2:15a
by abolishing: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as abolishing means to “destroy, cancel, or end.” In this context, Christ abolished the law in the sense that he removed the law as the way to achieve salvation. This means that people do not have to follow the law in order to be saved.
Here are some other ways this word has been translated:
ending (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
brought an end to (God’s Word)
The law Paul referred to includes the ceremonial laws concerning sacrifices and festivals. These ceremonial laws separated the Jews and the Gentiles, because the Gentiles did not follow these ceremonies. The law was a barrier between Jews and Gentiles. Christ, by his death, removed this barrier. One possible way to translate this is:
he made it so that we do not have to follow all the rules and commands of the Jewish religion ⌊in order to be acceptable to God⌋
in His flesh: The phrase in His flesh refers to Christ’s death. However, there are different views regarding which part of the verse in His flesh is connected.
The three main views are:
(1) It is connected to the verb abolished/ended in 2:15a. For example:
15a By his death he ended the whole system of Jewish law… (New Living Translation (1996))
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (1996), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) It is connected to the clause destroyed/broke the wall in 2:14b. For example:
14b With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(3) It is connected to the clause made the two one in 2:14b. For example:
14b in his flesh he has made both groups into one (New Revised Standard Version)
(New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions.
flesh: Here flesh means Christ’s body. Most commentators believe that it refers to Christ’s crucified body.
Here are some other ways this phrase has been translated:
by his death (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Christ gave his own body (Contemporary English Version)
See flesh, Meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.
the law of commandments and decrees: The two words commandments and decrees are a doublet. They refer to the Jewish religious laws found in the law of Moses. Some ways of translating this entire phrase are:
the whole system of Jewish law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the Jewish law with all its rules
-or-
the law containing rules about things which people must do and rules about things which they must not do
You should translate this phrase in a way that is natural in your language.
2:15b
to create in Himself one new man out of the two: One reason Christ abolished the law was so that he could unite both Jews and Gentiles to himself and, in this way, make one new group. This new group is the group of Christians, or the church.
one new man: The phrase one new man means “one new group.” It refers to the “one” in 2:14b.
Here are some ways to translate this phrase:
one new group of people
-or-
one new community
out of the two: The phrase the two refers to the Jews and Gentiles. See how you translated the two in 2:14b.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
from the two ⌊opposing groups⌋
-or-
out from among the Jews and Gentiles/non-Jews
2:15c
thus making peace: Christ united the Jews and Gentiles, and this made peace between them.
Here are some other ways this phrase has been translated:
so they are no longer hostile/hateful towards each other
-or-
so they now relate to each other in peaceful ways
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