Ephesians 2:19
in Ephesians 2Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
KJV
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
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This verse in Ephesians 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verseOnce he has made it clear that the Gentiles have been admitted to spiritual blessings together with the Jews (2:13), he goes on to teach that in these blessings the Gentiles are not of less eminence than the Jews themselves; they enjoy a completely equal …
This site's exposition
no more strangers and foreigners
on Ephesians 2:19-20
The five privations of verse 12 are answered: fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. The house rests on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the readings dividing over whether the prophets are the Old Testament's or the church's own named at 3:5 and 4:11, and the near mention favors the latter with many. Jesus Christ himself is the chief corner stone, the stone of Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22, the one piece that sets every line of the building.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Believers become "fellow citizens" in a way analogous to all those who desired the peace of Rome. They brought gifts and were accepted as Roman citizens, as were the people of Cilician Tarsus. Paul was a Roman citizen of that city. So too anyone who …
What are we to understand by "fellow citizens with the saints?" It implies a distinction between citizens and saints. But if this is so, who are the saints and who are the citizens? Saints refers to the apostles, prophets and all who formerly experienced God …
Perceive ye that it is not with the Jews simply, no, but with those saintly and great men, such as Abraham, and Moses, and Elias? It is for the self-same city with these we are enrolled, for that we declare ourselves. "For they that say such things," saith he, "make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own." No longer are we strangers from the saints, nor foreigners. For they who shall not attain to heavenly blessings, are foreigners. "For the Son," saith Christ, "abideth for ever." "And of the household," he continues, "of God." The very thing which they at the first had, by means of so many toils and troubles, hath been for you accomplished by the grace of God. Behold the hope of your calling.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Since the Son abides forever, those who do not attain the heavenly city are strangers and sojourners. But we are not such now, but rather fellow citizens with the saints; not simply of the Jews, but of their saints — the patriarchs and prophets — …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Observe here, The church is compared to a city, and every converted sinner is free of it. It is also compared to a house, and every converted sinner is one of the domestics, one of the family, a servant and a child in God's house.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Now therefore ye are no more strangers.....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners - You are reckoned with the people of God. You are entitled to their privileges, and are not to be regarded as outcasts and aliens. The meaning is, that they belonged to the same community - the same family - as the people of God. The word rendered “strangers” - ξένοι xenoi - means “foreigners in state,” as opposed to citizens.
Ye are no more strangers - In this chapter the Church of God is compared to a city, which, has a variety of privileges, rights, etc., founded on regular charters and grants. The Gentiles, having believed in Christ, are all incorporated with the believing Jews in this holy city. Formerly, when any of them came to Jerusalem, being ξενοι, strangers, they had no kind of rights whatever; nor could they, as mere heathens, settle among them. Again, if any of them, convinced of the errors of the Gentiles, acknowledged the God of Israel, but did not receive circumcision, he might dwell in the land, but he had no right to the blessings of the covenant; such might be called παροικοι, sojourners - persons who have no property in the land, and may only rent a house for the time being. Fellow citizens with the saints - Called to the enjoyment of equal privileges with the Jews themselves, who, by profession, were a holy people; who were bound to be holy, and therefore are often called saints, or holy persons, when both their hearts and conduct were far from being right in the sight of God. But the saints spoken of here are the converted or Christianized Jews. Of the household of God - The house of God is the temple; the temple was a type of the Christian Church; this is now become God’s house; all genuine believers are considered as being οικειοι, domestics, of this house, the children and servants of God Almighty, having all equal rights, privileges, and advantages; as all, through one Spirit, by the sacred head of the family, had equal access to God, and each might receive as much grace and as much glory as his soul could possibly contain.
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἄρα | ara | So | G686 → | |
| οὖν | oun | then | G3767 → | 497 times |
| οὐκέτι | ouketi | no longer | G3756 →G2089 → | 1664 times |
| ἐστὲ | este | are you | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ξένοι | xenoi | strangers | G3581 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πάροικοι, | paroikoi | aliens, | G3941 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐστὲ | este | are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| συμπολῖται | sumpolitai | fellow citizens | G4847 → | |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίων | hagion | saints | G40 → | 220 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἰκεῖοι | oikeioi | of the household | G3609 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
ἌραSo
araG686 →
οὖνthen
ounG3767 →497 times
οὐκέτιno longer
ἐστὲare you
esteG1510 →2333 times
ξένοιstrangers
xenoiG3581 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πάροικοι,aliens,
paroikoiG3941 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐστὲare
esteG1510 →2333 times
συμπολῖταιfellow citizens
sumpolitaiG4847 →
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίωνsaints
hagionG40 →220 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἰκεῖοιof the household
oikeioiG3609 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 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
1 John 3:1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is…
it leads to
- John 1:12
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Corinthians 6:18
And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
- Galatians 4:5–6
to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 1:12
Through
Galatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
- Hebrews 13:16
Through
Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
it leads to
- Colossians 3:1–3
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
- Colossians 3:1–3
Where this verse is studied
About Ephesians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.19; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.2.19; John Calvin, Commentary on Ephesians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.