English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
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--
11
But don't take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God's ways
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.
12
had no idea of any of this, didn't know the first thing about the way God works, hadn't the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God's covenants and promises in Israel, hadn't a clue about what God was doing in the world at large.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
13
Now because of Christ - dying that death, shedding that blood - you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.
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
14
The Messiah has made things up between us so that we're now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance.
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,
15
He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
16
Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
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Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.