Fathers

Ephesians 2

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And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

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What the Fathers say

Ephesians 2:6

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"He raised us up with Him and made us sit with Him." Beholdest thou the glory of His inheritance? That "He hath raised us up together," is plain. But that He "hath made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," how does this hold? It holds as truly, as that He hath raised us together. For as yet no one is actually raised, excepting that inasmuch as the Head hath risen, we also are raised, just as in the history, when Jacob did obeisance, his wife also did obeisance to Joseph. …

Homily on Ephesians 4 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Since the firstfruits and the head, Christ, I say, has been raised, God also raised us through Him; in exactly the same way, if the head sits, the whole body sits together with it. Therefore he says: "in Christ Jesus," that is, because He is seated, we also are seated. Or else: "raised us up with Him" should be understood not as referring to resurrection, but to being made alive through baptism. But how then "seated us"? "If we endure," he says, "we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12). …

Commentary on Ephesians ↗

Cosmas Indicopleustes

He hath raised us up with Him and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places.

The Christian Topography, Book 5 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Above he said that God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand.… Some may ask how God who has saved us and raised us with him has also made us sit with Christ. A simple response would be indeed that, in the light of God's foreknowledge, Paul is speaking of what is to come as though it had already been done.… One who understands the resurrection and the kingdom of Christ spiritually does not scruple to say that the saints already sit and reign with Christ! …

Commentary on Ephesians 2:1-5 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Regarding the second, he says "and has raised us up together" with Christ—for the soul this has happened in reality, in hope the body awaits it. "He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you" (Rom 8:11). In respect to the third he asserts "and has made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," now through hope, and in the future in reality. For, as John 12:26 puts it: "Where I am, there also will my servant be. …

Commentary on Ephesians ↗