Ephesians 2

Made Alive in Christ

¹And you were dead in your offenses and sins,[#2:1 I.e., Gentile believers; #2:1 Lit being; #2:1 Or by reason of]

²in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.[#2:2 Lit age; #2:2 I.e., people opposed to God]

³Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.[#2:3 I.e., Jewish believers; #2:3 Lit doing; #2:3 Lit thoughts]

⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

⁵even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),[#2:5 Or by reason of; #2:5 Two early mss in Christ]

⁶and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

⁷so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.[#2:7 Lit surpassing]

⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;[#2:8 I.e., this salvation]

⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

¹⁰For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

¹¹Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—

¹²remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.[#2:12 Or alienated; #2:12 Or citizenship in Israel]

¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.[#2:13 Lit became; or were made; #2:13 Or in]

¹⁴For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,[#2:14 Lit the dividing wall of the barrier]

¹⁵by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace;[#2:15 Or the hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the Law; #2:15 I.e., by His death; #2:15 Lit create]

¹⁶and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.[#2:16 Or in Himself]

¹⁷And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace 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 are of God’s household,[#2:19 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people]

²⁰having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,

²¹in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,[#2:21 Or sanctuary]

²²in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.