Ephesians 2

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

1You were dead because of the wrong things you did. But God made you alive.

2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2You used to live the way this world lives. You followed the ruler who has power in the air. That spirit is at work now in people who say no to God.

3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

3We all lived that way once. We did what our bodies and our minds wanted. Like everyone else, we deserved God's anger.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

4But God has so much mercy. He loved us with a very great love.

5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

5We were dead because of our sins. Even then, God made us alive with Christ. God saved you by his kindness, which you did not earn.

6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

6God raised us up with Christ. He gave us a place with Christ in heaven.

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

7God did this so that in all the years to come, he can show how very rich his kindness is. He shows it by being good to us through Christ Jesus.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

8God saved you by his kindness, and you were saved by trusting him. This did not come from you. It is God's gift.

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

9It did not come from the good things you did. So no one can brag about it.

10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

10God made us. He made us new in Christ Jesus so we would do good things. God got those good things ready long ago for us to do.

11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

11So remember this. You were born as Gentiles, people who are not Jews. Jews called you uncircumcised. They called themselves circumcised, because of a mark human hands made on their bodies.

NoteCircumcision is a small cut made on a boy's body. It was a sign that his family belonged to God's people, Israel.

12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

12Back then you were apart from Christ. You were outsiders to Israel, God's people. You had no part in God's promises to them. You had no hope, and you lived without God.

13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

13But now you belong to Christ Jesus. You were once far away. Christ's blood has brought you near.

14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

14Christ himself is our peace. He made the two groups into one. He knocked down the wall of anger that stood between them.

15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

15He did this by ending, in his own body, the law with all its rules and orders. He wanted to make the two groups into one new people. That is how he made peace.

16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

16By dying on the cross, he brought both groups back to God as one body. On that cross he put an end to their anger.

17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

17He came and told the good news of peace to you who were far away. He told it to those who were near too.

18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

18Because of Christ, both groups can come to the Father. We come through one Spirit.

19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

19So you are not outsiders or visitors anymore. You belong with God's people. You are part of God's own family.

20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

20You are built on the base that the apostles and prophets laid. Jesus Christ himself is the main cornerstone.

NoteThe cornerstone is the first stone laid in a building. Every other stone is lined up with it.

21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

21In him the whole building fits together and grows. It is becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

22You are being built together with them too. You are becoming a home where God lives by his Spirit.