Ephesians 2:10

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.

Revised Standard Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For we are his worckmanshippe created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes vnto the which god ordeyned vs before that we shuld walke in them.

Hebrew Names Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

New American Standard Bible
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

New Century Version
God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

Update Bible Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them.

Webster's Bible Translation
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

English Standard Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

World English Bible
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For we are his workmanship, created through Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had before prepared, that we might walk in them.

Weymouth's New Testament
For we are God's own handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has pre-destined us to practise.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For we ben the makyng of hym, maad of nouyt in Crist Jhesu, in good werkis, whiche God hath ordeyned, that we go in tho werkis.

English Revised Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

Berean Standard Bible
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Contemporary English Version
God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

Amplified Bible
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

American Standard Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

Bible in Basic English
For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them.

Complete Jewish Bible
For we are of God's making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.

Darby Translation
For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before prepared that we should walk in them.

International Standard Version
For we are his masterpiece,workmanship">[fn] created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.so that we might walk in them">[fn]Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 19:25; 29:23; 44:21; John 3:3,5; 1 Corinthians 3:9; John 3:3,5, 2 Corinthians 5:5,17; Ephesians 1:4; 4:24; Titus 2:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For we are his creation, who are created in Jeshu Meshiha unto good works, which Aloha hath prepared before, that in them we should walk.

Murdock Translation
For we are his creation; who are created in Jesus the Messiah, for good works, which God hath before prepared for us to walk in.

King James Version (1611)
For wee are his workemanship, created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes, which God hath before ordeined, that we should walke in them.

New Living Translation
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

New Life Bible
We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.

New Revised Standard
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For we are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes, which God hath ordeined, that we should walke in them.

George Lamsa Translation
For we are his creation, created through Jesus Christ ultimately for good works, which God has before ordained that we should live in them.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
His, in fact we are - his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus upon a footing of good works, which God prepared beforehand, that, therein, we might walk.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christe Iesus vnto good workes, whiche God hath ordeyned that we shoulde walke in them.

Good News Translation
God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

Christian Standard Bible®
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

King James Version
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Lexham English Bible
For we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we may walk in them.

Literal Translation
for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before prepared that we should walk in them.

Young's Literal Translation
for of Him we are workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God did before prepare, that in them we may walk.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For we are his workmanshippe, created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes, to ye which God ordeyned vs before, that we shulde walke in them.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for he hath made us a-new, and form'd us by Christ Jesus to do good works, for which God had before prepared us, that we might live in them.

New English Translation
For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

New King James Version
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Like the greatest saddle maker ever, we were tooled by God himself, created in Christ Jesus to do good things God prepared for us before we even got here.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Legacy Standard Bible
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Contextual Overview

⁷Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we are: Deuteronomy 32:6, Psalms 100:3, Psalms 138:8, Isaiah 19:25, Isaiah 29:23, Isaiah 43:21, Isaiah 44:21, Isaiah 60:21, Isaiah 61:3, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 32:39, Jeremiah 32:40, John 3:3-6, John 3:21, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:21

created: Ephesians 4:24, Psalms 51:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Colossians 3:10

good: Matthew 5:16, Acts 9:36, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Colossians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 1 Timothy 2:10, 1 Timothy 5:10, 1 Timothy 5:25, 1 Timothy 6:18, 2 Timothy 2:21, 2 Timothy 3:17, Titus 2:7, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:1, Titus 3:8, Titus 3:14, Hebrews 10:24, Hebrews 13:21, 1 Peter 2:12

which: Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:29

ordained: or, prepared

walk: Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 4:1, Deuteronomy 5:33, Psalms 81:13, Psalms 119:3, Isaiah 2:3-5, Acts 9:31, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:27 - in the image Psalms 4:3 - that the Psalms 15:2 - worketh Psalms 102:18 - the people Psalms 119:17 - I may live Isaiah 26:7 - way Isaiah 26:12 - for Isaiah 35:8 - The way Isaiah 43:1 - created Isaiah 43:7 - for I Isaiah 45:8 - I the Lord Isaiah 45:11 - concerning the work Isaiah 64:8 - all are Ezekiel 36:26 - new heart Ezekiel 37:24 - they shall Hosea 8:14 - Maker Matthew 26:10 - a good Mark 14:6 - a good Luke 1:75 - General Luke 8:8 - other Luke 15:5 - he layeth John 14:20 - ye in John 15:16 - ordained Romans 9:23 - might Romans 14:20 - the work Romans 16:7 - were 1 Corinthians 1:30 - in Ephesians 1:19 - exceeding Ephesians 2:8 - that Ephesians 4:23 - be Philippians 1:11 - are Colossians 2:11 - by 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - but 1 Thessalonians 4:7 - God

Cross-References

Psalms 46:4
River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says.

Revelation 22:1
Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they'll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For we are his workmanship,.... Not as men only, but as Christians; not as creatures merely, but as new creatures; the work of grace upon the soul seems chiefly designed, which like a poem, as the word may be rendered, is a very curious work; the king's daughter is all glorious within, for this is an internal work, and is a good and excellent one; it is not indeed perfected at once, but is gradually carried on, till the finishing stroke is given to it by that hand which begun it; the author of it is God, it is not man's work; nor is it the work of ministers, no, nor of angels, but it is God's work: sometimes it is ascribed to the Spirit, who regenerates and sanctifies; and sometimes to the Son of God, who quickens whom he will; and sometimes to the Father, who reveals his Son, and draws men to him, and who seems to be meant here: the subjects of this divine operation, are the persons described in Ephesians 2:1 and include both Jews and Gentiles; and express the distinguishing grace of God, that they and not others, and who were by nature children of wrath as others, should be his workmanship: and this is mentioned to show, that salvation can not be by any works of men, since all their works are either wrought for them, or in them, by God; salvation is a work wrought for them without them; and sanctification is a work wrought in them by God, of his good pleasure; and all their good works are fruits of his grace, as follows:

created in Christ Jesus unto good works; the work of grace is a creation, or a creature, a new creature; not a new vamp of old Adam's principles, but; an infusion of new ones, and is a work of almighty power; and such who have it wrought in them, are said to be created in Christ; because as soon as a man becomes a new creature, he is openly and visibly in Christ; and by these new principles of grace which are created in him, he is fit and ready, and in a capacity to perform good works; the new man formed in him, is formed for righteousness and true holiness; the internal principle of grace both excites unto, and qualifies for, the performance of righteous and holy actions:

which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them, or has "before prepared"; for the preparation of good works to be performed by saints, and the preparation of them for the performance of them; are both from the Lord; God has appointed good works to be done by his people and in his word he has declared what they are he would have done; and it is his will not only that they should do them, but continue to do them; not only that they should do a single act or more, but walk in them; their conversation and course of life should be one continued series of good works; but the intention is not that they should be saved by them, but that they should walk in them; and this being the pre-ordination of God, as it shows that predestination is not according to good works, since good works are the fruits and effects of it, so likewise that it is no licentious doctrine; seeing it provides for the performance of good works, as well as secures grace and glory.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For we are his workmanship - We are his “making” - ποίημα poiēma. That is, we are “created or formed” by him, not only in the general sense in which all things are made by him, but in that special sense which is denoted by the new creation; see the notes at 2 Corinthians 5:17. Whatever of peace, or hope, or purity we have, has been produced by his agency on the soul. There cannot be conceived to be a stronger expression to denote the agency of God in the conversion of people, or the fact that salvation is wholly of grace.

Created in Christ Jesus - On the word “created,” see the notes at 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Unto good works - With reference to a holy life; or, the design for which we have been created in Christ is, that we should lead a holy life. The primary object was not to bring us to heaven. It was that we should be “holy.” Paul held perhaps more firmly than any other man, to the position that people are saved by the mere grace of God, and by a divine agency on the soul; but it is certain that no man ever held more firmly that people must lead holy lives, or they could have no evidence that they were the children of God.

Which God hath before ordained - Margin, “prepared.” The word here used means to “prepare beforehand,” then to predestinate, or appoint before. The proper meaning of this passage is, “to which οἷς hois good works God has predestinated us, or appointed us beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The word used here - προετοιμάζω proetoimazō - occurs in the New Testament nowhere else except in Romans 9:23, where it is rendered “had afore prepared.” It involves the idea of a previous determination, or an arrangement beforehand for securing a certain result. The previous preparation here referred to was, the divine intention; and the meaning is, that God had predetermined that we should lead holy lives. It accords, therefore, with the declaration in Ephesians 1:4, that he had chosen his people before the foundation of the world that they should be holy: see the notes at that verse.

That we should walk in them - That we should live holy lives. The word “walk” is often used in the Scriptures to denote the course of life; notes on Romans 6:4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. For we are his workmanship — So far is this salvation from being our own work, or granted for our own works' sake, that we are ourselves not only the creatures of God, but our new creation was produced by his power; for we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. He has saved us that we may show forth the virtues of Him who called us from darkness into his marvellous light. For though we are not saved for our good works, yet we are saved that we may perform good works, to the glory of God and the benefit of man.

Which God hath before ordained — οις προητοιμασες. For which God before prepared us, that we might walk in them. For being saved from sin we are made partakers of the Spirit of holiness; and it is natural to that Spirit to lead to the practice of holiness; and he who is not holy in his life is not saved by the grace of Christ. The before ordaining, or rather preparing, must refer to the time when God began the new creation in their hearts; for from the first inspiration of God upon the soul it begins to love holiness; and obedience to the will of God is the very element in which a holy or regenerated soul lives.