Ephesians 2:17 kjv

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Ephesians 2:17 nkjv

And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

Ephesians 2:17 niv

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Ephesians 2:17 esv

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

Ephesians 2:17 nlt

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

Ephesians 2 verses

Ephesians 2 17 Meaning

Ephesians 2:17 declares that Jesus Christ Himself "came and preached peace" to both the Gentiles, who were spiritually and covenantally "far away" from God and His people, and to the Jews, who were considered "near" through the Abrahamic covenant and the Law. This message of peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a profound reconciliation: peace with God, secured by Christ's sacrificial death, and peace between these two previously estranged groups, forged into one new humanity in Christ. It underscores the universal and inclusive nature of God's redemptive plan.

Ephesians 2 17 Context

Ephesians 2:17 is centrally placed within Paul's profound discourse on the reconciliation brought about by Jesus Christ. The preceding verses (Eph 2:1-10) vividly describe humanity's former spiritual death and God's sovereign act of salvation through grace. Immediately following this, Paul details the specific impact of Christ's work on the historical and religious chasm between Jews and Gentiles. Verse 17 thus expands on the "breaking down of the dividing wall" mentioned in verse 14, affirming that Jesus Himself delivered this message of peace universally. The "far away" refers to Gentiles, alienated from the covenants of promise, living "without God in the world" (Eph 2:12). The "near" refers to Jews, who, despite their privileged status as covenant people, were still in need of this new peace through Christ's atoning work, particularly in terms of their reconciliation with Gentiles into a single new humanity. The historical context reflects deep-seated animosity, socio-religious segregation, and theological distinctions that the Temple's "middle wall of partition" (referring to the barrier preventing Gentiles from entering certain parts of the Temple courts) physically symbolized. Christ's advent dismantled these spiritual, social, and ceremonial barriers, providing peace to both previously hostile factions.

Ephesians 2 17 Word analysis

• And He came (καὶ ἐλθών - kai elthōn): "He" unequivocally refers to Jesus Christ. The Greek participle elthōn signifies "having come," implying an intentional, active advent or arrival. This emphasizes Christ's personal engagement and direct intervention, rather than sending someone else or merely a message. It points to His Incarnation, earthly ministry, and culminating work on the cross, through which He embodied and then proclaimed peace.
• and preached (εὐηγγελίσατο - euēggelisato): This verb means "proclaimed good news," "announced glad tidings," or "evangelized." It's not a mere suggestion or discussion, but a authoritative, saving announcement of good news. It highlights the divine, powerful, and transformative nature of the message Christ brought. This specific verb underlines that the peace is an essential component of the gospel itself.
• peace (εἰρήνην - eirēnēn): More than just the absence of hostility, the Greek eirēnē here echoes the Hebrew concept of shalom. This biblical peace encompasses wholeness, well-being, harmony, prosperity, reconciliation, and restoration. It is fundamentally peace with God (vertical) and, consequently, peace between humans (horizontal). This peace is rooted in the restored relationship with the Creator, flowing out to unite estranged parties.
• to you who were far away (τοῖς μακρὰν - tois makran): This phrase identifies the Gentiles. "Far away" refers to their spiritual alienation from God, the covenants of promise, the commonwealth of Israel, and hope (Eph 2:12). Historically, Gentiles were outside the covenant blessings and viewed by Jews as outsiders. This highlights the radical inclusivity of Christ's peace.
• and peace (καὶ εἰρήνην - kai eirēnēn): The repetition of "peace" emphasizes its singular, vital nature and underscores that the same peace is offered to both groups. It's not a different kind of peace for Jews versus Gentiles, but the unified, holistic peace of Christ for all.
• to those who were near (τοῖς ἐγγύς - tois engys): This phrase designates the Jews. They were "near" in the sense of having the Law, the prophets, the Temple, and the covenants as God's chosen people. Yet, despite their proximity to divine revelation and promise, they too were under the power of sin (Rom 3:9-12) and required the gospel of peace in Christ for true reconciliation with God and with the Gentiles. This highlights that salvation through Christ's peace is necessary for all people.

Words-Group Analysis:

• He came and preached peace: This phrase encapsulates Christ's redemptive work. His "coming" (incarnation and atonement) enabled the "preaching" (proclamation) of the specific content, "peace." This sequence signifies that the message of peace is inextricably linked to His presence and work.
• peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near: This structure perfectly encapsulates the universal scope of Christ's message and reconciliation. It removes all distinctions based on prior religious or ethnic standing, presenting a single message of peace applicable and necessary for all humanity. This counters any notion of exclusive privilege for one group, stressing that Christ’s gospel unites rather than divides.

Ephesians 2 17 Bonus section

The active "coming" and "preaching" by Christ Himself in verse 17 is crucial. It underscores that this peace is not merely a theological concept but an inaugurated reality brought about by God's direct intervention in history through His Son. It sets the precedent for all subsequent evangelism: that the Church's mission is to continue to "preach this peace" (Rom 10:15) by declaring Christ and His finished work of reconciliation. The verse serves as a foundational theological statement for mission and evangelism, emphasizing that Christ's good news is intended for every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, precisely because all are either "far" or "near" and both require His peace. This peace is both the means and the end of God's redemptive plan—it's how we are brought to God, and what results from being in relationship with Him.

Ephesians 2 17 Commentary

Ephesians 2:17 is a triumphant declaration of Christ's universal reconciliation. Having vividly portrayed humanity's state of spiritual death and alienation (Eph 2:1-3) and God's miraculous work of making believers "alive together with Christ" by grace through faith (Eph 2:4-10), Paul turns to the cosmic scope of this reconciliation. Here, Jesus Christ is not merely the subject of a message; He is the messenger and the message itself. He "came"—through His incarnation, life, sacrificial death, and resurrection—and actively "preached peace." This peace, deeply rooted in the Old Testament concept of shalom, means holistic well-being, wholeness, and reconciliation, primarily between humanity and God, but then extending to humanity reconciling with one another.

The division between Jew and Gentile, epitomized by religious law and cultural enmity, was arguably the most profound social chasm of the ancient world. Jews possessed a covenantal relationship, prophets, and the Law (making them "near" to God), while Gentiles were "far away," alienated from divine promise and hope. Yet, Christ's singular message of peace transcended and dismantled this historic barrier. His gospel is not tailored for specific groups but universally applicable. The good news of reconciliation is essential for all—for the "far away" who had no access to God's covenants, and for the "near" who, despite their proximity, were still ensnared by sin and separated by the very Law intended to guide them. In Christ, the dividing wall is abolished (Eph 2:14), and a "new humanity" is created (Eph 2:15), living in peace with God and one another. This truth calls believers to live out this new unity, demonstrating Christ's reconciling power in the world.