Ephesians 2
22 verses
Paul describes the desperate human condition before grace: dead in trespasses and sins, enslaved to the spirit of the age—the archon of the power of the air working in the sons of disobedience—alienated from God and trapped in empty pursuits that promise life but deliver only death. But the turning point comes with the conjunction alla (but): God, rich in mercy and moved by the great love with which he loved us, made us alive together with Christ, raising us and seating us in the heavenly places in him—a corporate resurrection already accomplished. Salvation comes through grace by faith, not of ourselves or of works (erga), so that no one may boast, yet believers are his poiēma (workmanship, created artistry), fashioned in Christ Jesus for good works prepared beforehand. Paul then addresses the distinctive Gentile predicament—separated from Israel's covenants and promises, strangers to the commonwealth, without hope and without God in the cosmos—but reconciliation comes through Christ's blood as the dividing wall (mesotoichon) of hostility is demolished and the two peoples are made one new humanity (kainē anthropos) in Christ, their former enmity crucified. The section concludes with the building imagery: both Jews and Gentiles are being constructed into a holy temple in the Lord, built upon the apostles and prophets as foundation with Christ as the cornerstone (akrogōniaios), a dwelling place of God in the Spirit that transcends ethnic division.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. God is faithful in every circ...
1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
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My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what ...
2
Wherein 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:
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3
Among 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.
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4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
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5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
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6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
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7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
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8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
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9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
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10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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11
Wherefore 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;
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12
That 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:
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Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the ...
13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
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14
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
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15
Having 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;
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16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
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17
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
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The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God i...
18
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
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19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
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20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
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21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
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22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
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