The word translated `stranger' is xenos and while this word is never

translated `guest' in the A.V., this would not be an impossible translation

did the context permit such a rendering.  The word however cannot be

translated `guest' in Ephesians 2:12 for the following reasons.  It refers to

that period in the Gentiles' experience when they were called `the

uncircumcision' by those who are called the circumcision in the flesh, and it

is beyond controversy that at that time and in that circumstance, an

uncircumcised Gentile would not be a `guest' of the Covenants; he would be a

`stranger'.  It refers to the time when the Gentile was without Christ,

without hope and without God, and it is impossible for even a `guest' of the

covenant of promise, to be at the same time Christless, Godless and hopeless!

Moreover, at the same time these Gentiles were `aliens' from the citizenship

of Israel.  These two words `aliens' (apallotrioo) and `stranger' (xenos)

come together in the LXX, e.g.

`I became strange (apallotrioo) to my brethren, and a stranger (xenos)

to my mother's children' (Psa. 69:8).

`Our inheritance has been turned away to aliens (allotrios), our houses

to strangers (xenos), we are become orphans, we have no father, our

mothers are widows' (Lam. of Jer. 5:2,3).

The usage of the LXX, the demands of the Mosaic law and the context of

Ephesians 2:11,12, alike forbid any other translation here of xenos than

This was the

position of the Gentile as such while Israel retained its

favoured position,

a status that obtains from Genesis 12, when Abraham was

called, until Acts

28, when Israel as a nation was set aside.  This was the

Gentile's position

dispensationally `in the flesh' and `in the world',

dreadful heredity,

horrible environment!  Then comes the second Selah of

`But now in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 2:13).

Here is the new environment `in Christ Jesus' instead of being in the

world, here is the new heredity `in Christ Jesus' instead of being in the

`But now in Christ Jesus ye who in time past were far off are become

nigh in (lit.) the blood of Christ' (Eph. 2:13).

From `alienation' this apostolic Selah turns to `access'; from being

`in the flesh' he speaks of access `in one Spirit' (Eph. 2:18).  From being

`without Christ', Christ becomes his peace; from being without God, he is

reconciled to `God' and has access to the `Father' (Eph. 2:16,18).  That no

mere evolution or perfecting of an immature position is in view let Ephesians

2:15 testify.

`For to create (ktizo not improve or develop) in Himself of twain (the

two) one new man'.

Here then is the Selah of Alienation and Access.

A

In time past

aliens and strangers (Eph. 2:11,12).

B

now New Creation and Access (2:13 -18).

A

No longer

strangers and foreigners but fellowcitizens (2:19).