Note: the pattern of similarities and contrasts which was identified independently is very close to the chiasm published by Thomson in “Chiasmus in the Pauline Letters”. Journal For The Study of The New Testament Supplement Series 111, Sheffield Academic press, Sheffield, 1995. The original post has been edited in the light of comment from PH. Since then a group of Bible students in Brant County came up independently with the same pattern but which also identifies the parallelisms within units. Brant Co Eph 2vv11-22
A (11a) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,
B (11b) who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
C (12a) That at that time ye were without Christ,
D (12b) being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
E (12c) and strangers from the covenants of promise,
F (12d) having no hope, and without God in the world:
G (13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
H (14) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
I. (15a) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity , even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
J (15b) for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
J’ (16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body
I’ by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
H’ (17a) And came and preached peace
G’.(17b) to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
F’ (18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
E’ (19a) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
D’ (19b) but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
C’ (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
B’ (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
A’ (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Taking account of some to the Greek grammatical structures, rather than just individual terms, yields the following chiastic structure in Ephesians 2:13-18 (author’s translation):
A. but now in Christ Jesus you, those then afar off, became near in the blood of Christ
B. for he is our peace, the one have made the both one and the middle wall of partition having broken
C. the hostility in his flesh, the law of the commandments in decrees having abolished
D. in order that the two he might create in himself into one new man making peace
d. [in order that] he might reconcile the both in one body to God
c. through the cross killing the hostility in himself
b. and coming he preached peace to you, those afar off, and peace to those near
a. because through him we, the both, have access in one spirit to the father
good work, am going to use it preach this saturday.
thank you sir Peter; I like your ranslation ‘through the cross killing the hostility in himself.’