Ephesians — Chapter 2

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1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9not by works, so that no one can boast.

10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

11Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—

12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

14For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility

15by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace

16and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.

17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

18For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,

20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

21In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

22And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

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
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Paul reminds the Ephesians that they were once spiritually dead, following the world and their own sinful desires, deserving God's wrath like everyone else (vv. 1-3). But God, rich in mercy, made them alive together with Christ, raising and seating them with him in the heavenly realms — saved by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast (vv. 4-9). They are God's workmanship, created for the good works He prepared in advance (v. 10). Paul recalls that Gentile believers were once excluded from Israel's covenants and without hope, but Christ's blood has now brought them near, tearing down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile and creating one new humanity reconciled to God through the cross (vv. 11-16). Christ preached peace to both, giving all believers access to the Father through one Spirit, so that Gentiles are no longer outsiders but fellow citizens in God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone, growing into a holy temple where God dwells (vv. 17-22).

Authorship & Background

Author: Paul the Apostle (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 2 is one of the greatest summaries of the gospel ever written. It moves from humanity's hopeless condition (vv.1-3) to God's gracious salvation (vv.4-10) to the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ (vv.11-22). The famous "But God" of verse 4 is the hinge of human history.
Classification: Epistle — Pauline, Prison Epistle
Key Themes: Spiritual death described as a condition by nature rather than a series of choices, but God interrupting the sentence at its worst point, salvation by grace through faith set apart from works while still leading to them, a dividing wall broken down between Jew and Gentile, and one new man built together into a temple rather than merely reconciled
Dead in Sin (vv.1-3): Before Christ, all people — Jew and Gentile alike — were spiritually dead, controlled by the world, the devil ("the prince of the power of the air"), and the flesh. "By nature the children of wrath" (v.3) — not just sinners by choice but by nature.
But God (vv.4-10): The two greatest words in Scripture. Despite our deadness, God — rich in mercy, great in love — made us alive, raised us up, and seated us with Christ in heavenly places. Salvation is "by grace through faith" (v.8) — not of works. Yet we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (v.10). Grace saves; works follow.
One New Man (vv.11-22): Gentiles were once outsiders — "without Christ," "aliens," "strangers," "having no hope" (v.12). But Christ broke down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, creating "one new man" (v.15). Both now have access to the Father by one Spirit (v.18). Together they form God's temple (vv.20-22).

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.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

What does it mean that Satan is prince of the power of the air in Ephesians 2:2? | GotQuestions.org
Got Questions Ministries

Ephesians 2-3 | The Mystery of the Gospel | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Ephesians 2 - God's Work of Reconciliation
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org Grace, faith and works in two verses, and how they fit together.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Ephesians -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Dead, Not Just Struggling (v.1) — Before Christ, Paul says people were spiritually dead in their sins, not merely sick or struggling. How does recognizing your former helplessness change how much gratitude you feel for grace?
  • The Hinge of Everything (v.4) — Despite that deadness, God's mercy and love intervened to make believers alive with Christ. Where can you trace a "but God" moment breaking into your own story?
  • Saved by Grace Through Faith (v.8) — Salvation is a gift received by faith, not something earned by works. Are you resting in that gift, or still quietly trying to earn favor you already have?
  • Made for Good Works (v.10) — Believers are described as God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works He prepared in advance. Are you walking in the specific works God has set before you, or still searching for direction?
  • Brought Near by the Blood of Christ (v.13) — Those who were once far off have been brought near through Christ's sacrifice. Do you live like someone brought fully in, or still like an outsider looking through the window?
  • Built Together Into God's Dwelling (vv.20-22) — Believers are described as living stones being built together into a temple where God dwells by His Spirit. How does being joined to other believers shape the way you think about church and community?