Ephesians 2:4

KJV

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

— Ephesians 2:4, King James Version
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Ephesians 2:4 (King James Version).

"Ephesians 2:4." King James Version. Web.

Ephesians 2:4, King James Version.

Study Note

The pivot from the dark diagnosis of human fallenness (2:1-3) to salvation is introduced with a magnificent theological conjunction: 'But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.' The contrast structure — dead (verse 1-3) / alive (verse 4-6) — mirrors Romans 5-6 and Colossians 2:13 as the Pauline framework for understanding conversion as death-to-life transformation. The motivation is entirely divine: not human seeking but divine mercy and love as the initiating cause. The verse is crucial for soteriology because it establishes that the basis of salvation is God's character ('rich in mercy') and action ('made us alive') rather than human readiness or response.

Other Translations

ASV

but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

YLT

and God, being rich in kindness, because of His great love with which He loved us,

BBE

But God, being full of mercy, through the great love which he had for us,

Cross References

Isaiah 55:8

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

Isaiah 55:6

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us …

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with …

1 John 4:19

We love him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:10

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the …

Luke 1:78

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

Ezekiel 16:8

Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I …

Ezekiel 16:6

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou …

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath …