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Ephesians 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 2[a]

Generosity of God’s Plan.[b] 1 (A)You were dead in your transgressions and sins[c] 2 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) 3 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) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 5 (D)even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ[e] (by grace you have been saved), 6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,(E) 7 that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.(F) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;(G) 9 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.
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Efesios 2
La Biblia de las Américas

De muerte a vida por Cristo

2 Y Él os dio vida a vosotros, que estabais[a] muertos en[b] vuestros delitos y pecados(A), 2 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), 3 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). 4 Pero Dios, que es rico en misericordia(K), por causa del[f] gran amor con que nos amó(L), 5 aun cuando estábamos muertos en[g] nuestros delitos(M), nos dio vida juntamente con Cristo (por gracia habéis sido salvados(N)), 6 y con Él nos resucitó(O), y con Él nos sentó en los lugares celestiales(P) en Cristo Jesús(Q), 7 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. 8 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); 9 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
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Ephesians 2
New International Version

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,(A) 2 in which you used to live(B) when you followed the ways of this world(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.(E) 3 All of us also lived among them at one time,(F) gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a](G) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us,(H) God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.(J) 6 And God raised us up with Christ(K) and seated us with him(L) in the heavenly realms(M) in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,(N) expressed in his kindness(O) to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace(P) you have been saved,(Q) through faith(R)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works,(S) so that no one can boast.(T) 10 For we are God’s handiwork,(U) created(V) in Christ Jesus to do good works,(W) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

11 Therefore, remember that formerly(X) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)(Y)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners(Z) to the covenants of the promise,(AA) without hope(AB) and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once(AC) were far away have been brought near(AD) by the blood of Christ.(AE)

14 For he himself is our peace,(AF) who has made the two groups one(AG) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh(AH) the law with its commands and regulations.(AI) His purpose was to create in himself one(AJ) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,(AK) by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace(AL) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.(AM) 18 For through him we both have access(AN) to the Father(AO) by one Spirit.(AP)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,(AQ) but fellow citizens(AR) with God’s people and also members of his household,(AS) 20 built(AT) on the foundation(AU) of the apostles and prophets,(AV) with Christ Jesus himself(AW) as the chief cornerstone.(AX) 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple(AY) in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.(AZ)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

La Biblia de las Américas (LBLA)

Copyright © 1986, 1995, 1997 by The Lockman Foundation

La Biblia de las Américas is made available by The Lockman Foundation
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