11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— (Ro 2:26; Ro 2:28; Col 2:11; Col 2:13)12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Eze 14:5; Ro 9:4; 1Co 12:2; Ga 2:15; Ga 4:8; Eph 1:18; Eph 4:18; Eph 5:8; Col 1:21; Col 3:7; 1Th 4:13)13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ac 2:39; Ro 3:25; Eph 2:17; Col 1:20)14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Ps 72:7; Mic 5:5; Zec 9:10; Lu 2:14; Ro 7:4; Ga 3:28; Col 1:21; Col 3:15)15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (Ro 6:4; Col 2:14; Col 2:20)16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (1Co 12:13; Col 1:20)17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (De 4:7; Ps 148:14; Isa 57:19; Eph 2:13)18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Joh 4:23; Joh 10:7; Joh 10:9; Joh 14:6; Ro 5:2; 1Co 12:13; Eph 3:12; Eph 4:4)19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[4] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Ga 6:10; Eph 2:12; Php 3:20; Heb 11:13; Heb 12:22; Heb 13:14)20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16; Jer 12:16; Mt 16:18; 1Co 3:9; 1Co 3:11; Re 21:14)21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (1Co 3:16; Eph 4:15)22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[5] the Spirit. (2Co 6:16; Eph 3:17; 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 2:5)
Ephesians 2
New International Version
Made alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[1] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –9not by works, so that no-one can boast.10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile reconciled through Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands) –12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,15by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2
King James Version
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9Not of works, lest any man should boast.10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 2
New International Reader’s Version
God has given us new life through Christ
1You were living in your sins and lawless ways. But in fact you were dead.2You used to live as sinners when you followed the ways of this world. You served the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil. He is the spirit who is now at work in those who don’t obey God.3At one time we all lived among them. Our desires were controlled by sin. We tried to satisfy what they wanted us to do. We followed our desires and thoughts. God was angry with us as he was with everyone else. That’s because of the kind of people we all were.4But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy.5So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you.6God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with him in his heavenly kingdom. That’s because we belong to Christ Jesus.7He has done it to show the riches of his grace for all time to come. His grace can’t be compared with anything else. He has shown it by being kind to us. He was kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.8God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift.9It is not based on anything you have done. No one can boast about earning it.10We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.
God’s new family of Jews and Gentiles
11You who are not Jews by birth, here is what I want you to remember. You are called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘circumcised’. But they have only been circumcised in their bodies by human hands.12Before you believed in Christ, you were separated from him. You were not considered to be citizens of Israel. You were not included in what the covenants promised. You were without hope and without God in the world.13At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. This has brought you near to God.14Christ himself is our peace. He has made Jews and Gentiles into one group of people. He has destroyed the hatred that was like a wall between us.15Through his body on the cross, Christ set aside the law with all its commands and rules. He planned to create one new people out of Jews and Gentiles. He wanted to make peace between them.16He planned to bring both Jews and Gentiles back to God as one body. He planned to do this through the cross. On that cross, Christ put to death their hatred towards one another.17He came and preached peace to you who were far away. He also preached peace to those who were near.18Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of one Holy Spirit.19So you are no longer outsiders and strangers. You are citizens together with God’s people. You are also members of God’s family.20You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building.21The whole building is held together by him. It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the Lord.22And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit.