Ephesians
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Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2
1And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3among whom we also all once lived 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:—
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2Wherein 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:
3Among 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.
Commentary · verses 1-3
4but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Commentary · verses 4-5
Paul transitioned to how sinners become saved. Our ability to live (ability to repair) comes from grace. "Grace" is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."
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:
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Commentary · verses 6-7
Again, sitting with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus spoke of the effects we will experience in eternity: "that in the ages to come..."
8for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not of works, that no man should glory.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Commentary · verses 8-9
We are saved from this sinful state by grace through faith. We gain our Salvation by how much we allow a God we cannot see (faith) to direct our actions (grace) in hopes of an effect that has not happened yet (faith). The works that come out of this are Righteousness because it is God through us. We are responsible for our Salvation but we do not get credit for our Salvation. This was a summary of the most foundational Doctrine: Salvation by grace through faith.
Doctrines on this passage
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; 12that ye 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 ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.
11Wherefore 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;
12That 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:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, 15having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace;
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having 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;
Commentary · verses 14-15
The Law had been abolished by Christ. The division between Jews and Gentiles had been removed so that...
16and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Commentary · verses 16-17
...all the believers (both Jews and Gentiles) were able to be in one body, which is the Bride.
18for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.
18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Commentary · verse 18
Another verse where all three Members of the Trinity were mentioned separately: Through Christ we have access by the Holy Spirit to the Father. Without Christ's sacrifice, we would not be able to live by grace through faith.
Doctrines on this passage
19So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Commentary · verse 19
Again, Paul revisited a theme from the previous letters only this time he stated we are all of the household of God. Again, the House of God is the new Jerusalem.
20being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;
20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Commentary · verse 20
Doctrine: The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul stated he was an apostle that began the church in Corinth and suffered abuse, just like the prophets.
21in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Commentary · verses 21-22
This foundational Doctrine review ended with a big picture explanation that I call "1-2-3":
- "1" refers to the individual and their uniqueness.
- "2" refers to the fellowship (exchange in love) between two individuals according to their uniqueness.
- "3" refers to the entire community as a whole.
I see verse 21 in the following way:
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in whom each several building
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fitly framed together
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groweth into a holy temple in the Lord.
The individuals doing their purpose and rightly connected to other individuals work together to make the whole into a holy temple in the Lord. Verse 22 blatantly stated all believers builded together are for a habitation of the Holy Spirit. The Bride will have the Holy Spirit inside of Her. The new Jerusalem is referred to as the House and the Temple of God.
Commentary · verse 22
Theme of Chapter 2: Paul reviewed the basic foundational Christian Doctrine of Salvation. Paul concluded this chapter by showing how all believers will work together in a "1-2-3" fashion to be the Temple of the Spirit of God in eternity.
Doctrines on this passage
This chapter began with a description of the state of man in sin, without grace. Verse 2 referred to a person who made progress in sin when Paul used the word "walked."