Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2, part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, written around AD 60–62 from Rome during his imprisonment, emphasizes salvation by grace through faith and the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles into one body in Christ. Paul describes the transformation from spiritual death to life, highlighting God’s mercy and the church’s role as a unified dwelling place for God.
Key Sections
Salvation by Grace (2:1–10): Paul reminds believers they were once dead in sins, following the world, the devil, and their fleshly desires, deserving wrath. But God, rich in mercy, made them alive with Christ by grace, raising and seating them in heavenly places to display His kindness. Salvation is by grace through faith, not works, so no one can boast; believers are God’s workmanship, created for good works.
Reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles (2:11–18): Gentiles, once alienated from God’s covenant, without hope, are now brought near by Christ’s blood. Jesus abolished the law’s dividing wall, creating one new humanity from Jew and Gentile, reconciling both to God through the cross. He preached peace, granting equal access to the Father by one Spirit.
God’s Household (2:19–22): Gentiles are no longer strangers but citizens and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. The church grows into a holy temple, a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Cross-References
Spiritual Death and Life: 
Romans 6:23: Wages of sin is death.

Colossians 2:13: Alive with Christ.

John 5:24: From death to life.
Salvation by Grace: 
Romans 3:24: Justified by grace.

Titus 3:5: Saved by mercy.

James 2:17: Faith with works.
God’s Workmanship: 
Philippians 2:13: God works in you.

Isaiah 64:8: Clay in potter’s hands.

Titus 2:14: Zealous for good works.
Reconciliation: 
Romans 5:10: Reconciled by Christ.

Colossians 1:20: Peace through the cross.

Isaiah 57:19: Peace to near and far.
One New Humanity: 
Galatians 3:28: One in Christ.

Acts 10:34–35: No partiality with God.

Romans 10:12: Same Lord for all.
God’s Temple: 
1 Corinthians 3:16–17: Church as temple.

1 Peter 2:5: Spiritual house.

Psalm 118:22: Cornerstone.
Theological Meaning
Salvation by Grace: God’s mercy saves sinners, dead in sin, through faith, not human effort (2:8–9; Romans 4:5).

God’s Mercy: His love intervenes despite human rebellion, showcasing eternal kindness (2:4–7; Titus 3:4).

Good Works: Salvation produces good deeds, prepared by God, not the basis for it (2:10; Matthew 5:16).

Unity in Christ: Christ’s death removes Jew-Gentile hostility, creating one people with equal access to God (2:14–16; Galatians 6:15).

Peace Through the Cross: Jesus reconciles humanity to God and each other, ending enmity (2:16; Colossians 1:20).

Church as Temple: Believers, united in Christ, form God’s dwelling, built on apostolic truth (2:20–22; Revelation 21:14).
Questions and Answers
What does “dead in sins” mean (2:1)?
Spiritually lifeless, enslaved to sin and the devil, without God (2:1–3; Romans 5:12).

Why saved by grace, not works (2:8–9)?
To exclude boasting; salvation is God’s gift, not earned (2:9; Romans 3:27).

What are “good works” in 2:10?
Deeds God prepared for believers to do, reflecting salvation (2:10; Philippians 1:6).

What was the “dividing wall” (2:14)?
The law’s barriers, separating Jews and Gentiles, abolished by Christ (2:14; Acts 10:28).

How does Christ create “one new man” (2:15)?
By uniting Jew and Gentile into one body through His death (2:15; Romans 12:5).

What is the church’s role as a temple (2:21–22)?
A holy dwelling for God’s Spirit, built on Christ and apostolic teaching (2:21; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

How does this apply today?
Trust God’s grace, pursue good works, and promote unity across divides (2:8; Colossians 3:11).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written during Paul’s Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16–31), this chapter addresses Ephesus’s diverse church (Acts 19:10), with Jewish and Gentile believers (Ephesians 3:6). Ephesus’s pagan culture (Acts 19:24–27) and Jewish synagogue (Acts 19:8) heightened Jew-Gentile tensions (2:11–12). The temple imagery (2:21) resonated in a city with the Artemis temple (Acts 19:28).

Cultural Questions: “Dead in sins” (2:1) reflects Ephesus’s spiritual darkness (Acts 19:18–19). “Prince of the air” (2:2) aligns with Jewish views of Satan’s influence (John 12:31). “Dividing wall” (2:14) may evoke the temple’s Gentile barrier, known in Ephesus (Acts 21:28–29). “One new man” (2:15) counters Greco-Roman ethnic divisions (Galatians 3:28). “Cornerstone” (2:20) uses Jewish building metaphors (Isaiah 28:16). “Temple” (2:21) contrasts with Ephesus’s pagan shrines (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Application: Ephesians 2 calls believers to embrace salvation by grace, live out good works, and foster unity in Christ. It challenges pride, division, and worldly conformity, urging the church to be God’s holy dwelling in a fragmented world (Romans 12:1–2; 1 Peter 2:9–10).