Explainer / Torah

Ephesians 2:15

having made of none effect in his flesh the enmity — the Torah of commandments contained in decrees — that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace;

τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν καταργήσας, ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν αὑτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον ποιῶν εἰρήνην.

Compare with the ASV

having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace;

Why

1. The same verb as Rom 3:31

   Paul uses καταργέω in Rom 3:31: "Do we then make the Torah of none effect through faith?" We give the verb the same English in both places.

2. The dashes

   "The Torah of commandments" stands in apposition to "the enmity." The dashes show that it is a second phrase set beside the first, which is how the Greek places it, without adding a word such as "even."

3. ἐν δόγμασιν, "in decrees."

   δόγμα is a decree or ordinance.

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   The same word appears in Col 2:14.

4. νόμος = "Torah."

   Here νόμος means the Mosaic law, and this version renders it "Torah" wherever it has that meaning.

5. Verse division

   The SBLGNT and NA28 place "the enmity, in his flesh" at the end of 2:14, so their 2:15 begins with τὸν νόμον.

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   We keep the ASV's verse division.

Read Ephesians 2:15 in context