Ephesians 2
1 At one time you were dead in your sins and evil actions,
[Unto] you also—being dead by your offences and sins,
2 living your lives according to the ways of the world, under the control of the devil, whose spirit is at work in those who disobey God. (aiōn g165)
In which at one time ye walked, according to the age of the world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, of the spirit that now energiseth in the sons of disobedience, (aiōn g165)
3 All of us were once like that, our behavior determined by the desires of our sinful human nature and our evil way of thinking. Like everyone else, in our nature we were children of anger.
Among whom also, we all, had our behaviour, at one time, in the covetings of our flesh, doing the things desired by the flesh and the mind, and were children, by nature, of anger—even as the rest, —
4 But God in his generous mercy, because of the amazing love he had for us
But, God, being rich in mercy, by reason of the great love wherewith he loved us,
5 even while we were dead in our sins, has made us alive together with Christ. Trusting in him has saved you!
Although we were dead by our offences, gave us life together with the Christ, —by favour, ye have been saved, —
6 He raised us up with Christ, and in Christ Jesus seated us with him in heaven,
And raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies, in Christ:
7 so that in all eternity to come he could demonstrate the amazing extent of his grace in showing us kindness through Christ Jesus. (aiōn g165)
That he might point out, in the oncoming ages, the surpassing riches of his favour in graciousness upon us, in Christ Jesus; (aiōn g165)
8 For you've been saved by grace through trusting in him—it's not through yourselves, it's the gift of God!
For, by his favour, have ye been saved, through means of faith, and this [hath come to pass] —not from you, of God, the free-gift!
9 This has nothing to do with human effort, so don't be proud of yourselves.
Not from works, lest anyone should boast.
10 We're the product of what God does, created in Christ Jesus to do good, which God already planned that we should do.
His, in fact we are—his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus upon a footing of good works, which God prepared beforehand, that, therein, we might walk.
11 So you who are “foreigners” humanly-speaking, called “uncircumcised” by those who are “circumcised” (which is only a procedure carried out by human beings), you need to remember
Wherefore, keep in remembrance—that, at one time, ye, the nations in flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by the so-called Circumcision in flesh, made by hand,
12 that once you had no relationship to Christ. You were barred as foreigners from being citizens of Israel, strangers to the agreement God had promised. You had no hope and you lived in the world without God.
That ye were, in that season, separate from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and godless in the world;
13 But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were once a long way off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
But, just now, in Christ Jesus, ye, who at one time were afar off, were made nigh in the blood of the Christ;
14 Christ is our peace. Through his body he made the two into one, and broke down the separating wall of hostility that divided us,
He, in fact, is our peace—who made both one, and, the enclosing middle-wall, took down,
15 freeing us from the law with its requirements and regulations. He did this so he could create in himself one new person out of the two and so make peace,
The enmity, in his flesh—the law of commandments in decrees—bringing to nought, —that, the two, he might create in himself, into one man of new mould, making peace.
16 and completely reconcile both of them to God through the cross as if they were just one body, having destroyed our hostility towards each other.
And might fully reconcile them both, in one body, through means of the cross, —slaying the enmity thereby; —
17 He came and shared the good news of peace with those of you who were far away, and those who were nearby,
And, coming, he announced the glad-message—of peace, unto you, the far off, and peace, unto them that were nigh;
18 because through him we both gain access to the Father through the same Spirit.
Because, through him, we have our introduction—we both—in one Spirit, unto the Father.
19 That means you're no longer strangers and foreigners; you are fellow citizens of God's people and belong to God's family
Hence, then—no longer, are ye strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints, and members of the household of God, —
20 that's being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.
Having been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, there being, for chief corner stone, Jesus Christ himself, —
21 In him the whole building is joined together, growing to form a holy temple for the Lord.
In whom, an entire building, in process of being fitly joined together, is growing into a holy shrine in [the] Lord;
22 You too are being built together in him as a place for God to live by the Spirit.
In whom, ye also, are being builded together, into a habitation of God in Spirit.
