Ephesians 2
Paul teaches that believers were dead in trespasses and sins but God, who is rich in mercy, quickened them together with Christ — by grace they are saved through faith, and that not of themselves, it is the gift of God, not of works. He declares that Christ has broken down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, making of the two one new man in Himself.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; | God quickened You — you who were dead in Your transgressions and sins, |
| 2 | Wherein 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: | in which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. |
| 3 | Among 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. | Among whom we all also had our conduct 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. |
| 4 | But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, | But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, |
| 5 | Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) | even when we were dead in sins, He quickened us together with Christ — it is by grace You have been saved. |
| 6 | And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: | And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, |
| 7 | That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. | in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. |
| 8 | For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: | For it is by grace You have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— |
| 9 | Not of works, lest any man should boast. | not by works, so that no one can boast. |
| 10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. | For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. |
| 11 | Wherefore 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; | Therefore, remember that formerly You who are Gentiles by birth — called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— |
| 12 | That 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: | remember that at that time You were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. |
| 13 | But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. | But now in Christ Jesus You who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. |
| 14 | For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; | For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, |
| 15 | Having 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; | by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, |
| 16 | And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: | and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. |
| 17 | And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. | He came and preached peace to You who were far away and peace to those who were near. |
| 18 | For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. | For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. |
| 19 | Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; | Now therefore You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, |
| 20 | And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. |
| 21 | In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: | In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. |
| 22 | In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. | And in Him You too are being built together to become a dwelling place of God through the Spirit. |