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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

CHAPTER TWO:
“TWO PEOPLES UNIFIED IN ONE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE”

[“Temple Unity”]
Key word: Reconciled
Theme Verse: 21

Ephesians 2:1-7 – A Spiritual Resurrection

EP2:1 Now you were all once dead 71 in your trespasses and sins.

71

Now you were all once dead: Some versions add: KJV: you hath he quickened; CON: He raised from the death to life; MON: so God has give life to you (Gentiles) also. Others (NRSV, NJB) do. Colossians 2:13 has, “Furthermore, though you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of your flesh, [God] made you alive together with him. not.” (NW) Compare 1 Timothy 5:6 and 1 Peter 4:6.

EP2:2 Those things in which you once walked in harmony with this world 72 order’s time period. 73 [You walked] in harmony with the ruler of the authority of the air, 74 the spirit-being who now energizes 75 the sons of disobedience.

72	Walked in harmony with this world: Or, KJV: walked according to the course of this world; TCN: lived in sin; WEY: were once habitual; GDS: you once lived under the control of the present age; KNX: followed the fashion of this world. Compare Romans 12:2. See notes on Ephesians 4:17.

73	Time period: The Greek is aiona. Or, GDS: present age. Research age or aeon.

74	The ruler of the authority of the air: Perhaps an allusion to Satan. Or, KJV: the prince of the power of the air; GDS: master-spirit of the air; KNX: a prince whose domain is in the lower air; NEB: the commander of the spiritual powers of the air. Compare notes on Ephesians 6:12.

75

Spirit which now energizes: The Greek is pneumatos tou nun energountos. Or, KJV: the spirit that now worketh; PME: operating in those who do not respond to the truth. There is “a god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), a “ruler of the world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and, “the whole world is lying in the [power of the] wicked one.” (1 John 5:19 NWT)

EP2:3 Among them we once all behaved according to our own fleshly desires, 76 fulfilling the will and thoughts of the flesh. 77 We were by natural birth children of wrath 78 just as all the rest of them.

76	According to our own fleshly desires: Or, GDS: indulging our physical cravings.

77	Fulfilling the will and thoughts of flesh: Or, CON: our imagination; MON: our senses and temperament; KNX: corrupt nature of our own calculation. The word “flesh” occurs 9 times in Ephesians.

78	We were by natural birth children of wrath: WEY: in our original state deserving of anger; KNX: God’s displeasure for our birthright; NEB: in our natural condition we, like the rest, lay under the dreadful judgment of God. (Romans 5:12)

EP2:4 But The God who is rich in mercy 79 – because of the immensity of His love 80 with which He loved us – even though we were dead in our trespasses –

79	Rich in mercy: Or, TCN: in his abundant compassion.

80	The immensity of His love: Or, ALF: great love; WEY: intense love; KNX: excess of love.

EP2:5 He made us alive 81 embodied in Christ. 82 You have been saved by unmerited favor! 83

81

Made us alive: The Greek is syn-zoopoiesen. This spiritual regeneration or new birth by being God-born is found in Jesus (John 3:3-5; 5:24, 25), Peter (1 Peter 1:3, 4, 23), James (James 1:18), and John (1 John 5:4) Paul explains when this occurs at Titus 3:5, “He saved us by a regenerative washing and renewal in holy Pneuma.” [NCMM] Likely this included water immersion and spirit baptism. (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13) It is the result of an instant judgment by God not a slow growth to a perfect standing.

82	Christ: Or, the Messiah, the Anointed. Compare Romans 6:3-5.

83	You have been saved by unmerited favor: Or, KJV: by grace ye are saved; TCN: by God’s loving-kindness you have been saved; PME: by grace and not by achievement.

EP2:6 And He raised us up together. 84 He seated us together 85 in the Celestialum 86 incorporate in Christ Jesus.

84

He raised us up together: When Christ ascended he carried with him the value of his sacrificial blood which had the purchasing power to buy the Church and restore mankind to Eden. (Hebrews 9:11-14; 1 John 2:2) Additionally those willing to be baptized into his death are now raised in Christ to a new life. (Romans 6:3-5)

85	He seated us together: Or, WEY: enthroned us with Him in the heavenly realm; GDS: made us sit down with him in heaven. Vicariously, the Church sits enthroned with Christ in heaven where their thrones and crowns wait in reservation.

86	The Celestialum: Or, heavenlies. The “uranic” or “heavens.” Or, WEY: heavenly realms; NWT: heavenly places.

EP2:7 The reason was that in the future New Age 87 He might exhibit the transcendent wealth 88 of His unmerited favor placed upon us in union with Christ Jesus.

87	New Age: Or, KJV: in the ages to come; GDS: throughout the ages to come; KNX: future ages; PME: for all time. These “eons” or “ages” would include the period of the Thousand Years and possibly that Age or Period which is post-millennium. See “day of eternity” at 2 Peter 3:18.

88	Exhibit the transcendent wealth: KJV: the exceeding riches of his grace; TCN: boundless wealth; WEY: transcendent riches; GDS: incomparable wealth; KNX: surpassing riches; NEB: how immense are the resources.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – Saved by Grace

EP2:8 For by this unmerited favor 89 you have been saved through your faith. 90 And this is not because of you, 91 because it is God’s gift. 92

89	Unmerited favor: The Greek is chariti. Or, KJV: grace; TCN: loving-kindness; NWT: undeserved kindness. See notes else where on charis or charity.

90	Through your faith: Though the divine charity is unmerited it is yet based on faith, trust, or conviction in God and His Son.

91	Not because of you: Or, KJV: not of yourselves; TCN: not due to yourselves; GDS: not by your own actions; NEB: not your own doing.

92	Gift: A word used 29 times by Paul often in the context of God’s grace or unmerited favor.

EP2:9 It is not the result of works 93 so that no person may boast. 94

93

Not the result of works: Or, TCN: not due to obedience to Law; GDS: it has not been earned; KNX: not from any action of yours. The word comes from the Greek ergon (ergois). “Work(s)” is a word group occurring 150 times in Paul’s epistles. Neither Paul, nor the Bible, and certainly not Jesus, ever implied that “works” did not mark a genuine Friend of the Nazarene. Consider the word “works” in what is the apocalyptic letter from the glorified Lord Jesus. Research work or works for an overall perspective. The disciple James agrees with Paul that works result from faith even as actions do from love. After examining the context of Paul’s words one may draw the conclusion that no one can “work there way to heaven,” but neither can they get to heaven without “good works.”

94

No person may boast: Or, KNX: no room for pride. Paul uses the word group “boast” nearly 30 times in just 2 Corinthians. Compare Jeremiah 9:23-24 – “This is the word of the Lord: Let not the wise man take pride in his wisdom, or the strong man in his strength, or the man of wealth in his wealth: But if any man has pride, let it be in this, that he has the wisdom to have knowledge of me, that I am the Lord, working mercy, giving true decisions, and doing righteousness in the earth: for in these things I have delight, says the Lord.” [BAS]

EP2:10 Having been created incorporate in Christ 95 we are a product 96 for good works 97 which The God arranged beforehand 98 so that we might walk in them. 99

95

Created incorparate in the Christ: Or, Messiah, Anointed. Or, GDS: creating us through our union with Christ Jesus. There are two views: when God predetermined or previewed the Christ He foresaw his saintly associates who would conduct themselves in a particular manner – one characterized by faith and love. Or, the new spiritual creation is meant: upon the disciple’s justification and spiritual birth the Father has determined beforehand exactly the type or character of such a chosen person: to walk in faith and love, manifest by good works. See notes on Ephesians 4:24.

96	We are a product: Or, KJV: we are his workmanship; ALF: we are his handiwork; WMS: He has made us what we are; KNX: we are his design.

97

For good works: Or, GDS: for the life of goodness; KNX: pledged to such god actions; WMS: for doing good deeds. Paul makes it clear that though the unmerited favor is the result of faith, God had determined beforehand that his chosen Saints would be characterized by good works. Thus, no disciple can claim God’s approval while living in wickedness. Romans 8:29 has it, “… patterned after the image of his Son.”

98	Which The God arranged beforehand: Or, KJV: which God hath ordained; ASV: prepared; TCN: pre-arranged; WEY: pre-destined; KNX: prepared beforehand. Note what is “predestined.”

99	So that we might walk in them: Or, TCN: that we should spend our lives; GSPD: predestined to us to live; MON: to make our daily way of life; KNX: to be the employment of our lives. Not only did God foresee the Saints but he also prearranged the kind of life they would live – one of faith and love.

Ephesians 2:11-18 – Hopeless Strangers Reconciled

EP2:11 Because of this remember you were once ‘non-Jewish’ in the flesh 100 – those called the ‘uncircumcised’ by those called ‘circumcised’ in a fleshly, human way –

100

You were once ‘non-Jews’ in the flesh: The Greek is ethne. Or, CON: reckoned among carnal Gentiles; GDS: physically heathen; WMS: once heathen in a physical sense. It may be an allusion to “circumcision.” According to the Jews the world was divided in two: the Hebrews and the goyim. Ethnos really meant those who were not Jews, non-Jews. The word “Gentile” comes from a Latin (Roman) word gentilis and meant a non-Roman; to the Jews, a non-Jew.

EP2:12 that during that season 101 you were separated from Christ, 102 having been alienated from the citizenship of Israel, 103 and strangers to the covenants of the promise, 104 having no hope and atheists 105 in the world order of humanity.

101	During that season: Or, KJV: at that time; KNX: in those days.

102	Separated from Christ: Or, CON: shut out from Christ; GDS: had no connection with Christ; TCN: at that time far from Christ.

103	Alienated from the citizenship of Israel: Or, KJV: aliens from the commonwealth of Israel; TCN: shut out; WEY: estranged; KNX: outlaws; PME: utter strangers to God’s chosen community; NASB: excluded. Interesting how this prejudice was to reverse itself through history.

104	Strangers to the covenants of the promise: Or, TCN: strangers to the Covenant founded on God’s Promise; WMS: the sacred compacts; PME: no knowledge of, or right to, the promised agreements. Yehowah’s covenanted promises were made with the Hebrew Abraham and the Israelite Moses.

105	Having no hope and atheists: The Greek is atheoi (godless; non-god). Or, WEY: no hope and no God.

EP2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who were once a long way off 106 became near [Isaiah 49:12] through the blood 107 of Christ.

106	Once a long way off: Or, KJV: far off; WEY: far away. A phrase used of the Gentiles. (Isaiah 13:5; 33:13; 43:6; 46:12; 49:1, 12) The whole phrase is an allusion to Isaiah 57:17, “‘…peace there will be to the one that is far away and to the one that is near,’ Yehowah has said.”

107	Became near through the blood: Or, TCN: by the shedding of the blood of the Christ; PME: are with us inside the circle of.

EP2:14 For he is our peace 108 – the One who took down the fence walling us [non-Jews] off. 109

108	For he is our peace: Or, KNX: he is our bond of peace; PME: for Christ is our living peace. The blood sacrifice of Christ creates a way to make peace between Jews and non-Jews and in part this involves the negation of the Law of Moses.

109

Took down the fence walling us off: Or, KJV: the middle wall of partition; WEY: the hostile dividing wall; TCN: the barrier that separated them. This seems an allusion to that literal wall which separated the Gentiles from the Jews in the Temple courtyard. The Mishnah (translated by Danby, 1950, p. 592), this rock barrier was called the Soreg. A warning of death to any Gentile who crossed the four-foot barricade. Paul’s figure of speech is really describing “the law of commandments” as it existed in the Law of Moses and the Jewish tradition.

EP2:15 He rendered ineffectual this animosity by his flesh. 110 That dogmatic law of the commandments. 111 So that he might create the two into one new person 112 incorporate in himself.

110

He rendered ineffectual this animosity by his flesh: Or, KJV: having abolished in his flesh the enmity; CON: he destroyed the ground of our enmity; WMS: he has put a stop to the hostility. The natural hatred, enmity or animosity between the Jew and Gentile was destroyed by Christ’s sacrifice for all humanity. In part this “animosity” was created by the Law of Moses.

111

That dogmatic law of the commandments: The Greek is dogmasin. Or, ALF: the commandments (consisting) in ordinances; CON: the law of enacted ordinances; TCN: the Law with its injunctions and ordinances; WMS: the law with its commands and decrees; PME: with its rules and regulations. Colossians 2:14 has it, “[God] wiped out those handwritten regulations that worked against us. He removed it out of the way by nailing it to the Cross.” [NCMM]

112	Create the two into one new person: Or, KJV: of twain one new man; TCN: in order to create, through union with himself, from, Jew and Gentile, one New Man; WEY: his design was to unite the two sections of humanity in himself so as to form one new man.

EP2:16 And that he might completely reconcile both into one body 113 to The God through the stake, 114

113	Completely reconcile both into one body: Or, KJV: reconcile both unto God in one body; KNX: both sides, united in a single body, he would reconcile to God.

114	The stake: Some wish to read “cross” here. Research cross, stake, stauroo. The exact instrument of execution is unknown.

EP2:17 having killed the animosity himself. 115 And after the Messiah arrived 116 he declared the good news of peace to you a long way off and peace to those near. [Isaiah 57:17] 117

115	Having killed the animosity himself: Or, KJV: having slain the enmity there; TCN: he destroyed their mutual enmity; WMS: he killed the hostility; PME: by this act made utterly irrelevant the antagonism between them.

116	After the Messiah arrived: Or, TCN: he came with; MON: he came preaching.

117	Peace to you a long way off and peace to those near: The full phrase from Isaiah 57:17. See notes on Ephesians 2:13.

EP2:18 Because by means of him we [Jew and non-Jew] are being gathered together in one Pneuma 118 to approach the Father. 119

118

We are being gathered together in one Pneuma: Or, KJV: we both have access by one Spirit; CON: power to approach the Father in the fellowship of one Spirit; WMS: for it is by him that both of us now have an introduction to the Father. The Greek pneuma may infer a unity of spirit, or one mind, one single attitude and disposition now unified after former hatred. Another view would be that a single divine pressure (the holy Pneuma) forces the Body of Saints toward their approaching the Father.

119	Approach the Father: Or, facing toward. The Greek is pros as in John 1:1 and means facing toward. A unified Body of Saints, formerly Jews and Gentiles, are now led by the hand in one harmonious procession approaching the Father, facing Him.

Ephesians 2:19-22 – A Unified Temple

EP2:19 So, in reality you [non-Jews] are no longer strangers and aliens. 120 You are fellow citizens with the Saints 121 and members of the Household 122 of The God.

120	You are no longer strangers and aliens: WEY: persons excluded from civil rights; NEB: no longer aliens in a foreign land.

121	You are fellow citizens with the Saints: Or, WEY: you share citizenship with the saints; PME: fellow citizens with every other Christian. Philippians 3:20 says, “Our citizenship continues on the rise in heaven.” [NCMM]

122	Members of the Household: Or, KNX: belong to God’s household. That one mentioned in Ephesians 1:10.

EP2:20 [You are] built upon the foundation 123 of the apostles and prophets, 124 with Jesus Christ as ‘the chief cornerstone’ [Isaiah 28:16]. 125

123	Built upon the foundation: Or, WEY: reared on the foundation; PME: firmly beneath you is the foundation, God’s messengers and prophets.

124

Apostles and prophets: That is, the Twelve and the Christian prophets. See the word prophets and apostles in Paul’s writings. Generically “apostles” are representatives of the Church and “prophets” are spokesmen or speakers. “Apostles” here may include those other lesser apostles; however, note the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem.

125	The chief cornerstone: See Isaiah 28:16.

EP2:21 In him all the building jointed together 126 is growing into a holy Temple for YHWH. 127

126

Jointed together: Or, KJV: fitly framed together; WEY: the whole fabric truly bonded together; WMS: harmoniously fitted together; PME: in him each separate piece of building properly fitted into its neighbor; NEB: bonded together. The image is of finely chiseled stones carefully made to fit into the next. The Saints are compared to “living stones” by Peter. (Read 1 Peter 2:4-10) Compare 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19. Note 1 Kings 5:17; 7:9. The stones in the quarry were so well chiseled that no improvements needed to be made when joined in Solomon’s temple. 1 Kings 6:7 says, “And the stones used in the building of the house were squared at the place where they were cut out; there was no sound of hammer or axe or any iron instrument while they were building the house.” [BAS] The test is so perfect each Christian fits perfectly into the celestial Temple. Compare Colossians 2:19.

127

Holy temple for YHWH: Or, CON: grows into a temple hallowed by the indwelling of the Lord; WEY: is rising so as to form a holy sanctuary in the Lord; WMS: grow into a sacred temple through its union with the Lord; TCN: grow into a temple, consecrated by its union with the Lord. There is a process of growth here: personally and as a Body. Compare notes at Ephesians 4:13 and Ephesians 4:16.

EP2:22 In Him all of you also are being built up together into a holy residence where The God dwells spiritually. 128

128

Where The God dwells spiritually: Or, MON: continuously built together; WMS: in fellowship with one another, are being built up; CON: to make a house wherein God may dwell by the presence of His Spirit; WEY: to become a fixed abode for God through the Spirit; NEB: a spiritual dwelling for God. Paul often compares the Church, or Body of Christ, to a Temple [Greek naos] in which God resides spiritually.

Review Questions on Chapter Two