<p>2:13 <i>But now in Christ Jesus you that once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ</i>- The allusion is to Is. 57:19 LXX: &quot;Peace upon peace Biblical &quot;peace&quot; often refers to forgiveness and peace with God to them that are far off, and to them that are nigh: and the Lord has said, I will heal them&quot;. Judaism spoke of Gentile converts as coming near when they became proselytes. The idea of being made near continues the thought of :12, that we were once separate, at a distance, from both the Lord Jesus and from the community of God's people. Being made near therefore speaks not only of connection with the Lord Jesus, but also with the community of &quot;Israel&quot;, God's people, who are in Him.</p>