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what were the common ideas about earning divine favor in the ephesian world?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Ephesians 2:8-9

for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Ephesus, a prominent city in Asia Minor known for its diverse religious practices and the massive temple of Artemis. In this section, Paul is explaining how people come into a relationship with God, emphasizing that it's not through human effort but divine generosity.

What does this passage reveal about the source of true spiritual well-being, contrasting with common human assumptions about earning it?

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Read alongside it

  • Romans 3:23-24

    Echoes the theme that all have sinned and are justified freely by God's grace.

  • Titus 3:5

    Reinforces that salvation is not by works of righteousness but by God's mercy.

  • Galatians 2:16

    States that people are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law.

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