“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”
By setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations — Christ abolished (katargeuō, 'rendered inoperative') the nomos ('law') with its entolai kai dogmata ('commandments and ordinances'), not annulling the law's authority but its divisive power as the means of Jewish-Gentile separation. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace — the telos ('purpose'): to create (ktizō, a new creation verb) hena kainon anthrōpon ('one new humanity'), a unified people transcending ethnic and religious boundaries, the eschatalogical humanity anticipated in Adam and now realized in the church.
Church Fathers on Ephesians 2:15
“But now, in Christ Jesus, you that once were far off, are made near in the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in His flesh the enmity.” Is this then the great privilege, it may be said, that we are admitted into the commonwealth of the Jews? What are you saying? “He has summed up all things that are in heaven, and that are in earth,” and now do you tell us about Israelites? Yes, he would…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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