Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."
Text: Ephesians 2:19
“STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS”
The phrase, “strangers and foreigners” (xenoi kai paroikoi”) is Paul’s way of emphasizing a point. In effect, only one word is necessary. To be “a stranger” is essentially the same as being “a foreigner”. When used in combination or in tandem, we almost have a tautological expression. But Paul must have felt that it was not redundant to use the two synonyms together. He was merely highlighting a powerful fact!
“NO LONGER STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS”
Paul wrote with a great depth of identification with his Gentile converts. He was their apostle. But of course he felt their fullness of joy. No longer should they feel excluded. No longer should they feel they are “second class” to those of the circumcision.
“FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS”
Believing Gentiles were accorded, as it were, full citizenship rights. The word “fellow-citizen” (“sumpolitai”) emphasizes equality of rights. When believing Gentiles are ushered into the kingdom of God, they are given all the rights and privileges that believing Jewish saints had.
The word “saint” (“hagios”) makes a number of references:-
1. He is one who has been declared righteous by God.
2. He enjoys the work of “sanctification”.
3. He stands in God’s sight as “a holy one” or “a saint”.
The believing Gentile enjoys the same exact standing as the believing Jew.
“MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD”
The phrase “members of the household of God” translates just one word. The word in the Greek text is simply “oikeioi”. The root word is simple enough. It literally means “house” (“oikos”). When expanded with a personal article, it highlights the idea of “the house” further. It emphasizes the idea of belonging to the “house of God”.
When the two phrases are used together, “fellow citizens” and “members of”- we have a terrific idea of what Paul was trying to emphasize. The contrast is even more significant if we put the two sets of phrases together thus:-
“Strangers and foreigners”
EPHESIANS 2:19A“Fellow citizens… and members of the household of God.”
EPHESIANS 2:19B
EXULTING IN THE MANIFOLD BLESSINGS OF GOD
As far as Paul was concerned, there is so much to exult in! The redemption that Christ wrought brought a complete change of status for believing Gentiles. Nothing less than exultation and celebration would do justice to the redemption that we have in Christ Jesus.