| Geneva Study Bible {11} But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (11) Christ is the only bond of the Jews and Gentiles, by whom they are reconciled to God. People's New Testament 2:13 Ye who sometimes were far off. Once so far off, separated from God, they have been brought nigh, and the blood of Christ is the means that brought them. Wesley's Notes 2:13 Far off - From God and his people. Nigh - Intimately united to both. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 13. now-in contrast to "at that time" (Eph 2:12). in Christ Jesus-"Jesus" is here added, whereas the expression before (Eph 2:12) had been merely "Christ," to mark that they know Christ as the personal Saviour, "Jesus." sometimes-Greek, "aforetime." far off-the Jewish description of the Gentiles. Far off from God and from the people of God (Eph 2:17; Isa 57:19; Ac 2:39). are-Greek, "have been." by-Greek, "in." Thus "the blood of Christ" is made the seal of a covenant IN which their nearness to God consists. In Eph 1:7, where the blood is more directly spoken of as the instrument, it is "through His blood" [Alford]. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 2:11-13 Christ and his covenant are the foundation of all the Christian's hopes. A sad and terrible description is here; but who is able to remove himself out of it? Would that this were not a true description of many baptized in the name of Christ. Who can, without trembling, reflect upon the misery of a person, separated for ever from the people of God, cut off from the body of Christ, fallen from the covenant of promise, having no hope, no Saviour, and without any God but a God of vengeance, to all eternity? To have no part in Christ! What true Christian can hear this without horror? Salvation is far from the wicked; but God is a help at hand to his people; and this is by the sufferings and death of Christ. | 
