Ephesians 2:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

NIV: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household,

NASB: So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

CSB: So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household,

NLT: So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

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

NKJV: Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Paul offers two negatives paralleled by two positives in this verse. Before Christ, Paul's Gentile readers were unknown outsiders. They had no connection to God, being spiritually dead, and not part of His chosen nation of Israel. These flaws were replaced with blessings at the point of salvation.

First, they are "fellow citizens." In the Roman Empire, Roman citizenship was very important (Acts 16:37–38; 21:39; 22:25–29; 23:27). Citizens of a nation have rights and benefits which non-citizens do not enjoy. A person could be born a citizen or could earn citizenship at a price. Through salvation in Jesus, these Gentiles were now citizens in the family of God, along with all other believers. Paul also mentioned the believer's heavenly citizenship in Philippians 3:20.

Second, they were now family members. Though the Greek word for household could refer to family members and household servants, the focus here is on being a valued family member. Saved Gentiles were now official citizens of God's kingdom and were members of His family, equal with all other believers.

Ephesians 2:11–22 explains how those who are saved, by grace through faith in Christ, have become part of a single family. Prior to the coming of Jesus, the Jewish people considered Gentiles to be unclean and inferior. Here, Paul explains how the gospel extends hope, promise, and a relationship with God to Jews and Gentiles alike. Most of the Ephesian church would have been Gentiles, and Paul frequently found himself countering anti-Gentile sentiment among various churches.

Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is accomplished on the basis of grace, through faith. Good works, human effort, and our best intentions will never be enough to earn salvation. Every person is marked with sin, both deliberate and accidental, and for this reason we deserve to be separated from God. Only through His mercy and grace can we be saved, leaving no room for bragging. This also means that all who are saved, Jew and Gentile alike, are part of the same spiritual family. There is no cause for hostility between believers; we are all unworthy, and all saved by the same kindness of God.

The first three chapters of Ephesians focus on doctrinal issues; the last three show how those principles should be applied in real life. Chapter 2 makes a pair of related points about our status as saved believers. First, salvation is entirely dependent on the grace of God, not human efforts. Second, this means all Christians are part of the same family, Jew and Gentile alike. This bridges chapter 1's explanation of God's awesome glory to chapter 3's discussion of God bringing His long-awaited plan into action.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.

Accessed 5/5/2024 1:59:24 AM