Ephesians 2:1-2
And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

† Paul reminds them of their former state, spiritually dead in sin.
† The prince of the power of the air refers to Satan's influence in the old covenant world of rebellion.
† The Dead Sea Scrolls (1QM War Scroll) spoke of spirits of wickedness ruling over disobedient men, showing the context of spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 2:3
Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.

† Jews and Gentiles alike were under sin, all deserving wrath.
† No one could boast, all were enslaved until Christ redeemed.
† Josephus (Wars 5.10.5) described the indulgence of Jerusalem's leaders, living under wrath.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

† God's mercy and love bring life to the dead.
† Salvation is entirely by grace, not by merit.
† Clement of Rome (1 Clement 32) praised the grace of God as the foundation of salvation.

Ephesians 2:6-7
And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

† Believers share in Christ's resurrection and enthronement now.
† Heavenly places represent covenantal authority in Christ.
† Ignatius (Letter to the Magnesians 6) taught that those in Christ already sit with Him in His kingdom.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

† Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works.
† Faith itself is God's gift, excluding all boasting.
† Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho 24) declared salvation to be a gift of God, not human achievement.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

† Believers are God's new creation, His workmanship.
† Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the cause.
† The Dead Sea Scrolls (1QS 8.15-16) speak of walking in the works prepared by God, fulfilled in Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-12
Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision" which is performed in the flesh by human hands, remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

† Gentiles were once excluded, alienated from Israel and the promises.
† Circumcision was merely outward, done by hands, not by the Spirit.
† Philo (On the Migration of Abraham 92) noted the insufficiency of physical circumcision compared to true virtue, echoed in Paul's teaching.

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

† The blood of Christ unites Jew and Gentile.
† Distance is removed, reconciliation is achieved in Him.

Ephesians 2:14-16
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace, and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.

† Christ is peace, breaking the barrier between Jew and Gentile.
† The Law that divided has been abolished in His flesh.
† Josephus (Wars 5.5.2) described the literal dividing wall in the temple separating Gentiles, a symbol now abolished in Christ.

Ephesians 2:17-18
And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near, for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

† The gospel is peace to Jew and Gentile alike.
† Access to the Father is in one Spirit, through Christ alone.
† Origen (Against Celsus 5.33) taught that Christ unites all nations in access to God.

Ephesians 2:19-20
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.

† Believers are one household, fellow citizens.
† The foundation is the apostles and prophets, with Christ as cornerstone.
† Ignatius (Letter to the Trallians 7) affirmed that the church is built on Christ and the apostles.

Ephesians 2:21-22
In whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

† The church is God's temple, the dwelling of His Spirit.
† God no longer dwells in stone temples, but in His people.
† Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History 2.4) taught that the church, not buildings, is the true temple of God.

How it applies to us today
† Ephesians 2 teaches that salvation is entirely by grace, not works, and that God makes us His workmanship.
† Jew and Gentile are united in one body, the church, reconciled by the cross.
† In the fulfilled kingdom, we are God's temple, His dwelling by the Spirit.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †

Source Index
† Dead Sea Scrolls, 1QM War Scroll - spirits of wickedness
† Josephus, Wars 5.10.5 - indulgence of Jerusalem's leaders
† Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 32 - grace as foundation of salvation
† Ignatius, Letter to the Magnesians 6 - seated with Christ
† Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 24 - salvation as gift
† Dead Sea Scrolls, 1QS 8.15-16 - walking in God's works
† Philo, On the Migration of Abraham 92 - insufficiency of outward circumcision
† Josephus, Wars 5.5.2 - dividing wall in the temple
† Origen, Against Celsus 5.33 - access of all nations to God
† Ignatius, Letter to the Trallians 7 - foundation of church
† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.4 - church as God's temple