Principle #3
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, [which is] the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, that in Himself he might make the two into one new man, [thus] establishing peace. Ephesians 2:15
Two Into One – There are a host of issues with this verse, none of which are easily resolved without understanding principle #3 – binyan av mikatuv echad (“building a teaching principle based on a verse”). You will notice all of the words in brackets in the NASB translation. Most English translations will have to add words to try to make sense of Sha’ul’s interpretation because there is a prior commitment to replacement theology (the idea that grace replaces the Torah) which makes it necessary to read this verse in a way that is not Jewish. But these translations ignore Sha’ul’s rabbinic exegesis. In this verse, Sha’ul is arguing from a particular verse to a larger principle. He is building on one thought in order to draw a greater conclusion. In other words, he says that same thing twice, once in particular and the second time in general.
Let’s see how he does this. First Sha’ul says Yeshua broke down the wall that separated us from peace with God (v. 14). How did He do that? He did it by bearing the enmity between God and Man in His own flesh. Now here’s the telling point. What was the enmity? Was it the Law (as the NASB translation suggests), or was it something else? Notice the introduction of the bracketed phrase [which is] actually implies that the enmity is the Torah. But this ignores the third principle. The principle suggests that Sha’ul is really repeating one idea with a larger, more general idea. So, abolishing the enmity is the same as making the two into one. Sha’ul tells us Yeshua removed the thing that separated us from God and restored peace. What separates us from God? It simply cannot be the Law. Sha’ul himself tells us the Law is good and holy. God gives the Law in order that men might know His will for living. No; what separates us from God is our disobedience of the Law. Yeshua takes the results of this disobedience on Himself in order that the two opposing parties might be at peace. The new man is once again restored to a place where he can find peace with the Law of God because now he is able to obey it. Sha’ul argues from the single case of Yeshua taking on the punishment due sinners to the general case that we are now at peace with God. This verse has nothing at all to do with removing the Law from a believer’s life. It is about the result of sin and the relief of forgiveness found in the blood of the Lamb.
Many Christians misunderstand this verse simply because they fail to apply rabbinic interpretative principles. They treat the rabbi Sha’ul as if he were a Greek named Paul. Applying Greek exegetical categories leads us to terrible dilemmas: 1) the Law is good but somehow also bad, 2) the Law was for Jews but not for Christians, and 3) the Law was replaced by grace and now we are left with “spiritual” guidance based on our own views about love. Worst of all, we just can’t make any sense of Yeshua’s practice of Torah. We need new eyes, my friends. And God will give them to us – if we look.
Topical Index: principle #3, binyan av mikatuv echad, Ephesians 2:15, law, curse
Hi Skip,
Making the “two into one” is one of my favorite expressions, but never knew if it was really in the Bible.
For me, to learn a new Biblical or philosophical concept is usually a three step process: (1) I see it (2) I understand it (3) I integrate it (two into one). Sometimes it takes many years in between steps.
And I didn’t realize Jesus was the “cornerstone.”
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner {stone,}
Very interesting; just wrote an email to the Cornerstone Homeowners Association a few minutes ago.
Shalom Skip,
I am not so sure that many of today’s Christians really understand at all why things are interpreted the way they are. The exegesis has been done with most doctrine codified for them and there is very little challenging taking place!
For instance …. if the writings of Paul were simply looked at (not even from a Hebraic vantage point) just looked at in totality and viewed spiritually as being consistent with the teachings and life of Yeshua …. it would be very difficult to reconcile many beliefs. This is true for many Christian beliefs actually deny Yeshua!
Certainly you make a great point Skip … if exegesis was performed understanding the author …. things may have been different. Yet we know that there was no attempt to understand the author because all things Hebraic were essentially considered “unclean” beginning with the death of John the Apostle and finalized in 325 CE by Constantine et. al.!
“Certainly you make a great point Skip …”
Hi Drew,
You make great point too IMO:
“all things Hebraic were essentially considered “unclean” beginning with the death of John the Apostle and finalized in 325 CE by Constantine et. al.!”
I worked as a teaching assistant in the Humanities Dept at UCSD in the 70’s, where we taught courses with names like The Jews and the Greeks and Rome and the Middle Ages, but I never heard much about your point until the last 10 years ???
Sadly my brother the de-Judaizing of the early church began rather quickly … refer to mid-2nd century notables such as Marcion of Sinope for instance.
By 190 CE and the Synod of Ephesus … the issue of Pesach vs. Easter was coming to a head and the real issue was the actual character of the young church, it’s beliefs and it’s basic practices.
There were many, many factors affecting the early church and the struggle to maintain the integrity of the Hebraic roots back then … the weakening of paganism, the Jewish revolt(s), the emerging West-East friction, the rise of numerous and dangerous heretical doctrines, consistent and deadly persecutions by Rome and the Sassinid Dynasty in the East, the massive influx of untrained Gentiles to the faith …. etc.
These and other factors eventually led to the outputs of Nicaea in 325 CE … which of course put an end to the recognition of our Hebraic roots. Still further we see from the historical accounts it was after this 325 CE time frame when the traditional orthodox Catholic/Christian doctrinal development and codification got serious, and as Skip points out regularly, became a product of Greek thinking as opposed to Hebrew thinking!
It was after Nicaea when the TANAKH became old …. anything that was Jewish essentially became unclean! For obvious reasons the church would prefer to forget this history! Talk about an “inconvenient truth”!
But in these later days the remnant is being raised up and the Gospel of truth and light is once again being preached in its fullness! The LORD was pleased, for His righteousness’ sake, to make the teaching great and glorious.
Praise Adonai!
Thank you Skip for today’s teaching- “two into one”. I receive a teaching newsletter entitled, “the union of two houses”. The cross of the Christ is “both” the bridge and the chasm. It unites and divides. It is the union between holy G-d and sinful man. The cross is also provides shalom for of all of humanity. It is the fulfillment of the Old Testament forthtelling and the New Testament fulfilling of G-d’s intended purpose from the beginning. The cross was in the mind of G-d from the beginning. The cross was no surprise to YHWH. We move from shadow to substance through the tslav of the Messiah. We “all” must come to G-d through this Door. Only through the narrow and low way of the cross, will we (all) be made whole. Only through the cross will we (all) find peace with our Creator. There is a scarlet thread that travels through our Him-book. From Genesis to Maps, the message remains..”behold, the Lamb.” The promise of the Lamb our Savior. The personhood of the lamb who was sent. The provision of the Lamb our Substitute.The propitiation of the Lamb our salvation. The protection of the Lamb our Saviour. The perfection of the Lamb our sanctification. The protection of the Lamb our Shield. “Behold, the Lamb”. Today, by faith. Tomorrow, by sight. The peace of the Lamb- Shabbat Shalom. “and the blood of Jesus (the) Christ.. cleanses from “all” sin. For (all) have sinned. “G-d was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” For G-d so loved..
Carl,
And if these truths do not get us to our knees in humility and awe …. well then we must be made of stone!
We know these truths …. but they never get old for they are the truths that will outlast the world! Ahmein!
Come Yeshua … claim your throne!
“HIMbook” I LOVE IT!
Yes, brother Drew I agree with you in absolute totality.. Yeshua, the perfect ONE. Perfect masculinity. Perfect femininity. Perfect Love. Perfect Peace. Totally strong as mighty G-d. Totally weak as a common man. This causes me to tremble and yet somehow attracts me to draw near..
-Fundamentally, our Lord’s message was Himself. He did not come merely to preach a Gospel; He himself is that Gospel. He did not come merely to give bread; He said, “I am the bread.” He did not come merely to shed light; He said, “I am the light.” He did not come merely to show the door; He said, “I am the door.” He did not come merely to name a shepherd; He said, “I am the shepherd.” He did not come merely to point the way; He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” –J. Sidlow Baxter
Remember when Jesus was standing in front of Pilate (John 18.38), and the question was raised, “What is truth?
(and Truth was standing right in front of him!)
yes, brother Drew.. claim your throne LORD Jesus-come and rule and reign in our hearts today! Cause us by your grace and for your glory to love one another with a pure heart fervently. To be followers of G-d as dear children and to walk in love. We surrender in totality to your rule over us. Open our blind eyes and our deaf ears and give unto us our Father, willing hearts and hands to know and to do what is pleasing in your sight. This prayer we offer at your invitation, for the glory of G-d and the service of man. Amen.
Now I understand verses 14-22 more clearly in Ephesians 2. To paraphrase in my limited mind, it would be like building a beautiful house with a very strong foundationon a hill side , and then deciding that since we were going to live on only the first floor we could just jerk the foundation out from under the house and it would stand stronger than when the foundation was there. All the communications that came from God before Christ are the foundation for our walk. Then Christ came and remodeled the first floor to include all those who surrender to Christ into the structure.
Thanks for today’s commentary.