New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Ephesians 2
1
You were living in your sins and lawless ways. But in fact you were dead.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:18
John 5:21
1 John 3:14
John 14:6
Ephesians 5:14
John 5:25
1 Timothy 5:6
Sin
Colossians 2:13
Romans 8:2
2
You used to live as sinners when you followed the ways of this world. You served the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil. He is the spirit who is now at work in those who don't obey God.
Reference
3
At one time we all lived among them. We tried to satisfy what our sinful nature wanted to do. We followed its longings and thoughts. God was angry with us and everyone else because of the kind of people we were.
Reference
4
But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy.
Reference
Grace
1 Peter 1:3
Ephesians 1:7
Psalm 86:15
Ephesians 2:7
Psalm 145:8
1 Timothy 1:14
Psalm 86:5
Love
Romans 5:8
Jeremiah 31:3
Parallel theme
Romans 10:12
5
So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God's grace has saved you.
Reference
Grace
Romans 3:24
Romans 4:16
References Christ
Ephesians 5:14
Salvation
Ephesians 2:8
Romans 5:10
Acts 15:11
Titus 2:11
Sin
Romans 5:8
Ephesians 2:1
Romans 8:2
6
God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with him in his heavenly kingdom because we belong to Christ Jesus.
Reference
7
He has done it to show the riches of his grace for all time to come. His grace can't be compared with anything else. He has shown it by being kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
Reference
Grace
Ephesians 2:4
2 Thessalonians 1:12
Parallel theme
Titus 3:4
Isaiah 60:15
Ephesians 3:5
Psalm 106:48
1 Peter 1:12
References Jesus
Ephesians 3:21
8
God's grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn't come from anything you do. It is God's gift.
Reference
Faith
Romans 4:16
Romans 10:17
John 5:24
John 3:36
Parallel theme
John 6:37
References God
John 4:10
Salvation
Ephesians 2:5
Acts 16:31
Mark 16:16
Luke 7:50
10
God made us. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good things. Long ago God prepared them for us to do.
Reference
Creation
Ephesians 4:24
Good
Philippians 2:13
Colossians 1:10
Hebrews 13:21
2 Corinthians 9:8
2 Timothy 3:17
Philippians 1:6
2 Timothy 2:21
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:1
References Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17
11
You who are not Jews by birth, here is what I want you to remember. You are called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "circumcised." But they have only been circumcised in their bodies by human hands.
Reference
12
Before you believed in Christ, you were separated from him. You were not considered to be citizens of Israel. You were not included in what the covenants promised. You were without hope and without God in the world.
Reference
Covenant
Ezekiel 37:26
Acts 3:25
Hope
1 Peter 1:3
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Hebrews 6:18
Parallel theme
Colossians 1:21
John 15:5
References God
Galatians 4:8
Ephesians 4:18
1 Thessalonians 4:5
13
At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. That has brought you near to God.
Reference
Blood
Revelation 5:9
Ephesians 1:7
Creation
Isaiah 57:19
Parallel theme
Acts 2:39
Isaiah 43:6
Acts 26:18
References Christ
Ephesians 2:12
2 Corinthians 5:17
References Jesus
1 Corinthians 6:11
Galatians 3:28
14
Christ himself is our peace. He has made Jews and non-Jews into one group of people. He has destroyed the hatred that was like a wall between us.
Reference
Creation
Colossians 1:20
Parallel theme
Galatians 3:28
Colossians 3:11
Acts 10:28
Colossians 2:20
Peace
Colossians 3:15
Ephesians 2:15
Acts 10:36
Romans 5:1
Hebrews 13:20
15
Through his body on the cross, Christ put an end to the law with all its commands and rules. He wanted to create one new group of people out of the two. He wanted to make peace between them.
Reference
Kingdom
Ephesians 4:16
Parallel theme
Colossians 2:14
Hebrews 8:13
Colossians 2:20
Colossians 3:10
Galatians 3:28
Galatians 6:15
2 Corinthians 5:17
Word
Galatians 3:10
16
He planned to bring both of them as one body back to God because of the cross. Christ put their hatred to death on that cross.
Reference
Cross
Colossians 2:14
Galatians 2:20
Romans 6:6
Parallel theme
Ephesians 2:15
References God
Romans 5:10
Romans 8:3
Romans 8:7
17
He came and preached peace to you who were far away. He also preached peace to those who were near.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 2:39
Psalm 148:14
Deuteronomy 4:7
2 Corinthians 5:20
Peace
Acts 10:36
Romans 5:1
Isaiah 52:7
Zechariah 9:10
18
Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of one Holy Spirit.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 3:12
Romans 5:2
John 14:6
John 10:9
John 10:7
Colossians 1:12
Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:13
Ephesians 4:4
Romans 8:15
Galatians 4:6
19
So you are no longer strangers and outsiders. You are citizens together with God's people. You are members of God's family.
Reference
Parallel theme
Philippians 3:20
Galatians 6:10
Ephesians 3:6
Hebrews 11:13
References God
1 John 3:1
Ephesians 2:12
20
You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 28:16
Matthew 16:18
Psalm 118:22
Revelation 21:14
Prophecy
1 Corinthians 12:28
References Jesus
Matthew 21:42
21
The whole building is held together by him. It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the Lord.
Reference
22
And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 3:17
References God
1 John 4:16
2 Corinthians 6:16
Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16
1 John 4:13
1 John 3:24
1 Corinthians 6:19
Summary of Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2 explains that God brings spiritually dead people into new life through Christ by grace and faith, not through human achievement, and then creates one united family from Jews and Gentiles through the cross, giving former outsiders full citizenship in God's household and making the church a spiritual dwelling place for His presence.
Paul begins by describing humanity's former condition as spiritual death, explaining that people were controlled by sinful ways, worldly influences, and selfish desires, meaning that the problem was deeper than occasional wrongdoing because humanity was fundamentally separated from the life God intended.
The situation changes completely because God is rich in mercy and great in love, and even when people were spiritually dead in sin, He made them alive together with Christ.
Paul emphasizes that believers are saved by grace through faith, making it clear that salvation is God's gift rather than something people can earn through good works, religious observance, morality, social status, or personal achievement.
Good works nevertheless remain important because believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ to live out the good purposes God has prepared for them, meaning that good works are the result of salvation rather than the price of salvation.
Paul then focuses specifically on Gentile believers, reminding them that they were once separated from Christ, excluded from Israel's covenant community, unfamiliar with God's promises, and without the hope associated with knowing God.
Through Christ's blood, however, those who were once far away have been brought near, because Jesus has removed the separation that previously existed between Gentiles and God's covenant people.
Paul describes Christ as our peace, explaining that Jesus has made Jews and Gentiles one people and has broken down the hostility that divided them, creating a new community whose identity is centered on Christ rather than on ethnic or ceremonial distinctions.
The cross therefore accomplishes reconciliation in two directions: people are reconciled to God, and divided people are reconciled to one another, demonstrating that the gospel has both a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal effect upon human relationships.
Paul explains that both Jews and Gentiles now have access to the Father through Christ and by one Spirit, meaning that neither group possesses a privileged spiritual position within God's new community.
Former outsiders are now fellow citizens and members of God's household, receiving the full belonging and identity that once seemed unavailable to them.
Paul concludes with a powerful architectural image, describing God's people as a spiritual building founded upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.
The entire structure grows together in Christ and becomes a holy temple in the Lord, while believers are being built together as a dwelling place where God lives through the Holy Spirit.
The central message of Ephesians 2 is that God transforms people who are spiritually dead through His mercy and grace, saves them through faith rather than human works, and then unites Jews and Gentiles into one new community through Christ's cross, making former outsiders full members of God's household and a spiritual dwelling place for His presence.
Paul begins the chapter by describing the human condition before salvation.
People were spiritually dead because of sin.
They followed the patterns of the surrounding world and were influenced by desires and attitudes that opposed God's purposes.
Paul does not describe humanity as merely needing better advice.
He describes humanity as needing new life.
The dramatic turning point comes in verse 4 with the words "But God."
Everything changes because of God's character.
God is rich in mercy.
God has great love.
God acts even when people are spiritually dead.
Paul therefore makes salvation fundamentally about what God has done rather than what human beings have accomplished.
God makes believers alive together with Christ.
He raises them with Christ.
He gives them a new spiritual position in Christ.
He does all of this because of His grace.
Paul then gives one of the clearest descriptions of salvation in the New Testament.
Believers are saved by grace through faith.
Grace means that salvation originates in God's undeserved favor.
Faith means that people receive what God provides by trusting Him rather than presenting their own achievements as payment.
Paul then makes the point even clearer by saying salvation is not from works.
No one can boast.
This eliminates the possibility of spiritual pride.
A person cannot say, "God accepted me because I was better than everyone else."
Salvation is a gift.
Yet Paul does not use grace as an excuse for inactivity.
Immediately after explaining that salvation is not earned through works, he says that believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works.
The order is important.
Good works do not purchase salvation.
Good works flow from salvation.
God transforms people so that their lives can increasingly reflect His purposes.
Paul then turns toward the relationship between Jews and Gentiles.
This was one of the most important social and theological issues facing the early church.
Gentiles had previously been outsiders to Israel's covenant identity.
They were not physically descended from Israel.
They did not possess the same covenant markers.
They were outside the religious system centered on Israel.
Paul reminds them of this former condition so that they can understand the magnitude of what Christ has accomplished.
Those who were once far away have now been brought near through Christ's blood.
The cross therefore changes their relationship with God.
But it also changes their relationship with Jewish believers.
Paul says that Christ is our peace.
Jesus has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.
The exact meaning of the "dividing wall" has been discussed extensively, but Paul's main point is clear: Christ has removed the barriers that previously prevented Jews and Gentiles from living as one united people of God.
Christ creates one new humanity.
This does not mean that every cultural difference disappears.
Rather, ethnic identity no longer determines spiritual status before God.
Jewish believers and Gentile believers have the same access to the Father through Christ and the Spirit.
This is a radical statement within the ancient world.
Paul then describes what Gentile believers have become.
They are no longer strangers.
They are no longer outsiders.
They are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.
The language of citizenship would have been particularly powerful in the Roman Empire.
Citizenship could provide protection, privileges, legal standing, and a strong sense of belonging.
Paul uses this imagery to say that Gentile Christians possess full spiritual citizenship within God's people.
The household image goes even deeper.
They are not simply permitted to visit.
They belong to the family.
Paul then changes from political and family imagery to architectural imagery.
The church is like a building.
The apostles and prophets form part of its foundation.
Christ is the chief cornerstone.
Everything depends upon Him.
Without Christ, the structure cannot stand.
As believers are joined together in Christ, the building grows into a holy temple.
This is especially meaningful because Ephesus was a city famous for its magnificent religious architecture, particularly the Temple of Artemis.
Paul presents something radically different.
God's dwelling place is not ultimately a magnificent pagan temple.
God's people themselves are being built together as His dwelling place through the Holy Spirit.
The final message is therefore deeply connected with both salvation and community.
God does not save people merely as isolated individuals.
He brings them into a new family.
He breaks down barriers between people.
He creates peace.
He gives former outsiders full citizenship.
He builds them together into one spiritual household.
Overall, Ephesians 2 teaches that God's mercy brings spiritually dead people into new life through Christ, salvation is received as a gift of grace through faith rather than earned through human works, and the same grace creates a unified people from previously divided groups, making every believer a full member of God's household and part of the spiritual temple where God dwells through His Spirit.
Paul begins by describing humanity's former condition as spiritual death, explaining that people were controlled by sinful ways, worldly influences, and selfish desires, meaning that the problem was deeper than occasional wrongdoing because humanity was fundamentally separated from the life God intended.
The situation changes completely because God is rich in mercy and great in love, and even when people were spiritually dead in sin, He made them alive together with Christ.
Paul emphasizes that believers are saved by grace through faith, making it clear that salvation is God's gift rather than something people can earn through good works, religious observance, morality, social status, or personal achievement.
Good works nevertheless remain important because believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ to live out the good purposes God has prepared for them, meaning that good works are the result of salvation rather than the price of salvation.
Paul then focuses specifically on Gentile believers, reminding them that they were once separated from Christ, excluded from Israel's covenant community, unfamiliar with God's promises, and without the hope associated with knowing God.
Through Christ's blood, however, those who were once far away have been brought near, because Jesus has removed the separation that previously existed between Gentiles and God's covenant people.
Paul describes Christ as our peace, explaining that Jesus has made Jews and Gentiles one people and has broken down the hostility that divided them, creating a new community whose identity is centered on Christ rather than on ethnic or ceremonial distinctions.
The cross therefore accomplishes reconciliation in two directions: people are reconciled to God, and divided people are reconciled to one another, demonstrating that the gospel has both a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal effect upon human relationships.
Paul explains that both Jews and Gentiles now have access to the Father through Christ and by one Spirit, meaning that neither group possesses a privileged spiritual position within God's new community.
Former outsiders are now fellow citizens and members of God's household, receiving the full belonging and identity that once seemed unavailable to them.
Paul concludes with a powerful architectural image, describing God's people as a spiritual building founded upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.
The entire structure grows together in Christ and becomes a holy temple in the Lord, while believers are being built together as a dwelling place where God lives through the Holy Spirit.
The central message of Ephesians 2 is that God transforms people who are spiritually dead through His mercy and grace, saves them through faith rather than human works, and then unites Jews and Gentiles into one new community through Christ's cross, making former outsiders full members of God's household and a spiritual dwelling place for His presence.
Paul begins the chapter by describing the human condition before salvation.
People were spiritually dead because of sin.
They followed the patterns of the surrounding world and were influenced by desires and attitudes that opposed God's purposes.
Paul does not describe humanity as merely needing better advice.
He describes humanity as needing new life.
The dramatic turning point comes in verse 4 with the words "But God."
Everything changes because of God's character.
God is rich in mercy.
God has great love.
God acts even when people are spiritually dead.
Paul therefore makes salvation fundamentally about what God has done rather than what human beings have accomplished.
God makes believers alive together with Christ.
He raises them with Christ.
He gives them a new spiritual position in Christ.
He does all of this because of His grace.
Paul then gives one of the clearest descriptions of salvation in the New Testament.
Believers are saved by grace through faith.
Grace means that salvation originates in God's undeserved favor.
Faith means that people receive what God provides by trusting Him rather than presenting their own achievements as payment.
Paul then makes the point even clearer by saying salvation is not from works.
No one can boast.
This eliminates the possibility of spiritual pride.
A person cannot say, "God accepted me because I was better than everyone else."
Salvation is a gift.
Yet Paul does not use grace as an excuse for inactivity.
Immediately after explaining that salvation is not earned through works, he says that believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works.
The order is important.
Good works do not purchase salvation.
Good works flow from salvation.
God transforms people so that their lives can increasingly reflect His purposes.
Paul then turns toward the relationship between Jews and Gentiles.
This was one of the most important social and theological issues facing the early church.
Gentiles had previously been outsiders to Israel's covenant identity.
They were not physically descended from Israel.
They did not possess the same covenant markers.
They were outside the religious system centered on Israel.
Paul reminds them of this former condition so that they can understand the magnitude of what Christ has accomplished.
Those who were once far away have now been brought near through Christ's blood.
The cross therefore changes their relationship with God.
But it also changes their relationship with Jewish believers.
Paul says that Christ is our peace.
Jesus has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.
The exact meaning of the "dividing wall" has been discussed extensively, but Paul's main point is clear: Christ has removed the barriers that previously prevented Jews and Gentiles from living as one united people of God.
Christ creates one new humanity.
This does not mean that every cultural difference disappears.
Rather, ethnic identity no longer determines spiritual status before God.
Jewish believers and Gentile believers have the same access to the Father through Christ and the Spirit.
This is a radical statement within the ancient world.
Paul then describes what Gentile believers have become.
They are no longer strangers.
They are no longer outsiders.
They are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.
The language of citizenship would have been particularly powerful in the Roman Empire.
Citizenship could provide protection, privileges, legal standing, and a strong sense of belonging.
Paul uses this imagery to say that Gentile Christians possess full spiritual citizenship within God's people.
The household image goes even deeper.
They are not simply permitted to visit.
They belong to the family.
Paul then changes from political and family imagery to architectural imagery.
The church is like a building.
The apostles and prophets form part of its foundation.
Christ is the chief cornerstone.
Everything depends upon Him.
Without Christ, the structure cannot stand.
As believers are joined together in Christ, the building grows into a holy temple.
This is especially meaningful because Ephesus was a city famous for its magnificent religious architecture, particularly the Temple of Artemis.
Paul presents something radically different.
God's dwelling place is not ultimately a magnificent pagan temple.
God's people themselves are being built together as His dwelling place through the Holy Spirit.
The final message is therefore deeply connected with both salvation and community.
God does not save people merely as isolated individuals.
He brings them into a new family.
He breaks down barriers between people.
He creates peace.
He gives former outsiders full citizenship.
He builds them together into one spiritual household.
Overall, Ephesians 2 teaches that God's mercy brings spiritually dead people into new life through Christ, salvation is received as a gift of grace through faith rather than earned through human works, and the same grace creates a unified people from previously divided groups, making every believer a full member of God's household and part of the spiritual temple where God dwells through His Spirit.