Ephesians 2:17 → Isaiah 52:7

The clause's verbatim core — "peace to those far and near" — is drawn from Isaiah 57:19 ("Peace, peace to those far and near," says the LORD), its dominant OT source; Isaiah 52:7 contributes only the herald-verb εὐαγγελίζομαι and is therefore not counted as a reception of that anchor. Paul declares that Christ "came and preached peace" (eirēnēn euēngelisato) to those far and near, echoing the Isaiah 52:7 herald whose "beautiful feet" announce peace (shalom) and good news (mebasher) to Zion. Isaiah's herald proclaims Yahweh's return to Zion after the Babylonian exile, announcing salvation and the reign of God. Paul applies this to Christ's reconciling work on the cross, which brings peace not merely to exiled Israel but to both Jews ("those who were near") and Gentiles ("those who were far away"), collapsing the dividing wall of hostility. The verbal parallel between Isaiah's "proclaims peace" and Paul's "preached peace" is deliberate, casting Christ as the ultimate herald whose message surpasses geographic restoration to accomplish cosmic reconciliation. This connection also draws on the broader Isaianic theme of the gospel (euangelion) as the announcement of God's saving reign inaugurated through Christ.