Ephesians 2:11
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
- KJV
- Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
- WEB
- Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands),
- ASV
- Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;
- DARBY
- Wherefore remember that *ye*, once nations in [the] flesh, who [are] called uncircumcision by that called circumcision in [the] flesh done with the hand;
- BLB
- Therefore remember that once you⁺—the Gentiles in the flesh, the ones being called the uncircumcision by that being called the circumcision, done by hands in the flesh—
- ÅB
- Kom derfor i hu at dere som før i tiden var hedninger i kjøttet og ble kalt uomskårne av den såkalte omskjærelse på kjøttet, den som gjøres med hånden,
- OTB
- Derfor, husk at dere tidligere, hedningene i kjødet, som blir kalt “de uomskårne” av dem som kaller seg “de omskårne” (som er gjort i kjødet med hender)—
- B1930
- Kom derfor i hu at I som fordum var hedninger i kjøttet og blev kalt uomskårne av den såkalte omskjærelse på kjøttet, den som gjøres med hånden,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Colossians 2:11
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
Read in contextColossians 2:13
When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
Read in contextColossians 3:11
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
Read in contextRomans 2:28–29
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
Read in contextGalatians 6:12
Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
Read in contextPhilippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
Read in context1 Corinthians 12:2
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
Read in contextJeremiah 9:25–26
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised yet uncircumcised:
Read in context