Ephesians Chapter 2 — Salvation by Grace and Unity in Christ
This chapter describes how believers are made alive through grace and explains how Christ reconciles diverse groups into a single spiritual household.
1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience.
3We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9not of works, that no one would boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands),
12that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation,
15having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace,
16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.
17He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.
18For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God,
20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
21in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ephesians 2:8-9
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”
This verse clearly defines the nature of salvation as a gift of grace rather than a result of human effort.
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”
It highlights that believers are God's creation, designed for specific purposes and good deeds.
Ephesians 2:14
“For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation,”
This verse emphasizes Christ's role in ending hostility and uniting different groups into one body.
Chapter Summary
Ephesians Chapter 2 begins by describing the spiritual state of humanity before receiving grace, characterizing it as being dead in transgressions. The text emphasizes that God, motivated by mercy and love, makes believers alive together with Christ. It explicitly states that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, not a result of human works, to prevent personal boasting. The chapter then transitions to the reconciliation of Gentiles and Jews. It explains that those who were once far off have been brought near through the blood of Christ. By breaking down the middle wall of separation, Christ creates one new humanity out of the two groups, establishing peace. The chapter concludes by describing the community of believers as a holy temple and a dwelling place for God, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the text, being saved by grace means that salvation is a free gift from God given through faith. It is not something earned through personal works or merit, ensuring that no one can boast about their own efforts.
The middle wall of separation refers to the hostility and legal barriers that once divided Jews and Gentiles. The text explains that Christ abolished this hostility through his flesh to create a single, unified body of believers.
The chapter describes the church as a building constructed on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ is identified as the chief cornerstone that holds the whole structure together.
Study Note
The Greek word for workmanship used in verse 10 is 'poiema', from which the English word 'poem' is derived, suggesting a carefully crafted work of art.
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