Ephesians 2:1-22
2 Furthermore, [it is] YOU [God made alive] though YOU were dead in YOUR trespasses and sins,+
2 in which YOU at one time walked according to the system+ of things* of this world,* according to the ruler+ of the authority of the air, the spirit+ that now operates in the sons of disobedience.+
3 Yes, among them we all at one time conducted ourselves in harmony with the desires of our flesh,+ doing the things willed by the flesh+ and the thoughts, and we were naturally children of wrath+ even as the rest.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy,+ for his great love with which he loved us,+
5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses+—by undeserved kindness YOU have been saved+—
6 and he raised us up+ together and seated us together in the heavenly places+ in union with Christ Jesus,
7 that in the coming+ systems of things* there might be demonstrated the surpassing riches+ of his undeserved kindness in his graciousness toward us in union+ with Christ Jesus.
8 By this undeserved kindness, indeed, YOU have been saved through faith;+ and this not owing to YOU,+ it is God’s gift.+
9 No, it is not owing to works,+ in order that no man should have ground for boasting.+
10 For we are a product of his work+ and were created+ in union+ with Christ Jesus for good works,+ which God prepared in advance+ for us to walk in them.
11 Therefore keep bearing in mind that formerly YOU were people of the nations as to flesh;+ “uncircumcision” YOU were called by that which is called “circumcision” made in the flesh with hands+—
12 that YOU were at that particular time without Christ,+ alienated+ from the state of Israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise,+ and YOU had no hope+ and were without God in the world.*+
13 But now in union with Christ Jesus YOU who were once far off have come to be near by the blood+ of the Christ.
14 For he is our peace,+ he who made the two parties*+ one+ and destroyed the wall+ in between* that fenced+ them off.
15 By means of his flesh+ he abolished the enmity,+ the Law of commandments consisting in decrees,+ that he might create the two peoples+ in union with himself into one new man+ and make peace;
16 and that he might fully reconcile+ both peoples in one body+ to God through the torture+ stake, because he had killed off the enmity+ by means of himself.*
17 And he came and declared the good news of peace+ to YOU, the ones far off, and peace to those near,+
18 because through him we, both peoples,+ have the approach+ to the Father by* one spirit.+
19 Certainly, therefore, YOU are no longer strangers+ and alien residents,+ but YOU are fellow citizens+ of the holy ones+ and are members of the household+ of God,
20 and YOU have been built up upon the foundation*+ of the apostles+ and prophets,+ while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone.+
21 In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together,*+ is growing into a holy temple* for Jehovah.*+
22 In union with him+ YOU, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.+
Footnotes
^ Or, “order of things.” Gr., ai·oʹna; Lat., saeʹcu·lum; J17(Heb.), dohr, “period; age; generation”; J18(Heb.), kemin·haghʹ, “according to the custom.”
^ “World.” Gr., koʹsmou; J17,18,22(Heb.), ha·ʽoh·lamʹ, “the world.”
^ Or, “orders of things.” Gr., ai·oʹsin; Lat., saeʹcu·lis.
^ “In the world.” Gr., en toi koʹsmoi; J17,22(Heb.), ba·ʽoh·lamʹ.
^ Lit., “middle wall.” An allusion to the wall in the area of the temple that fenced off the unsanctified Gentile worshipers from entering the inner courtyards that were open only to the sanctified Jewish worshipers. According to the Mishnah (translated by Danby, 1950, p. 592), the stone barrier was called “the Soreg.” This wall was said to be 1.3 m (4.3 ft) high. See App 9F; see also ad under “Temple,” subheading, “Court of the Gentiles.”
^ Or, “things.”
^ Or, “it.”
^ Or, “in.”
^ “Foundation.” Gr., the·me·liʹoi, dative, sing.; Lat., fun·da·menʹtum.
^ Lit., “being jointed together.”
^ Or, “divine habitation (dwelling).” Gr., na·onʹ; Lat., temʹplum; J22(Heb.), heh·khalʹ, “palace; temple.”
^ See App 1D.
