(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Dead in Sins, Alive in the Anointed
- And you, being dead in your missteps1“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. and sins
- in which you once walked, in accordance with the age and this world, in accordance with the ruler of the power of the air; the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,
- among whom we all also once lived in the cravings of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and its thoughts. And we were children of wrath by nature, just like the rest.
- But God, being rich in mercy because of His great ^love with which He ^loved us,
- and despite us being dead in our missteps, He made us alive together with the Anointed (you are and have been saved by grace)2“Grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”. It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place. The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis) for someone. A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron. The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”. Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation. A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons. The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met. Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system. The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude.
- And He raised us up together with Him, and seated us together with Him in the heavens in Jesus the Anointed,
- so in the coming ages He might demonstrate the surpassing riches of His grace in His benevolence toward us in Jesus the Anointed.
- For you are *saved by grace through faith. And this isn’t from you; it’s the gift of God,
- and not from works so no one may boast.
- For we are His workmanship, created in Jesus the Anointed for good works which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.
- Therefore, remember that you were formerly gentiles in the flesh (the men being called “uncircumcised” by the men being called “circumcised”, which is done in the flesh with human hands)
- because at that time, you were separated from the Anointed, having been alienated from citizenship in Israel and aliens to the covenants of promise; not having hope and godless in the world.
- But now in Jesus the Anointed, you men who were once far away became near by the blood of the Anointed.
- For He Himself is our peace; the One who made both into one and destroyed the barrier of the dividing wall of hostility
- by having annulled in His flesh the law of commandments contained in ordinances; so that in Himself, He might form the two into one new man, making peace.
- And so He might fully reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.
- And having come, He proclaimed the gospel: peace to you, the men who were far away, and peace to the men who were near,3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 57
- because through Him, we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
- So therefore, you’re no longer aliens and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
- having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus the Anointed Himself being the cornerstone.
- In whom all construction fitted together is growing into a temple that’s holy to the Lord,
- in whom you also are built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Next: Ephesians chapter 3
Previous: Ephesians chapter 1
Up: BOS Bible Index
Note: If you think a word, phrase, or passage could be better translated - or is wrong - then Please Say Something. This is an open source Bible that's accountable to all Christians. See this link for details.
Legal Use: Please feel free to quote the BOS Bible, but follow the guidelines on the Legal Use page when doing so. They are easy and mostly common sense.