Epheser 2
1 Auch euch, die ihr tot waret durch eure Fehltritte und Sünden,
Formerly, because you were habitually sinning [DOU], you were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as a] corpse [MET] is).
2 in welchen ihr einst wandeltet gemäß dem Zeitalter dieser Welt, gemäß dem Herrscher des Reiches der Luft, des Geistes, der jetzt noch wirkt in den Söhnen des Ungehorsams, (aiōn g165)
You were acting in the same [evil] way as those who oppose Christ [MTY] act. That is, you were behaving in the [evil] ways [that Satan wanted you to behave]. He rules over evil spiritual beings that no person can see [MTY]. He is the spirit who now powerfully controls the people who disobey God. (aiōn g165)
3 (unter welchen auch wir einst alle wandelten mit den Begierden unseres Fleisches, den Willen des Fleisches und der Gedanken vollbringend, und waren von Natur Kinder des Zornes wie die anderen auch)
Formerly, we all used to disobey God as they do. We did the things that our self-centered nature wanted us to do. We habitually did those [evil] deeds that our bodies and our minds wanted to do. When we were acting like that, it was certain that [God] would punish [MTY] us, just like he will certainly punish all other [evil people].
4 hat doch der Gott, der da reich ist an Erbarmen, um seiner großen Liebe willen, mit der er uns geliebt hat,
But God always acts very mercifully, and he loves us very much.
5 und zwar uns die wir tot waren durch die Fehltritte, mit Christus lebendig gemacht (durch Gnade seid ihr gerettet)
As a result, even when we were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as] a corpse [MET] is) because we were habitually sinning, he enabled us to receive [spiritual]/[eternal] life because of our relationship with Christ. [Do not forget this: It is only] because God has acted so kindly toward you, in a way that you did not deserve, that you are saved {that [he] saved you} [from the guilt of your sin]
6 und mit erweckt und mit versetzt in die Himmelswelt in Christus Jesus,
And [it is as though] God gave us spiritual life when he caused Christ Jesus to be alive again after he died [MET]. And [it is as though] God caused us to sit [and rule] [MTY] with him in heaven,
7 damit er zeige in den kommenden Zeiten den überwältigenden Reichtum seiner Gnade in Güte gegen uns in Christus Jesus (aiōn g165)
in order that he might show to everyone at all times in the future that he has acted toward us in an extremely kind way because of what Christ Jesus [did for us]. (aiōn g165)
8 (denn durch Gnade seid ihr errettet mittelst des Glaubens, und dieses nicht aus euch, Gottes Geschenk ist es,
It is [only] by [God] acting [PRS] [toward you] in a way that you did not deserve that you have been saved {that he has saved you} as a result of your trusting [in Christ]. You did not save yourselves. His saving you was his gift to you.
9 nicht aus Werken, damit sich keiner rühme);
He did not save any of you because of anything you yourselves did. Because you have done nothing [to save yourselves], you cannot be proud of your efforts to save yourselves.
10 denn sein Gebilde sind wir, geschaffen in Christus Jesus zu guten Werken, die Gott zuvor bereitet hat, daß wir darin wandeln sollten.
It is God who has made us what we are now. Because of our relationship with Christ Jesus, he has enabled us to receive [spiritual/eternal] life in order that we should conduct our lives habitually doing the good deeds that God previously planned for us to do.
11 Darum gedenket, daß einst ihr, die Heiden im Fleisch, die Unbeschnittenen genannt von der sogenannten mit Händen am Fleisch gemachten Beschneidung,
You [Ephesians] have been non-Jews from the time that you were born. The Jews ([insult you/say that you are not God’s people]) [by] calling you ‘those who are not circumcised’. They [proudly] call themselves ‘we [(exc)] who are circumcised’. [They have allowed people to] circumcise [them to indicate that they are God’s people, but] that has [only] changed their bodies, [not their] ([inner beings/hearts]).
12 daß ihr zu jener Zeit ohne Christus waret, ohne Teil am Bürgerrecht Israel und fremd den Bündnissen der Verheißung, ohne Hoffnung und ohne Gott in der Welt,
You should constantly remember these things: Formerly you did not have any relationship with Christ. You did not belong to the people of Israel, [the people whom God chose]. You did not know about the things God promised in his agreements [with his people]. You did not confidently expect to go to heaven after you die (OR, [that God would save you]). You [lived] in this world without knowing God.
13 jetzt aber in Christus Jesus seid ihr, die ihr einst ferne waret, herbeigezogen, durch das Blut des Christus.
But now, because of your relationship with Christ Jesus, God has brought you, who had no relationship with him [MET], into his family [MET]. He did that because [you trusted in what Christ accomplished when] his blood [MTY] [flowed from his body when he died on the cross].
14 Denn er ist unser Friede, der beide Teile vereinigt und die Scheidewand des Zaunes gebrochen hat, die Feindschaft, indem er durch sein Fleisch
Christ himself [has caused us Jewish and non-Jewish believers] to have peace [with each other]. He has made both [of our groups] to become one [group]. [Just like people] (tear down/demolish) a wall that separates [groups of people] [MET], he has destroyed the hatred [between Jews and non-Jews].
15 das Gesetz der Gebote in Satzungen zerstört hat, daß er die zwei in ihm selbst zu Einem neuen Menschen schaffe, Frieden stiftend,
By dying [MTY] [for us on the cross] he made it no longer [necessary for us to obey] all the [Jewish] laws and rituals [in order to be saved]. He did that in order to enable the two [groups] to become one new group because of our relationship with him. The result was that he has caused us to have peace [with each other].
16 und versöhne beide in Einem Leibe mit Gott durch das Kreuz, da er durch dasselbe tötete die Feindschaft,
By [dying on] the cross [MTY] he caused both Jews and non-Jews to have a peaceful relationship with God. That is how he caused us to no longer be [MET] enemies [with God] (OR, [with each other]).
17 und kam und verkündete den Frieden euch den Fernen, und Frieden den Nahen,
He came [to earth] and proclaimed that you [non-Jews], who did not have a relationship with [MET] [God], and [us(exc) Jews], who [considered that we(exc) belonged to] [MET] God’s [family], can [all] now have peace [with God].
18 weil wir durch ihn beide den Zugang haben in Einem Geist zum Vater.
[We know that he has done that] because we both, [Jews and non-Jews], are [now] able to approach God the Father in prayer by the help of his Spirit, because of what Christ [has done].
19 So seid ihr nun nicht mehr Fremdlinge und Beisassen, sondern ihr seid Mitbürger der Heiligen und Hausgenossen Gottes,
So [God no longer treats] you [non-Jews] as [people treat] [MET] foreigners and strangers [who live among them] [MET]. Instead, along with all God’s people, [it is as though] you have become citizens of a country that he rules over, and [as though you have become] members of the family [of which he is the father] [MET].
20 auferbaut auf den Grund der Apostel und Propheten, da er, Christus Jesus, der Eckstein ist,
[Just like] a building is built {[as someone] builds a building} on a foundation, [God has joined you into one group that originated/began] from what the apostles and prophets [taught]. Christ Jesus is the [most important one in that group, just like a] cornerstone [is the most important part of a building]. And
21 durch welchen der ganze Bau zusammengefügt ist und wächst zu einem heiligen Tempel im Herrn,
just like [a builder might] join together all the parts of a building to make it a temple that [people will] dedicate to the Lord [MET], [Christ is continually causing all of] you who have a relationship with [him to be united, in order that you will become one holy group].
22 durch welchen auch ihr mit aufgebaut werdet zur Behausung Gottes im Geist.
And because of your relationship with Christ, [God] is joining you [non-Jews] together with [Jewish believers] to be [like] one building [MET] in which his Spirit lives.
