Ephesians 2:11-12

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands- remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

(v11-12, ESV)

The gentiles were called the uncircumcision. This is because they were not circumcised. The Jews took pride in the fact that they were circumcised. It was a symbol of their covenant with God showing them to be God's chosen people. So they were named this because or in reference to those who were circumcised. Paul notes as well that it is made in the flesh by hands. Circumcision is fleshly and a means of boasting in the flesh. They thought circumcision had the power to save, and they boasted in it. However, verse 10 reveals that God's saving grace is not as a result of works, so that no one can boast. Since they boast in circumcision, and it was a type of "works" then it is clearly not a way to be saved.

Paul is still speaking to Christians. However, since he refers to the gentiles, then he is talking to the Christian Gentiles. He asks them to remember that they were once called "the uncircumcision". They are to remember that they used to be separated from Christ. In the last section, Paul points out that each and every one of us used to be dead in our trespasses. Our old life before Jesus was one in which we followed the ways of this world. This is true for both gentiles and Jews. However, the reason why Paul is targeting the gentiles is to point out how they were never included in the covenants of the Old Testament. Before Jesus, they were separate from God's people. Apparently, they had no hope without God in the world.