But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
Significance
Paul skillfully merges Isaiah 52:7 and 57:19 to present Christ as the herald who proclaims eschatological peace to both distant Gentiles and near Jews. This sophisticated use of Hebrew text (preserving "peace, peace" structure) frames the entire reconciliation argument as an inclusio (2:13, 17). Paul's hermeneutical move interprets Isaiah's "far/near" language as referring to Gentile-Jewish distinction rather than merely geographic diaspora. He combines Isaiah's characteristic themes - pilgrimage of nations and new creation - to show Christ's death inaugurates the restoration era, creating one new humanity and fulfilling prophecies of universal worship. The church now experiences what Isaiah envisioned: nations streaming to worship the Creator alongside Israel.
