One Big Idea: Ephesians 2:1–5

The Apostle Paul often uses complex constructions to convey important ideas that are difficult to maintain in translation. In the original Greek text, Ephesians 2:1–5 is essentially one long sentence that contains only one big idea. The rest of the text introduces a state of affairs in which the one main thought occurs.

Ephesians 2:1–2 describes the situation in which the Ephesian believers found themselves: dead in trespasses and walking according to the course of the world and its ruler. The discourse switches to Paul and those with him in Ephesians 2:3, indicating that they were in the same spiritual predicament: indulging fleshly lusts and desires. Consequently, they too were children of wrath—just like all other sinners.

In Ephesians 2:4, Paul shifts to God’s state of affairs. He is rich in mercy because of His great love, even though we were dead in our transgressions. Paul links back to being “dead in your trespasses” by repeating the same words just before the one main thought of Ephesians 2:1–5. This repetition bookends the human and divine states of affairs. The one main idea in this section becomes clear at the end of Ephesians 2:5: we were made alive, together with Christ.

So why does Paul use such a complex construction? The significance of being made alive with Christ is only fully understandable when we recognize just how lost we were in our sin. We weren’t just dead; we were under Satan’s power and the world’s influence. God’s love is amazing, but it becomes even more awesome as we consider the context in which He gave us new life. He loved us even when we were children of wrath—seemingly unlovable.

This complex state of affairs makes clear why Paul says “by grace you are saved” (Eph 2:8). Our deadness in sin left God no other alternative but to pour out His rich mercy on us.

Steven E. Runge