SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:16
y reconciliando a ambos con Dios por el madero en un mismo cuerpo, matando en ella las enemistades.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:16
Verse 16. That he might reconcile both-in one body] That the Jews and Gentiles, believing on the Lord Jesus, might lay aside all their causes of contention, and become one spiritual body, or society of men, influenced by the Spirit, and acting according to the precepts of the Gospel. Having slain the enmity thereby] Having, by his death upon the cross, made reconciliation between God and man, and by his Spirit in their hearts removed the enmity of their fallen, sinful nature. Dr. Macknight thinks that abolishing the enmity is spoken of the removal of the hatred which the Jews and Gentiles mutually bore to each other, because of the difference of their respective religious worship; and that slaying the enmity refers to the removal of evil lusts and affections from the heart of man, by the power of Divine grace. This is nearly the sense given above.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. And that he might reconcile both unto God , &c.] This is another end of the abrogation of the ceremonial law: the Jews had run up a long score against the ceremonial law, as well as against the moral law; and Christ by fulfilling it for them, and thereby abrogating it, reconciled them; and the Gentiles could not be reconciled together with them, without the abrogation of it: and this reconciliation of them is made to God, who was the person offended; and who yet first set on foot a reconciliation, in which his glory is greatly concerned; and reconciliation with others depends upon reconciliation with him: and this is made in one body by the cross ; by which body is meant, the human body of Christ, which the Father prepared for him, and he assumed, and that in order to make reconciliation for his people; and is said to be one body, because it was in one and the same body, which he reconciled both Jews and Gentiles unto God, and in or by one sacrifice of that body; reconciliation being so effectually made by it that there is no need of a reiteration: or the sense is, he reconciled them into one body; into one mystical body, the church, of which he is head; and this he did by the cross, that is, by his blood shed on the cross, or by his suffering the death of the cross; which shows that reconciliation is made in a way of satisfaction to the law and justice of God, by Christ's bearing the penalty of the law, and suffering the strokes of justice on the cross; and expresses the efficacy of his blood and sacrifice, and the greatness of his condescension and love: having slain the enmity thereby ; the ceremonial law, as before; and the slaying it is the same with abolishing it; unless the enmity between God and man is meant, which was slain by removing the cause of it, sin; and which laid a foundation for the slaying of it in the hearts of his people in regeneration, when sin is made odious to them, and they are reconciled to God's way of salvation; hence being slain in both senses, peace with God can never be broken.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-18 - Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in every sens Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believer in one church. Through the person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ sinners are allowed to draw near to God as a Father, and are brough with acceptance into his presence, with their worship and services under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son. Christ purchased leave for us to come to God; and the Spirit give a heart to come, and strength to come, and then grace to serve God acceptably.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ελθων 2064 5631 V-2AAP-NSM ευηγγελισατο 2097 5668 V-AMI-3S ειρηνην 1515 N-ASF υμιν 5213 P-2DP τοις 3588 T-DPM μακραν 3112 ADV και 2532 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM εγγυς 1451 ADV
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Might reconcile (apokatallaxh). Only here and Col. i. 20, 21. See on Col. i. 20. The new man precedes the reconciling in Paul's statement, though, as a fact, the order is the reverse. The verb contains a hint of restoration to a primal unity. See on ver. 12.Thereby (en autw). Or upon it - the cross.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:16 {And might reconcile} (kai apokatallaxei). Final clause with hina understood of first aorist active subjunctive of apokatallassw for which see #Col 1:20,22. {Them both} (tous amfoterous). "The both,"the two" (tous duo), Jew and Gentile. {In one body} (en heni swmati). The "one new man" of verse #15 of which Christ is Head (#1:23), the spiritual church. Paul piles up metaphors to express his idea of the Kingdom of God with Christ as King (the church, the body, the commonwealth of Israel, oneness, one new man in Christ, fellow-citizens, the family of God, the temple of God). {Thereby} (en autwi). On the Cross where he slew the enmity (repeated here) between Jew and Gentile.
