Ephesians 2:11 · Bible study
Ephesians 2:11 Commentary: Study: Remembering Our Former Identity
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Paul contrast 'uncircumcision' and 'circumcision made by hands'? This study explores the meaning of true membership in God's people.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul commands Gentile believers to remember their former status as uncircumcised outsiders to foster gratitude for God's grace.
- Key words: μνημονεύετε (mnēmoneuete), present imperative: 'keep remembering'; χειροποιήτου (cheiropoiētou), 'made by hands', applied to outward circumcision as human work.
- Main debate: Whether 'in the flesh' describes physical uncircumcision (majority view) or an unregenerate state (some readings, including Matthew Henry and Poole's first option).
- Theological theme: The contrast between outward religious markers and true heart transformation; membership in God's people is based on Christ, not ethnic ritual.
- Best use: A text for humility, gratitude, and understanding the radical inclusion of the gospel across ethnic and cultural lines.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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)—
WEB World English Bible 2000
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),
KJV King James Version 1769
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;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Wherefore, remember, that ye were once the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Wherefore remember that ye, once nations in [the] flesh, who [are] called uncircumcision by that called circumcision in [the] flesh done with the hand;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For which cause be mindful that you, being heretofore gentiles is the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por tanto, acordaos que en otro tiempo vosotros los Gentiles en la carne, que erais llamados incircuncisión por la que se llama circuncisión, hecha con mano en la carne;
Portanto, lembrai-vos de que vós, antes, éreis gentios na carne, e chamados de não-circuncidados pelos que se chamam participantes da circuncisão na carne, feita por mãos humanas;
C’ est pourquoi, vous autrefois païens dans la chair, appelés incirconcis par ceux qu’ on appelle circoncis et qui le sont en la chair par la main de l’ homme,
Darum gedenket daran, daß ihr, die ihr weiland nach dem Fleisch Heiden gewesen seid und die Unbeschnittenen genannt wurdet von denen, die genannt sind die Beschneidung nach dem Fleisch, die mit der Hand geschieht,
Daarom gedenkt, dat gij, die eertijds heidenen waart in het vlees, en die voorhuid genaamd werdt van degenen, die genaamd zijn besnijdenis in het vlees, die met handen geschiedt;
Perciò, ricordatevi che un tempo voi, Gentili di nascita, chiamati i non circoncisi da quelli che si dicono i circoncisi, perché tali sono nella carne per mano d’uomo, voi, dico, ricordatevi che
Przetoż pamiętajcie, że wy niekiedy będąc poganami w ciele, którzyście byli zwani nieobrzezką od onych, których zwano obrzezką w ciele, która się ręką dzieje;
Итак помните, что вы, некогда язычники по плоти, которых называли необрезанными так называемые обрезанные плотским обрезанием, совершаемым руками,
所以 你們應當記念： 你們從前 按 肉體 是 外邦人， 是稱為 沒受割禮的；這名原是 那些 憑人手 在 肉身 上稱為 受割禮之人所起的。
For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Ephesians 2:11
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that in Ephesians 2:11 Paul calls Gentile believers to a deliberate act of remembrance. As Barnes notes, the purpose is to 'excite a sense of gratitude' by recalling their former condition. The present imperative 'remember' (μνημονεύετε, mnēmoneuete) implies an ongoing discipline, not a one-time glance. The phrase 'Gentiles in the flesh' is understood by most as a reference to their physical uncircumcision, the lack of the covenant mark that set Israel apart (Barnes, Cambridge Bible, Gill). Vincent highlights that Paul uses the abstract terms 'Uncircumcision' and 'Circumcision' for the people groups, adding a layer of irony with 'which is called', the label was conferred by human tradition, not by God's ultimate verdict. The expression 'in the flesh made by hands' (χειροποιήτου, cheiropoiētou) limits the Jewish boast to an external rite, pointing implicitly to a circumcision of the heart that only God can perform (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, citing Colossians 2:11). The shared conclusion: Paul contrasts a former identity defined by human labels with a new identity in Christ that transcends ethnic barriers.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul commands Gentile believers to deliberately remember their former identity as outsiders defined by physical circumcision, in order to deepen their gratitude for God's grace in Christ and to recognize the sufficiency of Christ over all human religious labels.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The call to remember | Christians agree that remembering past sin and alienation is vital for humility and gratitude (Barnes, Calvin, Matthew Henry). | Whether the primary focus is individual memory or corporate identity. The text addresses the church as a whole, but application often becomes personal. |
| Meaning of 'in the flesh' | The phrase points to something about the Gentile condition before Christ. | Some see it as purely physical: uncircumcised in body (Barnes, Cambridge Bible, Gill). Others see it as moral: unregenerate and carnal (Matthew Henry, and Poole's first option). |
| The labels 'uncircumcision' and 'circumcision' | These terms mark the ethnic division between Jews and Gentiles in the first century. | Does Paul's phrase 'which is called' carry irony (Vincent) or is it neutral description? Most agree the tone critiques those who boast in the mere physical rite. |
| The phrase 'made by hands' | This adjective distinguishes human action from divine work. | Is the point that circumcision is now obsolete (some Reformed traditions) or that it was always a sign pointing to a greater reality (Catholic and Orthodox emphasis on continuity)? Both affirm the necessity of heart circumcision. |
| The purpose of remembrance | Paul intends to produce humility and gratitude in his readers (Calvin, Wesley, Barnes). | Some emphasize the horizontal effect: breaking down ethnic barriers in the church. Others stress the vertical effect: deepening appreciation for God's grace. Both are present in the passage. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In the first-century Mediterranean world, circumcision was the definitive mark of Jewish identity. The term 'uncircumcised' was an epithet. David’s question about Goliath, 'this uncircumcised Philistine' (1 Samuel 17:26), captures the contempt associated with the label. The Cambridge Bible notes that Rabbinic Judaism regarded Gentiles with attitudes that 'started from a point of truth' but became distorted into hostility. Paul’s phrase 'in the flesh' refers to the physical mark; the Gentile Christians in Ephesus lacked that outward sign, and Jews would have called them 'the uncircumcision' as a term of exclusion.
The word 'remember' echoes a key theme in Deuteronomy. Israel was commanded again and again to remember their slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15, 15:15, 16:12). Now Paul applies the same logic to the Ephesians: they must remember their spiritual slavery and alienation. This is not idle nostalgia. It is a discipline meant to produce humility and gratitude.
The phrase 'made by hands' (χειροποιήτου, cheiropoiētou) is striking. The same Greek word is used in the Septuagint for idols (Leviticus 26:1) and for the earthly temple built by human hands (Isaiah 16:12, LXX). By describing circumcision as 'made by hands,' Paul subtly associates the physical rite with human effort. He is not condemning it, but he relativizes it. The true circumcision is 'without hands' (Colossians 2:11), a work of God in the heart. For a Jewish reader, the phrase would undercut any confidence in the outward ceremony. For a Gentile reader, it would come as a relief: their lack of the physical mark was no barrier to full membership in God’s people.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Ephesians 2:11. The Nestle-Aland text is well-established. Some manuscripts vary the word order slightly (e.g., placing 'ποτὲ' after 'ὑμεῖς'), but these do not affect meaning. The passage is stable across the manuscript tradition.
Reception History
In the early church, this verse was used to argue that Gentiles were fully incorporated into God's people without becoming proselytes to Judaism. Patristic writers like Chrysostom and Augustine read it as a demonstration of God's grace breaking through ethnic boundaries. In the Reformation, Calvin and other Protestant commentators employed it to critique reliance on outward ceremonies for salvation. Catholic interpreters have emphasized the breaking down of barriers and the creation of one new humanity, seeing here a type of the universal church. Modern evangelical preaching often returns to this text as a call to remember one's pre-conversion state and to celebrate unity in Christ across cultural lines.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Remember the command. The present imperative 'keep remembering' is a spiritual discipline, not a one-time recollection. It fuels humility and prevents entitlement.
- Remember the label. The Ephesians were once called 'the uncircumcision', a term that marked them as outsiders. Paul wants them to feel the weight of that exclusion so they can appreciate their inclusion.
- Remember the contrast. The circumcision 'made by hands' is human work. What they now have in Christ is a circumcision of the heart, a divine work that no human label can deny.
Five-point outline
- Recall your past. (v.11) Paul invites them to look back at who they were.
- Name your alienation. (v.12) Without Christ, without the commonwealth of Israel, without hope.
- Celebrate your nearness. (v.13) 'But now in Christ Jesus', the great reversal.
- Understand Christ our peace. (v.14) He broke down the dividing wall; ethnic labels no longer define.
- Live as the household of God. (v.19) No longer strangers, but fellow citizens.
Illustration hooks
- An adult who was adopted remembers the day they were legally placed, not to relive the pain, but to celebrate the family that chose them.
- A naturalized citizen carries a passport that once listed their country of origin. When they put away the old passport, they are not erasing where they came from, they are living out the reality of a new allegiance.
- A child who grew up in poverty and later has enough food still remembers what hunger felt like. That memory makes every meal a gift.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God still care about outward religious labels like circumcision or baptism?
- How do I keep from forgetting God’s grace in my daily routine?
- If I come from a different background than the people in my church, how does this passage speak to our unity?
Leading a Discussion
Paul calls the Ephesians to remember who they were before Christ. This exercise is not meant to shame them but to deepen their sense of God's grace. In a culture that often defines us by our past labels, this passage invites us to see ourselves through God’s new reality. As you work through these questions, let the memory of God's mercy shape your gratitude and your relationships.
Discussion questions
- What specific facts does Paul ask the Ephesians to remember? (Observation)
- Why does Paul use the abstract terms 'Uncircumcision' and 'Circumcision' instead of simply 'Jews and Gentiles'? (Interpretation)
- How would the stigma of being called 'uncircumcised' have affected the original readers? (Interpretation)
- What does the phrase 'made by hands' suggest about the limitations of religious rituals? (Interpretation)
- How does remembering our former alienation help us appreciate what Christ has done? (Application)
- What are some 'labels' from your past, ethnic, social, or religious, that still affect how you see yourself? (Application)
- This passage connects memory with gratitude. What practices has your group used to regularly remind each other of God’s grace? (Application)
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 5:15 | You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. |
| Deuteronomy 8:2 | You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. |
| Deuteronomy 9:7 | Remember, and don’t forget, how you provoked Yahweh your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. |
| Deuteronomy 15:15 | You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this thing today. |
| Deuteronomy 16:12 | You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes. |
| I Samuel 17:26 | David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” |
| I Samuel 17:36 | Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” |
| Isaiah 51:1 | “Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh. Look to the rock you were cut from, and to the quarry you were dug from. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that remembering their former status as heathens is meant to produce both holy living and genuine gratitude. He notes that Jews labeled such people "uncircumcision," meaning outsiders with no claim to God's covenant or blessings. This memory should drive humility and thankfulness.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that Paul calls Christians to remember their former sinful state precisely because memory, more than anything else, produces humility and gratitude. He then distinguishes circumcision in the flesh from circumcision of the heart, noting that outward religious rites do not make someone a true child of God.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Paul calls the Ephesians to remember their former state as Gentiles in order to humble them and remove any grounds for pride. This memory should drive them to rest completely on Christ alone, not to imagine that other supports are needed. Calvin also notes that circumcision was the ordinary mark of God's people, so lacking it ordinarily meant lacking grace, though this is not an absolute rule.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator stresses that the great shock for Gentile converts was not the fact of regeneration itself, but the equal welcome into a covenant they had been entirely outside of. The Pharisees' harsh label "Uncircumcision" reflected a real difference in covenant status, which they then distorted into spiritual contempt.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that the term "uncircumcision" was a title of contempt the Jews used for Gentiles. They draw attention to the phrase "made with hands" to distinguish physical, human-performed circumcision from the spiritual circumcision of the heart that matters before God.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Paul's phrase "Gentiles in the flesh" refers not to nationality but to the Ephesians' unregenerate state: they were carnal, ignorant, and wicked, especially lacking the inward circumcision of the heart by God's Spirit. The label "uncircumcision" was a term of reproach used by Jews who practiced mere outward, hand-made circumcision without the inner reality.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that recalling their former state sharpens gratitude and strengthens
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent points out that Paul uses abstract nouns—“uncircumcision” and “circumcision”—instead of concrete terms for people. He notes the irony: those who claim the title “circumcised” are now shown to be the uncircumcised, a reversal that strips the label of its pride.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the call to remember as more than a mental exercise; it actively strengthens faith and deepens gratitude. He notes that the term "uncircumcision" was a deliberate reproach used by those who prided themselves on physical circumcision as proof of being God's people.