Ephesians 2:1-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-3

The miserable condition of the Ephesians by nature is here in part described. Observed, 1. Unregenerate souls are dead in trespasses and sins. All those who are in their sins, are dead in sins; yea, in trespasses and sins, which may signify all sorts of sins, habitual and actual, sins of heart and of life. Sin is the death of the soul. Wherever that prevails there is a privation of all spiritual life. Sinners are dead in state, being destitute of the principles, and powers of spiritual life;... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 2:4-10

Here the apostle begins his account of the glorious change that was wrought in them by converting grace, where observe, I. By whom, and in what manner, it was brought about and effected. 1. Negatively: Not of yourselves, Eph. 2:8. Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not the mere product of any natural abilities, nor of any merit of our own: Not of works, lest any man should boast, Eph. 2:9. These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us, and therefore all... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-13

In these verses the apostle proceeds in his account of the miserable condition of these Ephesians by nature. Wherefore remember, etc., Eph. 2:11. As if he had said, ?You should remember what you have been, and compare it with what you now are, in order to humble yourselves and to excite your love and thankfulness to God.? Note, Converted sinners ought frequently to reflect upon the sinfulness and misery of the state they were in by nature. Gentiles in the flesh, that is, living in the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 2:14-22

We have now come to the last part of the chapter, which contains an account of the great and mighty privileges that converted Jews and Gentiles both receive from Christ. The apostle here shows that those who were in a state of enmity are reconciled. Between the Jews and the Gentiles there had been a great enmity; so there is between God and every unregenerate man. Now Jesus Christ is our peace, Eph. 2:14. He made peace by the sacrifice of himself; and came to reconcile, 1. Jews and Gentiles to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 2:1-10

2:1-10 When you were dead in your sins and trespasses, those sins and trespasses in which once you walked, living life in the way in which this present age of this world lives it, living life as the ruler of the power of the air dictates it, that spirit who now operates in the children of disobedience--and once all we too lived the same kind of life as these children of disobedience do, a life in which we were at the mercy of the desires of our lower nature, a life in which we followed the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 2:11-22

2:11-22 So then remember, that once, as far as human descent goes, you were Gentiles; you were called the uncircumcision by those who laid claim to that circumcision which is a physical thing, and a thing produced by men's hands. Remember that at that time you had no hope of a Messiah; you were aliens from the society of Israel, and strangers from the covenants on which the promises were based; you had no hope; you were in the world without God. But, as things now are. because of what Christ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:1

And you hath he quickened ,.... The design of the apostle in this and some following verses, is to show the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and to set forth the sad estate and condition of man by nature, and to magnify the riches of the grace of God, and represent the exceeding greatness of his power in conversion: the phrase hath he quickened , is not in the original text, but is supplied from Ephesians 2:5 , where it will be met with and explained: here those who are quickened with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:2

Wherein in time past ye walked ,.... Sins and transgressions are a road or path, in which all unconverted sinners walk; and this path is a dark, crooked, and broad one, which leads to destruction and death, and yet is their own way, which they choose, approve of, and delight to walk in; and walking in it denotes a continued series of sinning, an obstinate persisting in it, a progress in iniquity, and pleasure therein: and the time of walking in this path, being said to be in time past, shows... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:3

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past ,.... What the apostle says of the Gentile Ephesians before conversion, he says of himself and other Jews; and this he does, partly to show that it was not from ill will, or with a design to upbraid the Gentiles, that he said what he did; and partly to beat down the pride of the Jews, who thought themselves better than the sinners of the Gentiles; as well as to magnify the grace of God in the conversion of them both: the sense is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:4

But God, who is rich in mercy ,.... Mercy is a perfection of the divine nature, and is essential to God; and may be considered with respect to the objects of it, either as general, extending to all men in a providential way; or as special, reaching only to some in a way of grace; for though mercy is his nature, yet the display and exertion of it towards any object, is the act of his will; and special mercy, with all the blessings and benefits of it, is only exhibited in Christ Jesus: and God... read more

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