Ephesians 2:18
in Ephesians 2For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.
KJV
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
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This verse in Ephesians 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseHowever, it should not be thought possible to achieve perfect and complete reconciliation in this world.… The making of the new person in Christ will be fully consummated when earthly and heavenly things have been reconciled, when we come to the Father in one Spirit and with one affection and understanding.
This site's exposition
preached peace to you who were far away
on Ephesians 2:17-18
Verse 18 is a Trinitarian line, access to the Father through Him by one Spirit. Prosagoge, access, is the word for being led into a royal presence, and both peoples come in by the same introduction.
This site's exposition
access to the Father by one Spirit
Chrysostom stresses equal standing: Gentile and Jew come by one and the same grace. Henry divides the work, with Christ purchasing leave to come and the Spirit giving the heart and strength to come. Jerome places the full reconciliation beyond this world.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Both Jews and Gentiles "have access to the Father" through Christ himself. But how? "In one Spirit." For the Spirit, who is one with Christ, enters into us when we believe in Christ. We then feel God's presence, know God and worship God. Thus we …
"Peace," saith he, that "peace" which is towards God. He hath reconciled us. For the Lord Himself also saith, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you." And again, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." And again, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do." And again, "For the Father loveth you." These are so many evidences of peace. But how towards the Gentiles? "Because through Him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father," not ye less, and they more, but all by one and the same grace. The wrath He appeased by His death, and hath made us meet for the Father's love through the Spirit. Mark again, the "in" means "by" or "through." By Himself and the Spirit that is, He hath brought us unto the Father.
The Medieval Church2 voices
By His death He destroyed the enmity and then made us beloved to the Father through the Spirit, having graced us with the same grace. For He did not grant them more, as to those who were near, and us less, as to those who …
He indicates the cause and form of peace by saying "For by him we have access both," that is, the two peoples, "in one Spirit," meaning we are joined by the union of the Holy Spirit. "Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And hath broken down the middle wall of partition - Alluding to that wall of old, which separated the court of Israel from the court of the gentiles. Such a wall was the ceremonial law, which Christ had now taken away.
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For through him, we both - Jews and gentiles. Have access - Liberty of approaching, by the guidance and aid of one Spirit to God as our Father. Christ, the Spirit, and the Father, the three-one God, stand frequently in the same order.
For through him we both have an access, That is, both Jews and Gentiles; the Arabic version reads, "we both factions": being made one, and reconciled unto God, and having the Gospel of peace preached to both, they have through Christ freedom of access and boldness in it: by one Spirit unto the Father: they may come to God as the Father of spirits, and of mercies, who has made their souls or spirits, and bestowed his mercies on them in great abundance; and as the Father of Christ, and as their God and Father in Christ: and the rather they should consider him in this relation to them, in order to command in them a reverence and fear of him; to secure a freedom and liberty in their approach to him; and to encourage an holy boldness, and a fiducial confidence in him; and to teach them submission to his will: and their access to him is "through" Christ, who has made peace for them, and atonement for their sins; who has satisfied law and justice, and brought in an everlasting righteousness for them; so that there is nothing lies in their way to hinder them; and besides, he takes them as it were by the hand, and leads them into the presence of his Father, and presents their petitions for them, on whose account they have both audience and acceptance with God: and this access is also "by one Spirit"; the "Holy Spirit", as the Ethiopic version reads; and who is necessary in access to God, as a spirit of adoption, to enable and encourage souls to go to God as a father; and as a spirit of supplication, to teach both how to pray, and for what, as they should; and as a free spirit to give them liberty to speak their minds freely, and pour out their souls to God; and as a spirit of faith to engage them to pray in faith, and with holy boldness, confidence, and importunity; and he is said to be "one", both with respect to the persons to and by whom access is had, the Father and Christ […]
Our access is by the Holy Spirit. Christ purchased for us leave to come to God, and the Spirit gives us a heart to come and strength to come, even grace to serve God acceptably. Observe, We draw nigh to God, through Jesus Christ, by the help of the Spirit.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For through him - Christ Jesus, we both - Jews and Gentiles, have access by one Spirit - through the influence of the Holy Ghost, unto the Father - God Almighty. This text is a plain proof of the holy Trinity. Jews and Gentiles are to be presented unto God the Father; the Spirit of God works in their hearts, and prepares them for this presentation; and Jesus Christ himself introduces them. No soul can have access to God but by Jesus Christ, and he introduces none but such as receive his Holy Spirit.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Translate, "For it is through Him (Joh 14:6; Heb 10:19) that we have our access (Eph 3:12; Ro 5:2), both of us, in (that is, united in, that is, "by," 1Co 12:13, Greek) one Spirit to the Father," namely, as our common Father, reconciled to both alike; whence flows the removal of all separation between Jew and Gentile.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For through him - That is, he has secured this result that we have access to God. This he did by his death - reconciling us to God by the doctrines which he taught - acquainting us with God; and by his intercession in heaven - by which our “prayers gain acceptance” with him. We both have access - Both Jews and Gentiles; see the notes at Rom 5:2. We are permitted to approach God through him, or in his name. The Greek word here - προσαγωγή prosagōgē - relates properly to the introduction to, or audience which we are permitted to have with a prince or other person of high rank. This must be effected through an officer of court to whom the duty is entrusted. “Rosenmuller,” Alt und neu Morgenland, in loc. By one Spirit - By the aid of the same Spirit - the Holy Spirit; see notes, 1Co 12:4. Unto the Father - We are permitted to come and address God as our Father; see the Rom 8:15, note 26, note.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅτι | hoti | For | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἔχομεν | echomen | we have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προσαγωγὴν | prosagogen | access | G4318 → | |
| οἱ | hoi | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀμφότεροι | amphoteroi | both | G297 → | 14 times |
| ἐν | en | by | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἑνὶ | heni | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| πνεύματι | pneumati | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατέρα.¶ | patera | Father. | G3962 → | 410 times |
ὅτιFor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
δι᾽through
di᾽G1223 →664 times
αὐτοῦHim
autouG846 →5565 times
ἔχομενwe have
echomenG2192 →707 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
προσαγωγὴνaccess
prosagogenG4318 →
οἱ<the>
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἀμφότεροιboth
amphoteroiG297 →14 times
ἐνby
enG1722 →2738 times
ἑνὶone
heniG1520 →343 times
πνεύματιSpirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
πατέρα.¶Father.
pateraG3962 →410 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
7 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 14:6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
it leads to
- Acts 4:12
Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
- John 10:9
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
- John 11:25–26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
- John 1:4
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
- 1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son…
- Acts 4:12
Through
Romans 5:2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
it leads to
- Ephesians 3:12
In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
- Ephesians 3:12
Through
Ephesians 3:12In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
it leads to
- Romans 5:2
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
- Romans 5:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies32
On this verse
On this chapter
- The Pauline Epistles
- Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism
- Cut Off from Among His People
- Entering the Kingdom
- God and the Nations, from Abraham to the New Jerusalem
- God Dwelling with His People, from Eden to the New Jerusalem
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About Ephesians

This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.2.18; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 2:1-5; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.
