De muerte a vida por Cristo

Y Él os dio vida a vosotros, que estabais[a] muertos en[b] vuestros delitos y pecados(A), en los cuales anduvisteis en otro tiempo(B) según la corriente[c] de este mundo(C), conforme al príncipe de la potestad del aire(D), el espíritu que ahora opera en los hijos de desobediencia(E), entre los cuales también todos nosotros en otro tiempo vivíamos(F) en las pasiones de nuestra carne(G), satisfaciendo[d] los deseos de la carne y de la mente[e], y éramos por naturaleza(H) hijos de ira(I), lo mismo que los demás(J). Pero Dios, que es rico en misericordia(K), por causa del[f] gran amor con que nos amó(L), aun cuando estábamos muertos en[g] nuestros delitos(M), nos dio vida juntamente con Cristo (por gracia habéis sido salvados(N)), y con Él nos resucitó(O), y con Él nos sentó en los lugares celestiales(P) en Cristo Jesús(Q), a fin de poder mostrar en los siglos venideros las sobreabundantes riquezas de su gracia(R) por su bondad para con nosotros en Cristo Jesús. Porque por gracia habéis sido salvados(S) por medio de la fe(T), y esto no de vosotros, sino que es don de Dios(U); no por[h] obras(V), para que nadie se gloríe(W). 10 Porque somos hechura suya, creados(X) en Cristo Jesús(Y) para hacer buenas obras(Z), las cuales Dios preparó de antemano(AA) para que anduviéramos en ellas(AB).

En Cristo hay paz y unidad

11 Recordad, pues, que en otro tiempo(AC) vosotros los gentiles en la carne(AD), llamados incircuncisión por la tal llamada circuncisión, hecha por manos en la carne(AE), 12 recordad que en ese tiempo estabais separados de Cristo, excluidos de la ciudadanía[i] de Israel(AF), extraños a los pactos(AG) de la promesa, sin tener esperanza(AH), y sin Dios(AI) en el mundo. 13 Pero ahora en Cristo Jesús(AJ), vosotros, que en otro tiempo(AK) estabais lejos, habéis sido acercados(AL) por[j] la sangre de Cristo(AM). 14 Porque Él mismo es nuestra paz(AN), quien de ambos pueblos hizo uno(AO), derribando la pared intermedia de separación, 15 aboliendo en su carne la enemistad(AP), la ley de los mandamientos expresados en ordenanzas(AQ), para crear en sí mismo de los dos un nuevo hombre(AR), estableciendo así la paz(AS), 16 y para reconciliar con Dios(AT) a los dos en un cuerpo(AU) por medio de la cruz, habiendo dado muerte en ella a la enemistad(AV). 17 Y vino y anunció(AW) paz(AX) a vosotros que estabais lejos, y paz a los que estaban cerca(AY); 18 porque por medio de Él los unos y los otros[k] tenemos nuestra entrada(AZ) al Padre(BA) en un mismo Espíritu(BB). 19 Así pues, ya no sois extraños ni extranjeros(BC), sino que sois conciudadanos(BD) de los santos y sois de la familia[l] de Dios(BE), 20 edificados(BF) sobre el fundamento(BG) de los apóstoles y profetas(BH), siendo Cristo Jesús mismo la piedra angular(BI), 21 en quien todo el edificio, bien ajustado, va creciendo(BJ) para ser un templo santo en el Señor(BK), 22 en quien también vosotros sois juntamente edificados(BL) para morada de Dios en el Espíritu(BM).

Footnotes

  1. Efesios 2:1 Lit., estando
  2. Efesios 2:1 O, a causa de
  3. Efesios 2:2 Lit., época
  4. Efesios 2:3 Lit., haciendo
  5. Efesios 2:3 Lit., de los pensamientos
  6. Efesios 2:4 Lit., de su
  7. Efesios 2:5 O, a causa de
  8. Efesios 2:9 Lit., de; i.e., como resultado de
  9. Efesios 2:12 O, comunidad
  10. Efesios 2:13 O, en
  11. Efesios 2:18 Lit., ambos
  12. Efesios 2:19 Lit., los de la casa

Chapter 2

Christ Brought Us from Death to Life.[a] You formerly were dead as a result of your transgressions and sins, which were your way of life in this worldly era,[b] obeying the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit that is now at work among the children of rebellion. We too were all numbered among them at one time. We were ruled by our sinful nature, succumbing to the temptations of the flesh and desires. And like all others, we were by nature children of wrath.

But God is rich in his mercy, and because he had such great love for us, he brought us to life with Christ when we were already dead through sin—it is by grace that you have been saved. He raised us up in union with Christ Jesus and enthroned us with him in the heavens, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace evidenced by his mercy to us in Christ Jesus.

[c]For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. This has not come from you but from the gift of God. It does not come from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for a life of good works that God had prepared for us to do.

11 Jews and Gentiles Reconciled in the Church.[d] Therefore, do not forget that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcised by those who refer to themselves as the circumcised because of a physical rite. 12 Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, excluded from the community of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants[e] of promise. You were in the world without hope and without God.

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

14 For he is our peace,
who has made the two into one,
by breaking down the barrier of hostility.
In his flesh
15 he has abolished the Law
with its commandments and ordinances,
so that he might create in himself
a single new person[f] out of the two,
thereby making peace,
16 and that he might reconcile both groups
to God in one body
through the cross,
thereby putting that enmity to death.
17 Therefore, Jesus came
and proclaimed peace
to you who were far away
and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him
we both have access to the Father
in the one Spirit.

19 As a result, you are no longer strangers and foreigners. Rather, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 Through him the entire structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:1 In Greek, these verses comprise a single sentence.
  2. Ephesians 2:2 This worldly era: i.e., synonymous with “rulers of this world.” It may also refer to the first of the two ages of the world—the present evil age and the age to come (see 1 Cor 3:19; 5:10; 7:31; Gal 1:4; Tit 2:12).
  3. Ephesians 2:8 We are saved by God’s gift, not by the works of the Law (see Rom 3:20-21).
  4. Ephesians 2:11 On the esplanade of the Jewish temple a wall separated Gentiles from Jews, symbolizing the deep division within humanity. Gentiles seemed definitively excluded from any call of God. The death of Jesus radically alters the situation: Jews and Gentiles alike have access to God; God’s plan embraces the entire human race.
  5. Ephesians 2:12 The covenants: i.e., those made with Abraham, with Moses, and with David (see note on Rom 9:4).
  6. Ephesians 2:15 A single new person: i.e., a new humanity made up of Jews and Gentiles in the Christian community.