Eph 2 commentary


What is eph 2?

Ephesians 2 is a chapter in the Bible that talks about how Jesus died for our sins and rose again. It also says that we are saved by grace and not by works.

Who wrote it?

The Book of Ephesians is the tenth book of the New Testament. Its authorship has been traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged by some scholars who proposed instead that it was written by one or more unknown Christians as a circular letter. Most contemporary scholars now accept that the letter was indeed written by Paul.

When was it written?

It is generally agreed that Paul wrote Ephesians during his imprisonment in Rome (cf. Acts 28:16, 30), which was probably around A.D. 60-62. The exact location of his imprisonment is uncertain, but it was probably near the Mamertine Prison, which was located just outside the city walls on the northeast side of Rome.

Where was it written?

Most likely, Ephesus. If the city of Colossae (Colossians 1:2) was in Lydia, then Ephesus was not far away. It is also possible that Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison in Rome (see Acts 28:16,30).

Why was it written?

Ephesians 2 was written to encourage Christians to live lives worthy of their calling, to put away division and hostility, and to be united in Christ.

What is the main theme of eph 2?

Ephesians 2 can be summarized with the following theme: God’s love for sinners demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice establishing peace between Jew and Gentile.

What are the key verses in eph 2?


There are a few key verses in eph 2 that stand out. The first is verse 8, where Paul says that “by grace you have been saved through faith.” This is a key verse because it reminds us that we are saved by grace and not by our own efforts. We are saved by faith because we trust in God’s goodness and mercy.

Another key verse is verse 10, where Paul says that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” This verse reminds us that we are created for a purpose. We are not just saved by grace, but we are also saved for a reason. We are saved to do good works and to glorify God.

Lastly, verse 12 is a key verse because it tells us that “we were once aliens and strangers, but now we are fellow citizens with God’s people.” This verse reminds us of our new identity in Christ. We are no longer outsiders or strangers, but we are now part of God’s family.

What is the overall message of eph 2?

The apostle Paul opens this letter with a general thanksgiving and prayer (Ephesians 1:3-14). He then proceeds to develop two main themes: the unity of all believers in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10) and the implications of this unity for how we are to live our lives (Ephesians 2:11-22).

In regard to the first theme, Paul begins by highlighting the fact that prior to finding salvation in Christ, we were all dead in our sins and unable to save ourselves (Ephesians 2:1-3). However, God, in His mercy and grace, intervened on our behalf. He made us alive through His Spirit and raised us up from death to life so that we might have hope and a future (Ephesians 2:4-5). This act of salvation was completely unmerited on our part — we did nothing to deserve or earn it. Rather, it was a free gift from God, given out of His love for us (Ephesians 2:6-10).

Moving on to the second theme, Paul explains that because we have been saved by God’s grace, we are now His handiwork — created anew in Christ Jesus so that we might do good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:11-13). This doesn’t mean that our good works are what save us. Rather, they are evidence of the salvation that God has already bestowed upon us. They flow naturally from a heart that has been transformed by the gospel. As those who have been saved by grace, we are now called to live out our lives as salt and light in the world — demonstrating to others the power of the gospel to change lives (Ephesians 2:14-22).


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