1 A nd you, when you were dead (slain) by trespasses and sins

2 I n which at one time you walked. You were following the course and fashion of this world, following the prince of the power of the air. the spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience.

3 A mong these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh, obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind. We were then by nature children of wrath and heirs of indignation, like the rest of mankind.

4 B ut God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

5 E ven when we were dead (slain) by shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).

6 A nd He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together '> joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

7 H e did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 F or it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through faith. And this is not of yourselves, but it is the gift of God;

9 N ot because of works, lest any man should boast.

10 F or we are God’s handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us, that we should walk in them.

11 T herefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, '> mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands.

12 t hat you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ, utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the promise. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.

13 B ut now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.

14 F or He is our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both one, and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,

15 B y abolishing in His flesh the enmity the Law with its decrees and ordinances; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man, so making peace.

16 A nd to reconcile to God both in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.

17 A nd He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

18 F or it is through Him that we both now have an introduction (access) by one Spirit to the Father.

19 T herefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s household.

20 Y ou are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.

21 I n Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord.

22 I n Him you yourselves also are being built up with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.