靠恩典、凭信心

你们从前死在过犯和罪恶之中。 那时,你们随从今世的风俗,顺服在空中掌权的魔鬼,就是如今在一切叛逆上帝之人心中运行的邪灵。 我们以前也在他们当中随从罪恶的本性[a],放纵肉体和心中的私欲,与其他人一样本是惹上帝发怒的人。

然而上帝有丰富的怜悯,祂深爱我们, 尽管我们死在过犯之中,祂仍然使我们和基督一同活了过来。你们得救是因为上帝的恩典。 在基督耶稣里,上帝使我们与基督一同复活,一同坐在天上, 好借着祂在基督耶稣里向我们所施的恩慈,向后世显明祂无可比拟的丰富恩典。 你们得救是靠恩典,凭信心。这不是出于你们自己,而是上帝的礼物; 也不是由于你们的行为,以免有人自夸。 10 我们是上帝的杰作,是在基督耶稣里创造的,为要叫我们做祂预先安排给我们的美善之事。

在基督里合而为一

11 因此,你们要记住,从前按照肉体来说你们是外族人,那些肉体上受过人手所行割礼的以色列人称你们为“没有受过割礼的”。 12 那时,你们与基督无关,又不是以色列人,在上帝应许的诸约上是局外人,你们活在世上没有盼望,没有上帝。 13 但你们这些从前远离上帝的人,如今在基督耶稣里,靠着祂所流的血已经被带到上帝面前。 14 因为基督耶稣亲自给我们带来了和平,以自己的身体拆毁了以色列人和外族人之间充满敌意的隔墙,使双方合而为一, 15 并废除了以诫命和规条为内容的律法制度。祂这样做是为了在自己里面把双方造成一个新人,成就和平, 16 并借着十字架消灭彼此间的敌意,使双方借着一个身体与上帝和好。 17 祂来传扬这平安的福音给你们这些离上帝很远的外族人,也给我们这些离上帝很近的以色列人。 18 我们双方都是靠着祂在同一位圣灵的引导下来到父上帝面前。

19 从此,你们不再是外人或过客,你们与众圣徒一样是天国的子民,是上帝家里的人了。 20 你们已被建立在众使徒和先知们的基础上,基督耶稣自己是房角石。 21 整座建筑的各部分都靠祂巧妙地连接在一起,逐渐成为主的圣殿。 22 你们也靠着祂被建造在一起,成为上帝借着圣灵居住的地方。

Footnotes

  1. 2:3 罪恶的本性”希腊文是“肉体”。

By Grace Through Faith

And you [a]were (A)dead [b]in your transgressions and sins, in which you (B)formerly walked according to the [c]course of (C)this world, according to (D)the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in (E)the sons of disobedience, among whom we all also (F)formerly conducted ourselves in (G)the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the [d]mind, and were (H)by nature (I)children of wrath, (J)even as the rest. But God, being (K)rich in mercy because of (L)His great love with which He loved us, even when we were (M)dead [e]in our transgressions, made us alive together [f]with Christ—(N)by grace you have been saved— and (O)raised us up with Him, and (P)seated us with Him in (Q)the heavenly places in (R)Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing (S)riches of His grace in (T)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For (U)by grace you have been saved (V)through faith, and [g]this not of yourselves, it is (W)the gift of God; (X)not of works, so that (Y)no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, (Z)created in (AA)Christ Jesus for (AB)good works, which God (AC)prepared beforehand so that we would (AD)walk in them.

11 Therefore, remember that (AE)formerly (AF)you—the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “(AG)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “(AH)Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, (AI)alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to (AJ)the covenants of promise, having (AK)no hope and (AL)without God in the world. 13 But now in (AM)Christ Jesus you who (AN)formerly were (AO)far off [h]have (AP)been brought near (AQ)by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is (AR)our peace, (AS)who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition 15 [i]by (AT)abolishing in His flesh the enmity, (AU)the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might (AV)create the two into (AW)one new man, making (AX)peace, 16 and might (AY)reconcile them both in (AZ)one body to God through the cross, having in Himself (BA)put to death the enmity. 17 And (BB)He came and preached (BC)the good news of peace to you who were (BD)far away, and peace to those who were (BE)near; 18 for through Him we both have (BF)our access in (BG)one Spirit to (BH)the Father. 19 So then you are no longer (BI)strangers and sojourners, but you are (BJ)fellow citizens with the [j]saints, and are of (BK)God’s household, 20 having been (BL)built on (BM)the foundation of (BN)the apostles and prophets, (BO)Christ Jesus Himself being the (BP)corner stone, 21 (BQ)in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into (BR)a holy [k]sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being (BS)built together into a (BT)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:1 Lit being
  2. Ephesians 2:1 Or by reason of
  3. Ephesians 2:2 Lit age
  4. Ephesians 2:3 Lit thoughts
  5. Ephesians 2:5 Or by reason of
  6. Ephesians 2:5 Two early mss in Christ
  7. Ephesians 2:8 This salvation
  8. Ephesians 2:13 Or were made; lit became
  9. Ephesians 2:15 Or the enmity, by abolishing in His flesh the Law
  10. Ephesians 2:19 Or holy ones
  11. Ephesians 2:21 The innermost part of the temple