Ephesians 2:8–9

Context

Ephesians 2 opens by stating that believers were once "dead in trespasses and sins" (vv. 1–3). But "God, who is rich in mercy," has quickened them together with Christ and made them sit together in heavenly places (vv. 4–6). Verses 8–9 summarize how this salvation was accomplished, and verse 10 continues, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Beginning in verse 11, the chapter describes how Gentiles and Jews have been made one in Christ.

Interpretation

• The Reformation reading: Lutheran and Reformed churches read this passage as a foundation for the Five Solas (grace alone, faith alone), holding that salvation is entirely the grace of God and that faith is merely the hand that receives that grace. They understand the phrase "lest any man should boast" in verse 9 as excluding the merit of works.
• The referent of "that": The word "that" in verse 8 (Greek touto) is neuter and therefore does not agree grammatically with the feminine nouns "faith" or "grace." For this reason, many interpreters take it to refer not to faith alone but to the whole of salvation received by grace through faith. Reformed theology, drawing also on other passages such as Philippians 1:29, emphasizes that faith itself is a gift of God, while Arminianism regards faith as a human response enabled by prevenient grace.
• Reading with verse 10: Many denominations read verses 8–9 together with verse 10, explaining that good works are not the cause of salvation but its result and purpose.

Controversies and Issues

The Catholic Church also teaches that salvation begins with grace, but holds that human works cooperating with grace take part in the process of justification. Protestants criticized this view as obscuring grace, while Catholics countered that Protestants undervalue works. The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, issued in 1999 by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church, is regarded as an attempt to narrow this difference. In addition, scholars who follow the "New Perspective on Paul" read the "works" of verse 9 in connection with observance of the law as a marker of Jewish identity.

In Korean Churches

It is one of the most fundamental memory verses in evangelism training, baptismal catechesis, and instruction on assurance of salvation.

Related Passages

• Ephesians 2:10
• Romans 3:23–24
• Titus 3:5
• Philippians 1:29