Ephesians 2:8-9 in Context
Ephesians 2:8-9 read in its full chapter context. See the verses before and after, plus historical setting and flow of thought.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
— Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
Where This Verse Sits
Ephesians 2:8-9 appears in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8. Paul wrote Ephesians around AD 60-62 from Roman imprisonment. Ephesus was home to the massive Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, where worshippers performed elaborate rituals to earn their goddess's favor. Paul's declaration that salvation is 'not of works' directly contradicted both pagan religion and Jewish legalism prevalent in the city.
The Verse Itself
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
— Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
Flow of the Passage
To grasp Ephesians 2:8-9 fully, read it inside the surrounding paragraph. The verses before set up the argument, and the verses after show its outworking. Ephesians 2 as a whole carries forward the theme of salvation, and this single verse is one beat in that larger movement.
Paul clearly states that salvation is entirely a gift from God, received through faith. Works cannot earn salvation; they are the result of salvation, not the cause.
Cross-References
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