Tyndale Open Study NotesEphesians 2

Paul thinks about how difficult life was for the believers before they found Christ. He appreciates God's grace for saving them.

Paul describes how the people he was writing to were in a terrible spiritual condition before they believed in Jesus Christ. He says they were like dead people in their relationship with God (see 2:5; Colossians 2:13). This spiritual death happened because of their disobedience and sins. They regularly did things that went against God's will and broke his commands.

Paul explains that their sinful actions were influenced by the power of the devil. The devil was working in their lives, leading them away from God and toward wrongdoing.

Because of this situation, the people Paul wrote to were under God's judgment. They were condemned along with everyone else in the world who did not follow God.

Human sin is influenced by the devil, also called Satan, who leads the evil spiritual forces that oppose God (see 1:21; 6:11–12; compare Colossians 1:13). This same evil spirit also rules over people who refuse to obey God (2 Corinthians 4:4; contrast Romans 8:2–14; Galatians 5:22–23).

People who have not converted are naturally controlled by their strong desires and sinful nature (see Rom 3:9–20, 23). Because of their sin, they are subject to God’s anger, because God hates sin (see Ephesians 5:6; Romans 1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5, 19; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4–5; Colossians 3:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:16; 5:9).

By God's mercy, kindness, and love, those united with Jesus Christ are saved from the terrible consequences of their sin and enjoy the benefits of Christ's resurrection.

• made us alive with Christ: Believers are united with Christ and share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Romans 6:4–14; Colossians 3:1–4).

• It is by grace you have been saved!: See Ephesians 1:2; 2:8–9.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him: Because of this union, believers share in God's glory and blessings. They experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Romans 6:4–14; Colossians 2:12–13; 3:1–4).

grace: Refer to the study note on 1:2.

This is a brief summary of how a person is saved. A key belief of the good news about Jesus is that people are made righteous by trusting in Christ. They are not made righteous by their own efforts (see Romans 1:16–17; 3:24–25; Galatians 2:16; compare John 3:16, 36). Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done (see Romans 3:21–4:8; 9:16; Galatians 3:2–10; 5:1–6; compare 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5). Salvation is for those who trust only Christ to save them. Therefore, none of us can boast about it (compare Romans 3:27; 4:2; 1 Corinthians 1:30–31; Galatians 6:14).

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works: Good works are the results of salvation. Good works do not cause salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Galatians 5:22–23).

Paul now focuses on the grace God has given, particularly to Gentiles (non-Jews). God brought them into his family and united them with Jews in a new, unified, multiethnic community. This new community is the body of Christ, the church. Paul’s focus on including Gentiles suggests they might have experienced discrimination from Jewish Christians.

Traditionally, Jews avoided Gentiles and did not consider them part of God’s people. They called them uncircumcised, meaning they had not received the sign of the covenant (see Genesis 17:9–14). But Paul taught that it is shallow to judge people based only on outward signs. What matters is a person’s heart and faith. In Christ, physical circumcision does not make someone part of God’s family (see Romans 2:28–29).

Before non-Jewish people (Gentiles) became believers in Jesus Christ, they had no part in God’s people or the covenant promises God had made to them. They were without God and without hope (see 4:18; Colossians 1:21).

A person can only be reconciled to God by being united with Christ Jesus through trust in him (see Romans 5:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21). The blood of Christ makes this reunion possible (see Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24–25; 5:9; Colossians 1:20; compare Hebrews 9:12–15; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9). When the Bible talks about "the blood of Christ," it is referring to the death of Jesus as a sacrifice. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God offers forgiveness and reconciliation to all who believe.

• For He Himself is our peace: We have peace with God (2:16–17; Romans 5:1, 10–11, 18–21; Colossians 1:20–22). There is also peace between Jews and gentiles (see Ephesians 2:15–16; 4:3).

• has torn down the dividing wall of hostility: Social and religious practices traditionally divided Jews from gentiles. A low wall around the temple in Jerusalem marked the boundary that gentiles could not cross. It symbolized the separation Jews maintained from gentiles.

• by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees: See Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14; compare Romans 6:14; 7:4–6.

• The church is one new people. It is a community where love and acceptance are valued, and ethnic differences do not cause division (see Romans 15:7–12; Galatians 3:28; compare John 10:16).

Christ's death on the cross reconciles humans to God. It also reconciles Jews and Gentiles to each other.

• far away … near: This verse might refer to Isaiah 57:19.

• The Greek text does not include the words Gentiles and Jews, but they are implied (see Ephesians 2:13; see also study note on 1:12–13).

Because of Christ’s sacrifice for sins, both Jewish and Gentile believers receive the Holy Spirit. This allows them to approach God openly (see 3:12; compare Acts 10:34–37, 44–48; 1 Peter 3:18).

Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11–12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Romans 8:14–17).

• Apostles are missionary evangelists sent by God. They travel to share the good news about Jesus with others.

• Here, the prophets seem to be from the New Testament, not the Old Testament (see 3:5; 4:11; see also 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28–29; 14:1–5, 22–24, 29–32, 39; compare Acts 13:1; 19:6; 21:9–10). In both the Old and New Testaments, prophets do not primarily predict the future. Instead, they are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Corinthians 12:10).

• on the foundation of the apostles and prophets: This means the church is based on their faithful witness to the saving message of Christ (see Revelation 21:14; compare Matthew 16:18). However, Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone, the Messiah, Savior, and Lord (compare 1 Corinthians 3:11). The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building’s foundation (see Isaiah 28:16; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:6–7).

Gentile and Jewish Christians unite in Christ to form a holy temple for the Lord. The Lord is present among his people (see Matthew 18:20; 28:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:4–5).