Made Alive in Christ

And [a]you [b]were (A)dead [c]in your offenses and sins, in which you (B)previously walked according to the [d]course of (C)this world, according to (D)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in (E)the [e]sons of disobedience. Among them [f]we too all (F)previously lived in (G)the lusts of our flesh, [g]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the [h]mind, and were (H)by nature (I)children of wrath, (J)just as the rest. But God, being (K)rich in mercy, because of (L)His great love with which He loved us, even when we were (M)dead [i]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together [j]with Christ ((N)by grace you have been saved), and (O)raised us up with Him, and (P)seated us with Him in (Q)the heavenly places in (R)Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the [k]boundless (S)riches of His grace in (T)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For (U)by grace you have been saved (V)through faith; and [l]this is not of yourselves, it is (W)the gift of God; (X)not a result of works, so that (Y)no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, (Z)created in (AA)Christ Jesus for (AB)good works, which God (AC)prepared beforehand so that we would (AD)walk in them.

11 Therefore remember that (AE)previously (AF)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “(AG)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “(AH)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, [m](AI)excluded from [n]the people of Israel, and strangers to (AJ)the covenants of the promise, having (AK)no hope and (AL)without God in the world. 13 But now in (AM)Christ Jesus you who (AN)previously were (AO)far away [o]have (AP)been brought near [p](AQ)by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is (AR)our peace, (AS)who made both groups into one and broke down the [q]barrier of the dividing wall, 15 [r]by (AT)abolishing [s]in His flesh the hostility, which is (AU)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might [t](AV)make the two (AW)one new person, in this way establishing (AX)peace; 16 and that He might (AY)reconcile them both in (AZ)one body to God through the cross, [u]by it having (BA)put to death the hostility. 17 And (BB)He came and preached (BC)peace to you who were (BD)far away, and peace to those who were (BE)near; 18 for through Him we both have (BF)our access in (BG)one Spirit to (BH)the Father. 19 So then you are no longer (BI)strangers and foreigners, but you are (BJ)fellow citizens with the [v]saints, and are of (BK)God’s household, 20 having been (BL)built on (BM)the foundation of (BN)the apostles and prophets, (BO)Christ Jesus Himself being the (BP)cornerstone, 21 (BQ)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into (BR)a holy [w]temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being (BS)built together into a (BT)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:1 Lit being
  2. Ephesians 2:1 I.e., Gentile believers
  3. Ephesians 2:1 Or by reason of
  4. Ephesians 2:2 Lit age
  5. Ephesians 2:2 I.e., people opposed to God
  6. Ephesians 2:3 I.e., Jewish believers
  7. Ephesians 2:3 Lit doing
  8. Ephesians 2:3 Lit thoughts
  9. Ephesians 2:5 Or by reason of
  10. Ephesians 2:5 Two early mss in Christ
  11. Ephesians 2:7 Lit surpassing
  12. Ephesians 2:8 I.e., this salvation
  13. Ephesians 2:12 Or alienated
  14. Ephesians 2:12 Or citizenship in Israel
  15. Ephesians 2:13 Lit became; or were made
  16. Ephesians 2:13 Or in
  17. Ephesians 2:14 Lit the dividing wall of the barrier
  18. Ephesians 2:15 Or the hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the Law
  19. Ephesians 2:15 I.e., by His death
  20. Ephesians 2:15 Lit create
  21. Ephesians 2:16 Or in Himself
  22. Ephesians 2:19 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  23. Ephesians 2:21 Or sanctuary

From Death to Life

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ[a]—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

One in Christ

11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth,[b] called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body[c] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.[d] 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.[e] 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually[f] into a dwelling-place for God.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:5 Other ancient authorities read in Christ
  2. Ephesians 2:11 Gk in the flesh
  3. Ephesians 2:16 Or reconcile both of us in one body for God
  4. Ephesians 2:16 Or in him, or in himself
  5. Ephesians 2:20 Or keystone
  6. Ephesians 2:22 Gk in the Spirit

Chapter 2[a]

Generosity of God’s Plan.[b] (A)You were dead in your transgressions and sins[c] in which you once lived following the age of this world,[d] following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.(B) All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.(C) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, (D)even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ[e] (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,(E) that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.(F) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;(G) it is not from works, so no one may boast.(H) 10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.(I)

One in Christ.[f] 11 Therefore, remember that at one time you, Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by those called the circumcision, which is done in the flesh by human hands, 12 were at that time without Christ, alienated from the community of Israel[g] and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.(J) 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ.(K)

14 [h]For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh,(L) 15 abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person[i] in place of the two, thus establishing peace,(M) 16 and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it.(N) 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,(O) 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.(P)

19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God,(Q) 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,(R) with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.[j] 21 Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;(S) 22 in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.(T)

Footnotes

  1. 2:1–22 The gospel of salvation (Eph 1:13) that God worked in Christ (Eph 1:20) is reiterated in terms of what God’s great love (Eph 2:4), expressed in Christ, means for us. The passage sometimes addresses you, Gentiles (Eph 2:1–2, 8, 11–13, 19, 22), but other times speaks of all of us who believe (Eph 2:3–7, 10, 14, 18). In urging people to remember their grim past when they were dead in sins (Eph 2:1–3, 11–12) and what they are now in Christ (Eph 2:4–10, 13), the author sees both Jew and Gentile reconciled with God, now one new person, a new humanity, one body, the household of God, a temple and dwelling place of God’s Spirit (Eph 2:15–16, 19–22). The presentation falls into two parts, the second stressing more the meaning for the church.
  2. 2:1–10 The recipients of Paul’s letter have experienced, in their redemption from transgressions and sins, the effect of Christ’s supremacy over the power of the devil (Eph 2:1–2; cf. Eph 6:11–12), who rules not from the netherworld but from the air between God in heaven and human beings on earth. Both Jew and Gentile have experienced, through Christ, God’s free gift of salvation that already marks them for a future heavenly destiny (Eph 2:3–7). The language dead, raised us up, and seated us…in the heavens closely parallels Jesus’ own passion and Easter experience. The terms in Eph 2:8–9 describe salvation in the way Paul elsewhere speaks of justification: by grace, through faith, the gift of God, not from works; cf. Gal 2:16–21; Rom 3:24–28. Christians are a newly created people in Christ, fashioned by God for a life of goodness (Eph 2:10).
  3. 2:1–7 These verses comprise one long sentence in Greek, the main verb coming in Eph 2:5, God brought us to life, the object you/us dead in…transgressions being repeated in Eph 2:1, 5; cf. Col 2:13.
  4. 2:2 Age of this world: or “aeon,” a term found in gnostic thought, possibly synonymous with the rulers of this world, but also reflecting the Jewish idea of “two ages,” this present evil age and “the age to come”; cf. 1 Cor 3:19; 5:10; 7:31; Gal 1:4; Ti 2:12. The disobedient: literally, “the sons of disobedience,” a Semitism as at Is 30:9.
  5. 2:5 Our relation through baptism with Christ, the risen Lord, is depicted in terms of realized eschatology, as already exaltation, though Eph 2:7 brings in the future aspect too.
  6. 2:11–22 The Gentiles lacked Israel’s messianic expectation, lacked the various covenants God made with Israel, lacked hope of salvation and knowledge of the true God (Eph 2:11–12); but through Christ all these religious barriers between Jew and Gentile have been transcended (Eph 2:13–14) by the abolition of the Mosaic covenant-law (Eph 2:15) for the sake of uniting Jew and Gentile into a single religious community (Eph 2:15–16), imbued with the same holy Spirit and worshiping the same Father (Eph 2:18). The Gentiles are now included in God’s household (Eph 2:19) as it arises upon the foundation of apostles assisted by those endowed with the prophetic gift (Eph 3:5), the preachers of Christ (Eph 2:20; cf. 1 Cor 12:28). With Christ as the capstone (Eph 2:20; cf. Is 28:16; Mt 21:42), they are being built into the holy temple of God’s people where the divine presence dwells (Eph 2:21–22).
  7. 2:12 The community of Israel: or “commonwealth”; cf. Eph 4:18. The covenants: cf. Rom 9:4: with Abraham, with Moses, with David.
  8. 2:14–16 The elaborate imagery here combines pictures of Christ as our peace (Is 9:5), his crucifixion, the ending of the Mosaic law (cf. Col 2:14), reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18–21), and the destruction of the dividing wall such as kept people from God in the temple or a barrier in the heavens.
  9. 2:15 One new person: a corporate body, the Christian community, made up of Jews and Gentiles, replacing ancient divisions; cf. Rom 1:16.
  10. 2:20 Capstone: the Greek can also mean cornerstone or keystone.

And kai you hymeis were eimi dead nekros by reason of ho your hymeis trespasses paraptōma and kai · ho sins hamartia, in en which hos you once pote lived peripateō according kata to the ho course aiōn of ho this houtos world kosmos, according kata to the ho ruler archōn of ho the realm exousia of the ho air aēr, of the ho spirit pneuma that ho is now nyn energizing energeō en the ho sons hyios of ho disobedience apeitheia. Among en them hos we hēmeis also kai all pas once pote lived anastrephō in en the ho passions epithumia of ho our hēmeis flesh sarx, gratifying poieō the ho desires thelēma and kai impulses dianoia of the ho flesh sarx, · ho and kai were eimi by nature physis children teknon of wrath orgē, just kai like hōs · ho everyone else loipos. · ho But de God theos, being eimi rich plousios in en mercy eleos, because dia of · ho his autos great polys love agapē with which hos he loved agapaō us hēmeis, even kai though we hēmeis were eimi dead nekros in our ho trespasses paraptōma, made us alive together syzōopoieō with · ho Christ Christos by grace charis you have been eimi saved sōzō and kai raised synegeirō us up with him and kai seated synkathizō us with him in en the ho heavenly epouranios places in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, to hina demonstrate endeiknymi in en the ho ages aiōn · ho to come eperchomai the ho incomparable hyperballō riches ploutos of ho his autos grace charis in en kindness chrēstotēs to epi us hēmeis in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous. For gar by ho grace charis you have been eimi saved sōzō through dia faith pistis, and kai this houtos is not ou of ek yourselves hymeis, it is the ho gift dōron of God theos; it is not ou of ek works ergon, so that hina no one tis may boast kauchaomai. 10 For gar we are eimi his autos work poiēma, created ktizō in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous for epi good agathos works ergon, which hos God theos prepared in advance proetoimazō · ho that hina we should do peripateō them autos.

11 So dio remember mnēmoneuō that hoti at one time pote you hymeis · ho Gentiles ethnos in en the flesh sarx, · ho called legō the uncircumcision akrobystia by hypo those ho called legō the circumcision peritomē made in en the flesh sarx by hands cheiropoiētos 12 remember that hoti at ho that ekeinos time kairos you were eimi apart chōris from Christ Christos, excluded apallotrioō from the ho commonwealth politeia of ho Israel Israēl and kai strangers xenos to the ho covenants diathēkē of ho promise epangelia, having echō no hope elpis and kai without God atheos in en the ho world kosmos. 13 But de now nyni in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous you hymeis who hos were eimi at that time pote far away makran have come ginomai near engys through en the ho blood haima of ho Christ Christos. 14 For gar he autos is eimi · ho our hēmeis peace eirēnē, who ho has made poieō us · ho both amphoteroi one heis and kai has broken down lyō the ho dividing mesotoichon · ho wall phragmos, having abolished in en his autos flesh sarx the ho hostility echthra, · ho 15 the ho law nomos of ho commandments entolē and en regulations dogma, so as hina to create ktizō in en himself autos one heis new kainos man anthrōpos from the ho two dyo, thus making poieō peace eirēnē, 16 and kai to reconcile apokatallassō · ho both amphoteroi to ho God theos in en one heis body sōma through dia the ho cross stauros, having put the ho hostility echthra to death apokteinō in en himself autos. 17 And kai he came erchomai and preached euangelizō the good news of peace eirēnē to you hymeis who ho were far off makran and kai of peace eirēnē to those ho who were near engys; 18 for hoti through dia him autos we both amphoteroi have echō · ho access prosagōgē · ho by en the one heis Spirit pneuma to pros the ho Father patēr. 19 So ara then oun you are eimi no ouketi longer strangers xenos and kai aliens paroikos, but alla you are eimi fellow sympolitēs citizens with the ho saints hagios and kai members oikeios of the household of ho God theos, 20 built epoikodomeō on epi the ho foundation themelios of the ho apostles apostolos and kai prophets prophētēs, the cornerstone akrogōniaios being eimi Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous himself autos, 21 in en whom hos the whole pas structure oikodomē, being joined synarmologeō together , grows auxō into eis a holy hagios temple naos in en the Lord kyrios, 22 in en whom hos you hymeis also kai are being built together synoikodomeō into eis a dwelling katoikētērion place for ho God theos by en the Spirit pneuma.