Ephesians2

This chapter describes humanity's former state as dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the world and the prince of the power of the air, and being children of wrath. God, in His rich mercy and great love, quickened believers with Christ, saving them by grace through faith, not by works. Christ's work united both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the dividing wall to create one new man, reconciling both to God. Believers are now fellow citizens with the saints and part of God's household, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.

Life in Sin and Spiritual Death

1
You used to be dead because of your sins and acts of disobedience. ​
2
You walked in the ways of the ‘olam hazeh and obeyed the Ruler of the Powers of the Air, who is still at work among the disobedient. ​
3
Indeed, we all once lived this way — we followed the passions of our old nature and obeyed the wishes of our old nature and our own thoughts. In our natural condition we were headed for God’s wrath, just like everyone else. ​

Salvation is by God's Grace

4
But God is so rich in mercy and loves us with such intense love ​
5
that, even when we were dead because of our acts of disobedience, he brought us to life along with the Messiah — it is by grace that you have been delivered. ​
6
That is, God raised us up with the Messiah Yeshua and seated us with him in heaven, ​
7
in order to exhibit in the ages to come how infinitely rich is his grace, how great is his kindness toward us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. ​
8
For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. ​
9
You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. ​
10
For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do. ​

From Alienation to Inclusion

11
Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth — called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised — ​
12
at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra’el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God’s promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. ​
13
But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah’s blood. ​

Christ, the Peacemaker and Foundation

14
For he himself is our shalom — he has made us both one and has broken down the m’chitzah which divided us ​
15
by destroying in his own body the enmity occasioned by the Torah, with its commands set forth in the form of ordinances. He did this in order to create in union with himself from the two groups a single new humanity and thus make shalom, ​
16
and in order to reconcile to God both in a single body by being executed on a stake as a criminal and thus in himself killing that enmity. ​
17
Also, when he came, he announced as Good News shalom to you far off and shalom to those nearby, ​
18
news that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ​
19
So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s family. ​
20
You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yeshua the Messiah himself. ​
21
In union with him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. ​
22
Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God! ​

Study Notes for Ephesians 2

Verse 1

Paul addresses the spiritual condition of humanity before Christ. 'Quickened' (made alive) contrasts sharply with being 'dead in trespasses and sins,' emphasizing that spiritual life is entirely God's action.

Verse 2

The 'prince of the power of the air' refers to Satan, viewed here as the ruler of the evil spiritual realm influencing the world system. This highlights the external forces driving human disobedience.

Verse 3

Paul includes himself ('we all') in this former state, showing that Jews and Gentiles alike were bound by sinful desires and were 'by nature the children of wrath,' inherently subject to divine judgment.

Verse 4

The contrastive conjunction 'But God' marks the turning point, shifting from humanity's desperate condition to God's rich attributes (mercy and great love) as the sole source of salvation.

Verse 5

'Quickened us together with Christ' emphasizes the mystical union of the believer with Christ's death and resurrection, making salvation a communal experience rooted in Christ’s finished work.

Verse 6

Believers are described as already seated 'in heavenly places.' This realized eschatology implies that the security and victory of Christ’s ascension are already applied to the believer’s present spiritual status.

Verse 7

God’s ultimate purpose in salvation is demonstrative: to display the 'exceeding riches of his grace' throughout future ages, serving as an eternal testimony to His kindness toward humanity.

Verse 8

This is a classic summary of justification: Salvation is based on God's 'grace' (unmerited favor) and received through 'faith' (trust), clarifying that faith itself is a gift necessary for receiving salvation.

Verse 9

This verse strictly excludes human effort ('works') as a basis for salvation, ensuring that salvation remains entirely God's initiative, thus eliminating all human boasting or pride.

Verse 10

We are God’s 'workmanship' (Greek: *poiēma*, meaning 'masterpiece'), created anew for the purpose of doing good works, which are the prepared evidence of our new life, not the cause of it.

Verse 11

Paul instructs the Gentile believers to remember their former marginalized status, highlighting the deep ethnic and religious division symbolized by the derogatory terms 'Circumcision' (Jews) and 'Uncircumcision' (Gentiles).

Verse 12

This verse details the depths of Gentile alienation: they lacked citizenship in Israel, were excluded from God's covenants of promise, and were spiritually 'without God' in the world.

Verse 13

The transformative power of the cross is summarized: Gentiles, who were 'far off' (separated), are brought 'nigh' (near to God and Israel) solely through the sacrificial 'blood of Christ.'

Verse 14

Christ himself is the embodiment of peace. The 'middle wall of partition' likely refers symbolically to the physical barrier in the Jerusalem Temple separating Gentiles from the inner courts, symbolizing the theological barrier between the two groups.

Verse 15

Christ abolished the enmity by neutralizing the Law’s function as a dividing marker between Jews and Gentiles. His goal was to create 'one new man' (the Church), transcending the old ethnic identities.

Verse 16

Reconciliation occurs both horizontally (Jew and Gentile unity) and vertically (both groups reconciled 'unto God') through the single body of Christ crucified, having defeated the power of hostility.

Verse 17

Paul uses prophetic language (cf. Isaiah 57:19) to describe Christ's ministry of peace, confirming that the gospel message applies universally to separated Gentiles ('afar off') and privileged Jews ('nigh').

Verse 18

The unified access to God the Father is achieved through the unified action of the Son (Christ) and the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the Trinitarian nature of salvation and access.

Verse 19

The former 'strangers and foreigners' are now granted full rights as 'fellowcitizens' and intimate membership in the 'household of God,' emphasizing family and civic belonging.

Verse 20

The Church is a spiritual building founded upon the teaching of the apostles and prophets, with Christ serving as the essential, stabilizing 'chief corner stone' that aligns the entire structure.

Verse 21

The building (the Church) is dynamic, 'groweth unto an holy temple.' This temple is not a physical structure but a spiritual habitation where God dwells, sanctified by the Lord.

Verse 22

This verse applies the temple metaphor directly to the Ephesian believers, emphasizing that they are individually and corporately being built together as a dwelling place for God by the Holy Spirit.

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