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.
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Life in Sin and Spiritual Death

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And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; ​
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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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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. ​

Salvation is by God's Grace

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But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ​
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Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ​
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And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ​
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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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For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ​
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Not of works, lest any man should boast. ​
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For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ​

From Alienation to Inclusion

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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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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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But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ​

Christ, the Peacemaker and Foundation

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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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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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And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ​
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And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ​
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For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ​
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Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ​
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And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ​
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In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ​
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In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. ​

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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