Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Ephesians 2:7

Now 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 Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Atonement;   God;   God Continued...;   Jesus Continued;   Righteous;   Salvation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Grace;   Riches of Grace;   The Topic Concordance - Grace;   Newness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Atonement, the;   Grace;   Loving-Kindness of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Justificiation;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Grace;   Love;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Age, Ages;   Good, Goodness;   Kindness;   Sexuality, Human;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Calvinists;   Man;   Mercy of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Age;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ephesians, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ephesians, Book of;   Kindness;   New Age;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ephesians, Epistle to;   Ethics;   Kindness;   Predestination;   Sin;   World;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Aeon;   Children of God;   Ephesians Epistle to the;   Kindness;   Mercy;   Pre-Eminence ;   Presence (2);   Restoration;   Saviour (2);   Sin;   Sin (2);   Vicarious Sacrifice;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Age,;   Church;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Justification;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Ages;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Age;   Ephesians, Epistle to the;   Eschatology of the New Testament;   Justification;   Kindness;   Love;   Riches;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for May 12;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 6;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.
Revised Standard Version
that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
for to shewe in tymes to come the excedynge ryches of his grace in kyndnes to vs warde in Christ Iesu.
Hebrew Names Version
that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua;
New American Standard Bible
so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
New Century Version
so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus.
Update Bible Version
that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:
Webster's Bible Translation
That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness towards us, through Christ Jesus.
English Standard Version
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
World English Bible
that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That he might shew in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Weymouth's New Testament
in order that, by His goodness to us in Christ Jesus, He might display in the Ages to come the transcendent riches of His grace.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that he schulde schewe in the worldis aboue comynge the plenteuouse ritchessis of his grace in goodnesse on vs in Crist Jhesu.
English Revised Version
that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:
Berean Standard Bible
in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Contemporary English Version
God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
Amplified Bible
[and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption].
American Standard Version
that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:
Bible in Basic English
That in the time to come he might make clear the full wealth of his grace in his mercy to us in Christ Jesus:
Complete Jewish Bible
in order to exhibit in the ages to come how infinitely rich is his grace, how great is his kindness toward us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.
Darby Translation
that he might display in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.
International Standard Version
so that in the coming ages he might display the limitless riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.Titus 3:4;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
that he might show to the ages to come the greatness of the riches of his grace and his goodness, which hath been upon us in Jeshu the Meshiha.
Murdock Translation
that he might show to the coming ages the magnitude of the riches of his grace, and his benignity towards us in Jesus the Messiah.
King James Version (1611)
That in the ages to come, hee might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindenesse towards vs, through Christ Iesus.
New Living Translation
So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
New Life Bible
He did this to show us through all the time to come the great riches of His loving-favor. He has shown us His kindness through Christ Jesus.
New Revised Standard
so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Geneva Bible (1587)
That he might shewe in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace, through his kindnesse toward vs in Christ Iesus.
George Lamsa Translation
In the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That he might point out, in the oncoming ages, the surpassing riches of his favour in graciousness upon us, in Christ Jesus;
Douay-Rheims Bible
That he might shew in the ages to come the abundant riches of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
That in ages to come, he might shew the exceedyng ryches of his grace, in kyndnesse to vswarde through Christe Iesus.
Good News Translation
He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus.
Christian Standard Bible®
so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
King James Version
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Lexham English Bible
in order that he might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.
Literal Translation
that He might demonstrate in the ages coming on, the exceeding great riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Young's Literal Translation
that He might show, in the ages that are coming, the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
yt in tymes to come he mighte shewe the exceadinge riches of his grace, in kyndnesse to vs warde in Christ Iesu.
Mace New Testament (1729)
that in the ages to come, he might shew the immense riches of his gracious kindness towards us, through Christ Jesus.
New English Translation
to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
New King James Version
that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Simplified Cowboy Version
People will look back and see the extraordinary gift that is available to everyone who rides for the brand. We've got a spot in God's crew because of his grace through Jesus, not because we are top hands.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Legacy Standard Bible
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

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

in the: Ephesians 3:5, Ephesians 3:21, Psalms 41:13, Psalms 106:48, Isaiah 60:15, 1 Timothy 1:17

show: Ephesians 2:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:12, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Peter 1:12, Revelation 5:9-14

in his: Titus 3:4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 7:19 - And is this Psalms 6:4 - for Psalms 111:2 - works Isaiah 60:21 - that I Jeremiah 14:21 - for Hosea 14:2 - receive Luke 2:14 - good John 12:28 - and will John 13:31 - and God Acts 15:11 - that Acts 16:31 - Believe Romans 2:4 - riches Romans 3:24 - justified Romans 5:1 - through Romans 5:8 - commendeth Romans 6:11 - through Romans 9:23 - might Romans 10:12 - rich Romans 11:33 - riches 1 Corinthians 1:5 - in every 1 Corinthians 15:10 - by 2 Corinthians 1:20 - unto 2 Corinthians 8:9 - the grace Ephesians 1:6 - praise Ephesians 1:7 - to Ephesians 1:12 - be Ephesians 3:8 - unsearchable Ephesians 3:16 - according Philippians 4:19 - according 2 Thessalonians 1:10 - to be glorified 1 Timothy 1:11 - glorious Hebrews 2:10 - it 1 Peter 1:3 - which

Cross-References

Genesis 2:15
God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.
Genesis 2:21
God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man.
Genesis 3:23
So God expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life.
Numbers 16:22
They threw themselves on their faces and said, "O God, God of everything living, when one man sins are you going to take it out on the whole community?"
Psalms 100:3
Know this: God is God, and God, God . He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Proverbs 20:27
God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.
Isaiah 2:22
Quit scraping and fawning over mere humans, so full of themselves, so full of hot air! Can't you see there's nothing to them?
Isaiah 64:8
Still, God , you are our Father. We're the clay and you're our potter: All of us are what you made us. Don't be too angry with us, O God . Don't keep a permanent account of wrongdoing. Keep in mind, please, we are your people—all of us. Your holy cities are all ghost towns: Zion's a ghost town, Jerusalem's a field of weeds. Our holy and beautiful Temple, which our ancestors filled with your praises, Was burned down by fire, all our lovely parks and gardens in ruins. In the face of all this, are you going to sit there unmoved, God ? Aren't you going to say something? Haven't you made us miserable long enough?
Zechariah 12:1
War Bulletin: God 's Message concerning Israel, God 's Decree—the very God who threw the skies into space, set earth on a firm foundation, and breathed his own life into men and women: "Watch for this: I'm about to turn Jerusalem into a cup of strong drink that will have the people who have set siege to Judah and Jerusalem staggering in a drunken stupor.
John 20:22
Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That in the ages to come,.... This is the end of God's permitting sin, in which men are morally dead; and of his suffering them to go on in sin, in a state of unregeneracy; and of his quickening them with Christ, and raising them up, and causing them to sit together with him: namely, that

he might show the exceeding riches of his grace: riches being added to grace, denote the valuableness of it, as well as its plenty and abundance; and also the freeness and liberality of God in giving it; and likewise the enriching nature of it: and these riches are exceeding; they exceed the riches of this world, in the immenseness of them, being unsearchable; and in the inexhaustibleness of them, for though such large treasures have been expended upon such numbers of persons, yet there is still the same quantity; and in the duration of them, they last forever; and in the profit and satisfaction they yield, when other riches fade away, are not profitable nor satisfying; and they exceed the conception, knowledge, and comprehension of men; and intend the utmost stretch of the grace of God: and which are evidently and remarkably displayed,

in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus; in providing him as a Saviour for his people; in the mission of him into this world; in not sparing, but giving him up as a sacrifice to justice for their sins; and blessing them with all spiritual blessings in him: all which God designed to show forth, in the ages to come; meaning either the ages following to the end of time, in distinction from the ages that were past: hence it appears, that the world was not expected to be immediately at an end; and that the writings of the New Testament were to be continued, and the Gospel preached unto the end of time, in which the riches of divine grace are held forth to view; and that these ages to come, are seasons and days of grace; for a day of grace will never be over, as long as the Gospel of grace is preached; and that the instances of grace through Christ, and in the times of the apostles, are encouraging to men in ages succeeding; and that the same grace that was displayed then, is shown forth in these: or else the world to come is meant, which will take place at the end of this; and may lead us to observe, that there will be ages in the other world; and that God has not only prepared a great deal of grace and glory for his people, but he has appointed ages enough for them to enjoy it in; and that their riches lie in another world, and are in some measure hid; and that these are the produce of the grace of God; and that the exceeding riches of that will be then manifested, when it will also appear that God's giving grace to men, is not only with a view to his own glory, but is an act of kindness to them; and that eternal happiness will be heartily and freely bestowed upon them, and that through Jesus Christ their Lord: the Syriac version renders it, "that unto ages to come he might show", c. that is, to men in ages to come the sense is much the same.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That in the ages to come - In all future times. The sense is, that the riches of divine grace, and the divine benignity, would be shown in the conversion of Christians and their salvation, to all future times. Such was his love to those who were lost, that it would be an everlasting monument of his mercy, a perpetual and unchanging proof that he was good. The sense is, we are raised up with Christ, and are made to partake of his honor and glory in order that others may forever be impressed wish a sense of the divine goodness and mercy to us.

The exceeding riches of his grace - The “abounding, overflowing” riches of grace; compare the notes, Ephesians 1:7. This is Paul’s favorite expression - an expression so beautiful and so full of meaning that it will bear often to be repeated. We may learn from this verse:

(1) That one object of the conversion and salvation of sinners, is to furnish a “proof” of the mercy and goodness of God.

(2) Another object is, that their conversion may be an “encouragement” to others. The fact that such sinners as the Ephesians had been, were pardoned and saved, affords encouragement also to others to come and lay hold on life. And so of all other sinners who are saved. Their conversion is a standing encouragement to all others to come in like manner; and now the history of the church for more than eighteen hundred years furnishes all the encouragement which we could desire.

(3) The conversion of “great” sinners is a special proof of the divine benignity. So Paul argues in the case before us; and so he often argued from his own case; compare the notes at 1 Timothy 1:16.

(4) Heaven, the home of the redeemed, will exhibit the most impressive proof of the goodness of God that the universe furnishes. There will be a countless host who were once polluted and lost; who were dead in sins; who were under the power of Satan, and who have been saved by the riches of the divine grace - a host now happy and pure, and free from sin, sorrow, and death - the living and eternal monuments of the grace of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. That in the ages to come — God has produced us an example, and one which shall be on record through all generations, that he quickens dead souls; that he forgives the sins of the most sinful, when they repent and believe in Christ Jesus. So that what God has done for the sinners at Ephesus will serve as an encouragement to all ages of the world; and on this evidence every preacher of the Gospel may boldly proclaim that Christ saves unto the uttermost all that come unto God through him. And thus the exceeding riches of his grace will appear in the provision he has made for the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles.

This observation of the apostle is of great use and importance; because we are authorized to state, in all the successive ages of the world, that he who saved the sinners at Ephesus is ever ready to save all who, like them, repent of their sins, and believe in Christ Jesus.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile