Ephesians 2

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul reminds the readers that they were "dead in trespasses and sins" and "by nature the children of wrath," but "God, who is rich in mercy," has "quickened us together with Christ." "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast," yet "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Gentiles once "without God in the world" are "made nigh by the blood of Christ," for Christ "hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition," so they are now "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Ephesians 2:1 Ephesians 2:3 Ephesians 2:4 Ephesians 2:5 Ephesians 2:8 Ephesians 2:9 Ephesians 2:10 Ephesians 2:12 Ephesians 2:13 Ephesians 2:14 Ephesians 2:19

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Paul, writing to believers who were "Gentiles in the flesh," once "without Christ," whom Christ reconciles with "the Circumcision," "both unto God in one body." Ephesians 2:11 Ephesians 2:12 Ephesians 2:16 Ephesians overview

Where

Paul writes as a prisoner, traditionally from Rome, to "the saints which are at Ephesus," a leading city of the Roman province of Asia. Ephesians overview

When

Traditionally about AD 60-62, during Paul's imprisonment, near the time of Colossians and Philemon. Many scholars think a follower wrote it in Paul's name about AD 80-90; others hold that Paul wrote it from prison. Ephesians overview

How it fits

Chapter 1 ended with Christ raised and made "head over all things to the church." This chapter shows believers raised with Him, and chapter 3 begins, "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles." Ephesians 1:20 Ephesians 1:22 Ephesians 2:6 Ephesians 3:1

Key verses

Verse 8
"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Romans 11:6 says, "if by grace, then is it no more of works." Ephesians 2:8 Ephesians 2:9 Romans 11:6
Verse 10
"We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Good works follow salvation; they do not earn it. Ephesians 2:9 Ephesians 2:10
Verse 20
The household of God is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." 1 Peter 2:5 calls believers "lively stones" built up "a spiritual house." Ephesians 2:20 1 Peter 2:5

Takeaway

You are saved by God's grace through faith, not by your works, and in Christ you belong with all believers in God's household. Ephesians 2:8 Ephesians 2:9 Ephesians 2:19

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-31.

Saved by grace through faith

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.

Jew and Gentile made one

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.