Chapter 2
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And 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.
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;)
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.
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.
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 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 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;
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.
18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
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.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Overview
Paul describes the radical transformation of salvation: believers who were dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air, have been made alive together with Christ by grace through faith. He declares that salvation is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast. He then shows how Christ has broken down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, creating one new man and reconciling both to God in one body through the cross.
Key Themes
Dead in Sin, Alive in Christ
Humanity's condition apart from God is spiritual death — enslaved to the world, the devil, and the flesh — but God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ by His great love.
Saved by Grace Through Faith
Salvation is entirely the gift of God, not earned by human works or merit, so that no one may boast — we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
Jews and Gentiles United in Christ
Christ has broken down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, abolishing the enmity in His flesh and creating one new humanity reconciled to God through the cross.
Study Questions
What does it mean to have been 'dead in trespasses and sins' (v. 1), and how does this affect our understanding of the human condition without God?
How does the phrase 'by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God' (v. 8) answer the question of how one is saved?
What does Paul mean when he says we are God's 'workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works' (v. 10), and how does this relate to grace?
How did the cross break down 'the middle wall of partition' (v. 14) between Jews and Gentiles, and what relevance does this have for divisions today?
What does it mean to be 'fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God' (v. 19)?
Connection to Christ
Christ is the center of this chapter from start to finish. God made us alive 'together with Christ,' raised us up 'together' with Him, and seated us 'together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' He is our peace who made both Jew and Gentile one, reconciling all to God through the cross, and He Himself is the chief corner stone of God's dwelling place.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Ephesians 2. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?