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Ephesians 2:14
“For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition,”
The Apostle Paul is writing to believers in Ephesus, a significant city in the Roman province of Asia Minor, likely in the 60s CE. He is explaining how God, through Christ, has brought together people who were once separated, specifically Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles), into one new community.
What old divisions in our world today do we struggle to see overcome, and how might they be addressed?
Then — the setting
In Paul's time (1st century CE), the 'middle wall of partition' referred both to literal architectural features and the deep cultural, religious, and legal barriers between Jews and Gentiles. The most prominent literal example was in the Jerusalem Temple complex, where a low stone barrier (the 'soreg') separated the Court of the Gentiles from the inner courts accessible only to Jews. Inscriptions on this barrier warned Gentiles against proceeding further, under pain of death. Beyond this, the Jewish Law (Torah) with its distinctive dietary rules, circumcision, and Sabbath observance created a distinct way of life that often made deep social integration with Gentiles challenging, fostering a sense of separation and mutual suspicion.
Across the Testaments
The Old Testament established Israel as a distinct people, chosen by God and set apart by covenants, laws, and practices, often creating a practical and theological 'wall' with surrounding nations. While the prophets often envisioned a future where Gentiles would come to worship the God of Israel, the immediate reality was one of separation. The New Testament, particularly through Paul's letters, declares that in Christ, this old 'wall' has been dismantled. The death and resurrection of Jesus are presented as the means by which both Jew and Gentile are reconciled to God and to one another, forming a single new humanity, fulfilling the prophetic vision of God's inclusive plan without requiring Gentiles to fully assimilate into Jewish legal-religious identity.
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Read alongside it
Describes the Jerusalem Council grappling with how Jewish and Gentile believers should relate to each other regarding the Law.
Emphasizes that in Christ, traditional societal distinctions like Jew/Greek or slave/free are transcended.
Prophesies that God's house will be a 'house of prayer for all peoples,' hinting at a future inclusivity.
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