In Ephesians 1:1-14, Paul outlined the blessings Christians have received through Jesus’ redemption of them. In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians’ understanding of those blessings would be deepened. In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul contrasted the Ephesian Christians’ current situation of being part of Jesus’ kingdom of life with how they were before—dead in their sin as part of Satan’s kingdom. Then, in Ephesians 2:11-3:13, Paul added another contrast. He said that previously the Ephesian Christians, being gentiles, had been excluded from God’s Old Testament covenant with Israel: “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). That is, they were not allowed to be part of God’s chosen people. They were “without hope and without God in the world,” which is very similar to saying that they were “dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and trapped in Satan’s kingdom of death rather than being set free to become part of God’s kingdom of life.  

To some extent, this overstates the case because some notable gentiles, including Caleb and Ruth, became part of the people of God in the Old Testament. As well, many Israelites and Jews fell away from God and chose to leave the kingdom of God. However, Paul’s point is valid. Paul was saying that through Jesus’ death on the cross, all people, Jews and gentiles, were being brought together to be one people of God. This was a reminder to gentile Christians not to neglect the rich heritage of revelation (the Old Testament) that they were now privileged to have access to. It was a warning that gentile Christians should not consider themselves superior to the Jews, whom God had first chosen to be His people and to have the privilege and responsibility of declaring the revelation of God. It was perhaps also a reminder to the “circumcisers” (Jewish Christians who insisted that gentile Christians should be circumcised and required to follow the Jewish laws) that Jesus had broken down the barrier and gentiles were now full partners in the gospel without having to become Jews. There were still tensions in the early church between Jews and gentiles. Paul was telling both sides to put away their racial and other prejudices and love and accept each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.