Ephesians — Chapter 2
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1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having 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;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,
2wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
3among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:--
4but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),
6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus:
7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:
8for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God;
9not of works, that no man should glory.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
11Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;
12that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,
15having abolished in the flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, [so] making peace;
16and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:
18for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.
19So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
20being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;
21in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;
22in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
1And although you were dead in your offenses and sins,
2in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the domain of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience,
3among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
4But God, being rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us,
5even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—
6and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9it is not from works, so that no one can boast.
10For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.
11Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh—who are called “uncircumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands—
12that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility,
15when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace,
16and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.
17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,
18so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
20because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
21In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience;
3among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9not of works, that no one would boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”, (in the flesh, made by hands);
12that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition,
15having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;
16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby.
17He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.
18For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
21in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Summary
"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" — once dead in sin but made alive with Christ, Jew and Gentile are reconciled into one new humanity through the cross, built together into God's dwelling place.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik provides detailed commentary on spiritual death, "But God," salvation by grace, God's workmanship, and the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "But God" on v.4 (MTP Vol. 25, No. 1476) "But God. Two words that change everything. You were dead — but God made you alive. You were condemned — but God justified you. You were far off — but God brought you near. Every testimony in heaven will begin with these two words: 'I was lost — but God.' Never forget where you were, and never forget who rescued you." Sermon: "By Grace Are Ye Saved" on v.8 (MTP Vol. 17, No. 1027) "By grace — not by works, not by merit, not by effort, not by ceremony. Through faith — the empty hand that receives the gift. And that not of yourselves — even the faith is God's gift. From first to last, salvation is of the Lord. Boasting is excluded. Glory belongs to God alone."
Videos
The Bible Project — Ephesians Overview
Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
Reflection
- 1. "Dead in trespasses and sins" (v.1). Before Christ, you weren't sick — you were dead. Dead people can't help themselves. How does understanding your former deadness increase your gratitude for God's grace?
- 2. "But God" (v.4). What's your "But God" story? Where were you headed, and how did God intervene? Can you trace His mercy in your life?
- 3. "By grace are ye saved through faith" (v.8). Are you resting in grace or still trying to earn God's favor? Where does performance-based religion creep into your thinking?
- 4. "His workmanship" (v.10). You are God's masterpiece — created for specific good works He prepared in advance. What good works has God prepared for you? Are you walking in them?
- 5. "Made nigh by the blood of Christ" (v.13). If you were once "far off" — outside, alienated, hopeless — how does it feel to be "made nigh"? Do you live like an insider or still feel like a stranger?
- 6. "Built upon the foundation" (vv.20-22). You are part of God's living temple. How does being "builded together" with other believers shape your view of church and community?