King James Bible
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Christ's physical death on the cross eliminated the hostility between Jews and Gentiles. Paul uses 'flesh' to emphasize the incarnation and crucifixion as the means by which this dividing wall of animosity was destroyed. The 'enmity' is specifically identified as the ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic law that separated Jews from Gentiles. These regulations, while originally given by God, had become a barrier preventing Gentile inclusion in God's people. Christ's purpose was to create a single, unified humanity from the two previously divided groups. This 'new man' represents the church, where ethnic and religious distinctions no longer determine one's standing before God. The result is reconciliation both horizontally (between ethnic groups) and vertically (with God). This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the active establishment of unity through Christ's redemptive work.