Efeserne 2
1 Også eder har han gjort levende, I som var døde ved eders overtredelser og synder,
You yourselves were once dead because of your offences and sins.
2 som I fordum vandret i efter denne verdens løp, efter høvdingen over luftens makter, den ånd som nu er virksom i vantroens barn, (aiōn g165)
For at one time you lived in sin, following the ways of the world, in subjection to the Ruler of the Powers of the air — the Spirit who is still at work among the disobedient. (aiōn g165)
3 blandt hvilke også vi alle fordum vandret i vårt kjøds lyster, idet vi gjorde kjødets og tankenes vilje, og vi var av naturen vredens barn likesom de andre.
And it was among them that we all once lived our lives, indulging the cravings of our earthly nature, and carrying out the desires prompted by that earthly nature and by our own thoughts. Our very nature exposed us to the Divine Wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 Men Gud, som er rik på miskunn, har for sin store kjærlighets skyld som han elsket oss med,
Yet God, in his abundant compassion, and because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 gjort oss levende med Kristus, enda vi var døde ved våre overtredelser - av nåde er I frelst -
even though we were ‘dead’ because of our offences, gave Life to us in giving Life to the Christ. (By God’s loving-kindness you have been saved.)
6 og opvakt oss med ham og satt oss med ham i himmelen, i Kristus Jesus,
And, through our union with Christ Jesus, God raised us with him, and caused us to sit with him on high,
7 forat han i de kommende tider kunde vise sin nådes overvettes rikdom i godhet mot oss i Kristus Jesus. (aiōn g165)
in order that, by his goodness to us in Christ Jesus, he might display in the ages to come the boundless wealth of his loving-kindness. (aiōn g165)
8 For av nåde er I frelst, ved tro, og det ikke av eder selv, det er Guds gave,
For it is by God’s loving-kindness that you have been saved, through your faith. It is not due to yourselves; the gift is God’s.
9 ikke av gjerninger, forat ikke nogen skal rose sig.
It is not due to obedience to Law, lest any one should boast.
10 For vi er hans verk, skapt i Kristus Jesus til gode gjerninger, som Gud forut har lagt ferdige, at vi skulde vandre i dem.
For we are God’s handiwork, created, by our union with Christ Jesus, for the good actions in doing which God had pre-arranged that we should spend our lives.
11 Kom derfor i hu at I som fordum var hedninger i kjøttet og blev kalt uomskårne av den såkalte omskjærelse på kjøttet, den som gjøres med hånden,
Remember, therefore, that you were once Gentiles yourselves, as your bodies showed; you were called ‘The Uncircumcised’ by those who were called ‘The Circumcised’ — circumcised only by the hand of man!
12 at I på den tid stod utenfor Kristus, utelukket fra Israels borgerrett og fremmede for paktene med deres løfte, uten håp og uten Gud i verden;
Remember that you were at that time far from Christ; you were shut out from the citizenship of Israel; you were strangers to the Covenants founded on God’s Promise; you were in the world without hope and without God.
13 men nu, i Kristus Jesus, er I som fordum var langt borte, kommet nær til ved Kristi blod.
But now, through your union with Christ Jesus, you who once were ‘far off’ have, by the shedding of the blood of the Christ, been brought ‘near.’
14 For han er vår fred, han som gjorde de to til ett og nedrev gjerdets skillevegg, fiendskapet,
He it is who is our Peace. He made the two divisions of mankind one, broke down the barrier that separated them,
15 idet han ved sitt kjød avskaffet den lov som kom med bud og forskrifter, forat han ved sig selv kunde skape de to til ett nytt menneske, idet han gjorde fred,
and in his human nature put an end to the cause of enmity between them — the Law with its injunctions and ordinances — in order to create, through union with himself, from Jew and Gentile, one New Man and thus make peace.
16 og forlike dem begge i ett legeme med Gud ved korset, idet han på dette drepte fiendskapet.
And when, upon the cross, he had destroyed their mutual enmity, he sought by means of his cross to reconcile them both to God, united in one Body.
17 Og han kom og forkynte fred for eder som var langt borte, og fred for dem som var nær ved;
He came with the Good News of peace for you who were ‘far off,’ and of peace for those who were ‘near’;
18 for ved ham har vi begge adgang til Faderen i en Ånd.
for it is through him that we, the Jews and the Gentiles, united in the one Spirit, are now able to approach the Father.
19 Så er I da ikke lenger fremmede og utlendinger, men I er de helliges medborgere og Guds husfolk,
It follows, then, that you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow-citizens with Christ’s People and members of God’s Household.
20 I som er bygget op på apostlenes og profetenes grunnvoll, mens hjørnestenen er Kristus Jesus selv,
You have been built up upon the foundation laid by the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus himself being ‘the corner-stone.’
21 i hvem hver bygning føies sammen og vokser til et hellig tempel i Herren,
United in him, every part of the building, closely joined together, will grow into a Temple, consecrated by its union with the Lord.
22 i hvem også I bygges op med de andre til en Guds bolig i Ånden.
And, through union in him, you also are being built up together, to be a dwelling-place for God through the Spirit.
