Ephesians 2

1 And you were [spiritually] dead [lifeless, unable to please God] in your trespasses [unintentional errors, sins] and sins [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], word study 2 in which [formerly, at one time] you used to walk [live, conduct your life] when you conformed to [followed, imitated] the ways [patterns, customs] of this world [the present age, human society] and of the ruler [leader, prince] of the power [authority, dominion] of the air [the atmosphere, spiritual realm], the spirit [breath, divine influence] who is now [currently, at this time] at work [active, operating] in the sons [children, descendants] of disobedience [rebellion, unbelief]. word study 3 All of us also lived [in the past, at one time] among them at one time, fulfilling [carrying out, obeying] the cravings [desires, lusts] of our flesh [human nature, sinful tendencies] and indulging [giving in to, satisfying] its desires [wishes, longings] and thoughts [mind, understanding]. Like the rest, we were by nature [innately, from birth] children [offspring, descendants] of wrath [God’s anger, divine judgment] [just like others, even as the rest]. word study 4 But because of His great [unconditional, abundant] love [agape, divine affection] for us, God [the one true deity, rich in kindness], who is rich [abundant, plentiful] in mercy [pity, compassion], word study 5 made us alive [together with, in union with] with Christ [the Anointed, Messiah] even when we were dead [spiritually lifeless, unable to please God] in our trespasses [sins, misdeeds, errors]. It is by [through, because of] grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] you have been saved [rescued, delivered from harm]! word study 6 And God [the Father, Creator of all] raised us up [gave us spiritual life, from death to life] with Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] and seated us [placed us in a position of authority, to sit and rule] with Him [together, in union] in the heavenly [spiritual, celestial] realms [places, domains] in Christ Jesus [the Lord, Savior], word study 7 in order that [to demonstrate, to show] in the coming ages [the ages to come, forever] He might display [show, make clear] the surpassing [exceeding, abundant] riches [wealth, treasure] of His grace [unmerited favor, kindness], demonstrated [shown, proved] by His kindness [goodness, mercy] to us [toward us, in our behalf] in Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, the Messiah]. word study 8 For it is by [unmerited, divine] grace [graciousness] you have been saved [rescued, delivered] through [because of, by means of] faith [trust, confidence], and this [salvation] not from [out of, originating from] yourselves; it is the [free, undeserved] gift [a present] of [the one true] God, word study 9 not [completely, utterly] by works [human efforts, deeds], so that [in order that, lest] no [none, not one] one [person, individual] can [is able to] boast [glory, take pride]. word study 10 For we are God’s [the supreme Creator, divine Craftsman] workmanship [a masterpiece], created [brought into existence, formed] in Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, our Lord] to do good [beneficial, righteous] works [deeds, actions], which God [the Almighty, our Father] prepared [planned, ordained] in advance [beforehand] as our way [path, journey] of life [eternal, spiritual existence]. word study 11 Therefore [for this reason, in light of this] remember that formerly [in the past, once] you who are Gentiles [non-Jews, nations] in the flesh [physical body, human nature] and called [labeled, referred to as] uncircumcised [without the Jewish rite of circumcision] by the so-called [self-proclaimed, supposed] circumcision [Jewish ritual, physical cutting] (that done [performed, carried out] in the body [physical flesh] by human hands [human effort, not divine])— word study 12 remember that at that time [in the past, previously] you were separate [alienated, apart] from Christ [the Messiah, Anointed One], alienated [estranged, cut off] from the commonwealth [citizenship, community] of Israel [God’s chosen people], and strangers [foreigners, outsiders] to the covenants [agreements, promises] of the promise [God’s assurance, vow], without [lacking, devoid of] hope [expectation, confidence] and without [separate from, apart from] God [the Creator, Almighty] in the world [the earthly realm, human existence]. word study 13 But now [at this present time] in Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, Messiah] you who once [formerly, in the past] were far away [at a distance, separated] have been brought near [made close, reconciled] through the blood [the atoning sacrifice, life] of Christ [the Savior, Redeemer]. word study 14 For He Himself [Christ, the Messiah] is our peace [reconciliation, harmony], who has made [united, brought together] the two [Jews and Gentiles, two groups] one [unified, in agreement] and has torn down [broken down, demolished] the dividing wall [barrier, partition] of hostility [enmity, hatred] word study 15 by abolishing [doing away with, making void] in His flesh [physical body, human nature] the law [commandments, divine instructions] of commandments [ordinances, decrees] and decrees [regulations, rules]. He did this [accomplished, fulfilled] to create [bring into being, form] in Himself [within His own person, nature] one [united, single] new [fresh, renewed] man [human being, person] out of the two [Jews and Gentiles, two groups], thus making [establishing, bringing about] peace [harmony, reconciliation, wholeness] word study 16 and reconciling [fully restoring to harmony] both of them to God [the one true deity] in one body [a unified entity, a single organism] through the cross [the instrument of crucifixion, the means of atonement], by which He extinguished [killed, put to death] their hostility [enmity, hatred, opposition to God]. word study 17 He came [as the messenger of peace] and preached [proclaimed the good news of] peace [harmony, reconciliation with God] to you [who were spiritually far away, separated from God] who were far away [at a distance, alienated] and peace [freedom from strife, inner tranquility] to those who were near [close, in proximity to God’s presence]. word study 18 For through Him [because of, by means of] we both [Jews and non-Jews, together] have access [approach, entrance] to the Father [God the Father, our heavenly Father] by one [unified] Spirit [the Holy Spirit, breath of God]. word study 19 Therefore [as a result of this truth] you are no longer [completely done with] strangers [foreigners, without a home] and foreigners [aliens, outsiders], but fellow citizens [of the same kingdom, having equal rights] with the saints [holy ones, set apart] and members [belonging to, part of] of God’s [the Supreme Being, Creator] household [family, those under His care], word study 20 built on the foundation [base, starting point] of the apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus] and prophets [speakers of God’s will, interpreters], with Christ Jesus [the anointed Savior, Messiah] Himself as the cornerstone [chief stone, key to the structure]. word study 21 In Him [in the Lord, among all believers] the whole building [building or construction] is fitted together [joined, framed] and grows [increases, develops] into a holy [set apart, dedicated] temple [a sacred place of worship] in the Lord [in the presence of God, under His authority]. word study 22 And in Him [through the Spirit, by His power] you too are being built together [united, constructed as a spiritual house] into a dwelling place [habitation, sacred temple] for God [the one true deity, Creator of all] in His Spirit [the vital principle, divine breath]. word study