Ephesians Chapter 2

[mlepfitjw]

2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Oneness and Peace in Christ
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

A Temple for the Lord
19 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. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

 

[Halbhh]

It was interesting to read the familiar verses 8-10 in the NLT ("New Living Translation"), which I never use for a very strong reason (but that's another topic). But here it is doing ok. But it is always good to check on the NLT (!), because sometimes the NLT does do a serious action of inserting an extra thing, some extraneous doctrine they prefer into the scripture. Adding stuff. But the NLT seems on first glance to have done ok here (though I still don't hear as much of the transcendent quality as a more word for word rendering can give).

For instance, the crucial verse 8 is unaltered (and that's a relief!) --

New International Version
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

New Living Translation
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

English Standard Version
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Berean Study Bible
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,


Once you have read through in the NLT, or another clear and easy to read translation like the excellent NIV, it's good to graduate to one of the most highly accurate translations you can find, such as the ESV (English Standard Version) for instance (or the NASB is another).

 

[mlepfitjw]

Thanks for the comment and comparisons halbhh. You have a preferred book? A few years ago I started out on NIV, but then didn’t like it anymore cause it didn’t have red letters in it, moved to King James Bible and the book fell apart from extensive study and reading. Bought a nlt and enjoyed it cause the Bible is big letters and got red letters in it. Also have a New Testament personal workers Bible that I like too read because it so small and handy it is language like kjv, also would agree about the adding part on the nlt you can tell it sometimes.

 

[Halbhh]

Thanks for the comment and comparisons halbhh. You have a preferred book? A few years ago I started out on NIV, but then didn’t like it anymore cause it didn’t have red letters in it, moved to King James Bible and the book fell apart from extensive study and reading. Bought a nlt and enjoyed it cause the Bible is big letters and got red letters in it. Also have a New Testament personal workers Bible that I like too read because it so small and handy it is language like kjv, also would agree about the adding part on the nlt you can tell it sometimes.

If it happens you are reading online, such as at the very good site Biblehub, then you can see the red letter version of the NIV there, and also have the nice help that for any verse you can click on the verse number and see all the major translations and also commentary(!), and even the greek words and definitions, all on 1 page. (though it's always best to first read through with listening for the messages, before we start studying an individual verse)

Here's the red-letter NIV at BibleHub:
(I'll put it on Matthew chapter 3, an early chapter where Christ speaks)
Matthew 3 NIV

 

[mlepfitjw]

If it happens you are reading online, such as at the very good site Biblehub, then you can see the red letter version of the NIV there, and also have the nice help that for any verse you can click on the verse number and see all the major translations and also commentary(!), and even the greek words and definitions, all on 1 page. (though it's always best to first read through with listening for the messages, before we start studying an individual verse)

Here's the red-letter NIV at BibleHub:
(I'll put it on Matthew chapter 3, an early chapter where Christ speaks)
Matthew 3 NIV

Halbhh, that is very kind and helpful thank you. Though have my own bible that is nice to read and feel with my hands. Been a Christian now for about 5 years, and one year someone gave me a concordance.

Do pretty well on reading the bible by myself, and believe that the holy spirit, and asking God for wisdom is a great helpful way to see and interpret scripture (Also there is a whole account of history and culture to take in account while reading of course). Though for me all of the bible completed.

My only goal is to help promote and encourage faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and God. Sure that is your position too, thank you again!

 

[ShineyDays2]

If it happens you are reading online, such as at the very good site Biblehub,

I use the BLB website and it is very good as far as using the "TOOLS" feature goes, BUT their list of commentators to choose from is VERY HEAVILY loaded with Pre-Mil/Dispensational commentators. Matthew Henry is the best and one or two others are middle of the road. All the others are definitely strong dispensationalists. I call it another "indoctrinal" website out of the Dallas Theological Seminary and connected to GotQuestions.org