referring to?
(a) Paul is referring to Holy Catholic Church. Founded upon the Apostles, with Christ as the cornerstone, and continues to grow into "a holy temple in the Lord".

12. Read v. 22. What is another term for a building that is a dwelling place of God in the Spirit? Does the Church symbolize the temple or does the temple symbolize the Church? Why does Paul speak of the Temple as though it is a body?
(a) Another term ofr a building that is a dwelling place of God in the Spirit is a Church. (b) The temple symbolizes and foreshadows the Church. Where the temple was only a structure, and open only to a select few, the Church, while visible, is more than a structure, and is open to all who accept Christ. (c) Paul speaks of the temple as though it is a body to underscore this foreshadowing of the true Body of Christ, the Church.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. (1 Cor 12:12-14, RSV)

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
Alfredo Nevarez
512-916-4755 (Evening)
512-602-0388 (Daytime)
alfredo@nevarez.net
http://www.nevarez.net/alf/catholic/bible_study/