Bible Commentaries
Ephesians 2

Verse 1

And you = Even you. Resuming from Ephesians 1:19 .

hath He quickened . Omit. The Ellipsis in Authorized Version and Revised Version supplied from Ephesians 2:5 .

dead . App-139 .

in = by. No preposition. Dative case.

trespasses . App-128 . The texts prefix "your".

sins . App-128 .

Verse 2

Wherein = In (Greek. en) which.

in time past = once.

the course ( aion ) of this world = the age of this world ( App-129 .)

course . Greek. aio n. App-129 .

prince = ruler, i.e. Satan. Compare 2 Corinthians 4:4 . Greek. archon. In this Epistle Paul uses the very terminology of the Gnostic teaching that the universe was ruled by AEONS, emanations of Deity. The archon here being the one who had dominion over the air, and the whole body of AEONS forming the pleroma (fulness) of the spiritual world, in contrast with the emptiness ( kenona ) or unsubstantial character of the material world ( kosmos ).

power . App-172 .

spirit . App-101 .

worketh = is working. See Ephesians 1:11 .

children of disobedience . Hebraism: not disobedient children, but sons ( App-108 .) of Satan in a special manner, being those in whom he works, and on whom the wrath of God comes (Ephesians 5:6 ).

disobedience = the disobedience. See Romans 11:30 .

Verse 3

Among. Greek. en . App-104 .

also we . . . past = we also all once lived.

conversation . See 2 Corinthians 1:12 .

lusts . Greek. epithumia, strong desire. See Luke 22:15 . Not necessarily evil desire, as see the verb in 1 Timothy 3:1 .

flesh . Old nature. See Romans 7:5 .

fulfilling = doing. Greek. poieo.

desires . App-102 .

flesh . The coarse lusts of the body.

mind . Greek. dianoia, thought. The refined lusts of the mind.

by nature . See Romans 2:27 .

the . Omit.

children . App-108 .

wrath . See Romans 1:18 .

even as . Add "also".

Verse 4

God . App-98 .

Who is = being.

mercy . Compare Romans 9:23 .

for = on account of. App-104 .Ephesians 2:2 .

love, loved . App-135 .

Verse 5

sins . As trespasses in Ephesians 2:1 .

hath . Omit.

quickened . . . together = made . . . alive with. Greek. suzoopoieo. Only here and Co Ephesians 1:2 , Ephesians 1:13 .

Christ . App-98 .

by No preposition. Dative case. grace. App-184 .

are = were.

Verse 6

hath raised, &c . = raised . . . together (with Him). Greek. sunegeiro. Only here. Co Ephesians 1:2 , Ephesians 1:12 ; Ephesians 3:1 .

made us, &c. = made us to sit down together. Greek. sunkathizo. Only here and Luke 22:55 .

heavenly places . As in Ephesians 1:3 .

Christ Jesus . See Ephesians 1:1 .

Verse 7

That = In order that. Greek. hina.

ages . See App-129 .

exceeding . See Ephesians 1:19 .

kindness . See Romans 2:4 . App-184 .

through . Greek. en . App-104 .

Verse 8

through . Greek. dia . App-104 .Ephesians 2:1 .

faith . App-150 . We are saved by grace, not by faith, which is the channel through ( dia ) which flows to us the Divine stream of saving grace. Both alike God's gifts.

not . App-105 .

of . Greek. ek . App-104 .

Verse 9

lest any man = in order that (Greek. hina) no (Greek. me.) one (Greek. tis. App-123 .)

boast . See Romans 2:17 .

Verse 10

workmanship = handiwork. Greek. poiema. Only here and Romans 1:20 . Refers to the new creation of verses: Ephesians 2:5 , Ephesians 2:6 .

created = having been created. Gr ktizo. See Romans 1:25 .

unto . Greek. epi . App-104 .

hath before ordained = afore prepared. Greek. proetoimazo. See Romans 9:23 , the only other occurances.

that = in order that. Greek. hina .

Verse 11

Uncircumcision . See Romans 2:25 .

by . App-104 .

the . Omit.

made by hands . Greek. cheiropoietos. In the Epp. only here and Hebrews 9:11 , Hebrews 9:24 . Made Jews by rite . Compare Romans 2:28 , Romans 2:29 .

Verse 12

without = apart from.

being aliens = having been estranged from. Greek. apallotrioo. Only here; Ephesians 4:18 . Colossians 1:21 .

commonwealth = polity. Greek. politeia. Only here and Acts 22:28 .

Israel . In the Prison Epp. only here and Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:5 .

strangers . Greek. xenos . See Acts 17:21 .

promise = the promise

without God . Greek. atheos. Only here.

Verse 13

now . Emph.

sometimes = once.

are = were.

the blood . i.e. His death, not His life. Compare Ephesians 1:7 Romans 5:9 . Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:8 . Colossians 1:14 , Colossians 1:20 .

Verse 14

peace . Peace itself, objectively, and its Author (1 Thessalonians 5:23 . 2 Thessalonians 3:16 ), to us and in us. Compare Isaiah 9:6 ; Isaiah 52:7 ; Isaiah 53:5 ; Isaiah 57:19 . Micah 5:5 .Haggai 2:9 . Zechariah 9:10 . Luke 2:14 .John 14:27 ; John 20:19 , John 20:21 , John 20:26 .

hath = having.

both . Jews and Gentiles.

hath broken down = having destroyed. See 1 John 3:8 .

middle wall. Greek. mesotoichon . Only here. The type is seen in the stone palisade, about three cubits high, which separated the Court of the Gentiles from that of the Jews, to pass which was death to any Gentile. A notice, of which Josephus speaks, was found in 1871.

partition = the partition. Only here; Matthew 21:33 .Mark 12:1 .Luke 14:23 (hedge).

between us . Omit.

Verse 15

abolished = done away with. Greek. katargeo. See Romans 3:3 .

His flesh . i.e. His death.

enmity . See Romans 8:7 .

the law . . . in ordinances = the law of the dogmatic commandments. Compare Romans 8:4 .

ordinances . Greek. dogma. See Co Ephesians 1:2 , Ephesians 1:14 .

for to make = in order that (Greek. hina) He might create (as Ephesians 2:10 ).

twain = the two, Jew and Gentile.

one new man = into (Greek. eis) one new (Greek. kainos. See Matthew 9:17 ) man.

Verse 16

reconcile = bring together again. Greek. apokatallasso. Only here and Colossians 1:20 , Colossians 1:21 . The intensive form, katallasso with prefix apo ( App-104 .), implies reinstatement. Here it refers to the bringing together again of the two, so that "in one body" they may be united to God, in Christ. See App-196 .

unto = to.

the cross . Compare 1 Corinthians 1:17 . Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:12 , Galatians 1:14 .

the enmity . i.e. of the law of dogmatic commandments (Ephesians 2:15 ) which was against us (see Colossians 2:14 ), and which we could not keep.

thereby = by (Greek. en) it, i.e. the cross.

Verse 17

came = having come (Aor.)

and preached peace = He preached the good news ( App-121 .) peace.

and . The texts add "peace".

Verse 18

access = the access. Greek. . prosagoge. Occ Ephesians 3:12 . See Romans 5:2 .

Spirit . App-101 .

Father . App-98 .

Verse 19

Now therefore = So then.

no more = no longer. Greek. ouketi.

foreigners = sojourners. Greek. paroikos. See Acts 7:6 .

fellowcitizens . Greek. sumpolites. Only here. Whose seat of government ( politeuma ) is in heaven. See Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:20 .

household . Literally the domestics. Greek. oikeios. Only here; Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:10 . 1 Timothy 5:8 .

Verse 20

And are = Having been. Compare Acts 20:32 .

upon . App-104 .

the foundation . . . prophets . The foundation laid by the apostles and prophets (compare Hebrews 2:3 , Hebrews 2:4 ; Hebrews 6:1 , Hebrews 6:2 ), or (2) the foundation of the apostles and prophets themselves, laid by God.

foundation . Greek. themelios. See App-146 .

apostles and prophets . App-189 .

Jesus Christ . The texts re "Christ Jesus". App-98 .

the . Omit.

chief corner stone = foundation corner-stone. Greek. akrogoniaios. Only here and 1 Peter 2:6 . See Septuagint of Isaiah 28:16 . Christ is both foundation corner-stone, and head of the corner. Compare Psalms 118:22 . See Acts 4:11 .

Verse 21

all the building = Every building (Greek. oikodome) . The texts omit "the". Compare 1 Corinthians 3:9 .

fitly framed together = harmoniously fitted together. Greek. sunarmologeo. Only here and Ephesians 4:16 .

groweth = is growing, increasing.

Temple = Sanctuary. Greek. naos. See Matthew 23:16 .

Verse 22

builded together = being built in together. Greek. sunoikodomeo. Only here.

for . App-104 .

habitation . Greek. katoiketerion. Only here and Revelation 18:2 .

Spirit . App-101 .