 Those who were near were the Jews, since they had received the law and knew more about God. And those who were far away were Gentiles, who knew virtually nothing about God before they became believers. But Paul wanted both Jews and Gentile believers to know that they were one in Christ Jesus. There was no room for prejudice. Again, this is why he wrote, "'There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, since you are one in Christ Jesus.'"