Ephesians 2:1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's 'you were dead in trespasses and sins' opens one of the New Testament's most penetrating diagnoses of the human condition before divine intervention. Spiritual death here is not metaphorical torpor but a positive orientation toward the 'prince of the power of the air' — an existence animated by a destructive spirit rather than the life-giving Spirit of God. The stark past tense ('were dead') stands in violent contrast with 'made alive together with Christ' in verse 5, structuring the entire passage around the miracle of divine quickening. Colossians 2:13 provides a near-identical formulation, confirming this is Paul's settled anthropology: without grace, humanity is corpse-like in its moral and spiritual incapacity.
Other Translations
And youdid he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,
Also you--being dead in the trespasses and the sins,
And to you did he give life, when you were dead through your wrongdoing and sins,
Cross References
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It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive …
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to …
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand …
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having …
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all …