Tuesday: Phrasing Diagram

Ephesians 2:11–22

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

As we did last week with the 1 Peter text check out the phrasing diagram to help you see the layout of this text and catch the main ideas. Again, this is one of the most helpful tools I learned in seminary to help me follow the flow of logic through an epistle. There isn't necessarily a right or wrong way to do these apart from the basic grammar restrictions. It's just there to help you see the big ideas and how everything fits together. Within that there is a lot of flexibility.

Note how the argument flows. The big idea of this section is that the Gentiles were once outside the people of God, but now through Jesus they have been brought into the people of God.

Hope this helps!

Ephesians 2:11-22 Phrasing Diagram.pdf58.3KB