Ephesians 2:17 Meaning: Christ’s Peace for the Far Off and Near

The Greek word behind “preached peace” is euēngelisato, He evangelised, He brought good news. This is the same root as “gospel.” In the Old Testament it was used for announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom, and here Paul says Christ is the one announcing. The peace He proclaims (eirēnēn) is not just the absence of conflict. It carries the Old Testament sense of wholeness, well-being, right relationship, the kind of peace that flows when barriers come down. Notice how the verse repeats “peace” in many manuscripts: “peace to you who were far off, and peace to those near.” The repetition feels like an echo, as if the message needs to be heard twice for both groups. And the words “far off” (makran) and “near” (engus) are not about miles. They describe spiritual distance. The Gentiles were far from the covenant, the Jews were near to it, but both needed the same peace from the same Messenger.

Christians have read this verse in slightly different ways. Many Reformed commentators, like Calvin and Gill, emphasize that Christ preaches peace through the apostolic ministry after His ascension, not personally during His life, but by His Spirit in the church. Wesley and the Cambridge Bible highlight that Christ Himself came after the resurrection, speaking peace to His gathered disciples before sending them out. The verse echoes Isaiah 57:19, where God promises peace to both far and near, and Paul applies that prophecy directly to the new community of Jews and Gentiles. Across traditions, there is agreement that Christ is the active preacher of peace, and that His words continue through those who carry His message.

Some read “far off” and “near” as simply physical location. In fact, Paul is describing spiritual standing. In verse 12 he called the Gentiles “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel.” The Jews, by contrast, were near because they had the covenants and the law. But both needed the peace Christ brings. Distance here is not about geography, it is about belonging to God’s family.

You may feel far off from God today, not because of where you live, but because of how you live, or because of a past you cannot change. This verse is for you. Christ came to you before you came to Him. He announced peace directly. If you already know that peace, think of someone who seems far off in your life, a family member you are estranged from, a coworker of a different background. Christ’s peace is for them too. And He may be inviting you to be the voice that brings the news.