The Meaning of Ephesians 2:6 Explained

Ephesians 2:6

KJV: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

YLT: and did raise us up together, and did seat us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Darby: and has raised us up together, and has made us sit down together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,

ASV: and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places , in Christ Jesus:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  hath raised [us] up together,  and  made [us] sit together  in  heavenly  [places] in  Christ  Jesus: 

What does Ephesians 2:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God has, second, raised up believers with Christ. This describes our spiritual, not physical experience. He will yet raise us physically, but spiritually He has already raised us to a new type of life (cf. Colossians 3:1-2). Like our Lord"s resurrection life, ours is also powerful and eternal.
Third, God has seated us in the heavenly realms with Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:20). That is where our heavenly citizenship lies ( Philippians 3:20) and where our final home is. What Christ did physically (i.e, died, arose, and took His seat in heaven) God has already done for the believer spiritually. The fact that God enabled Christ to do these things physically should help us believe that He has done these things for us spiritually.

Context Summary

Ephesians 2:1-10 - What Grace Has Done
Evidently dead men may walk; that is, they may be dead to the eternal world but alive to this world, which is moving past like the films of a moving picture. The death of the spirit is compatible with much active interest in the course of this world. Behind the shifting scenes of the material is the great enemy of souls. As the Spirit of God works in the obedient, so does the evil spirit work in the disobedient. Note this trinity of evil-the course of this world, the lusts of our flesh, and the prince of the power of the air. If we desire to save men, we must be in living union with the all-conquering Spirit of Christ.
Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ's work, Ephesians 2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God's thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so. All this is the gift of God's unmerited love. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it. We are of God's "making;" such is the Greek word for workmanship, Ephesians 2:10. We have been created for good works; they have been planned for us and we have only to walk in them. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 2

1  By comparing what we were by nature, with what we are by grace,
10  he declares that we are made for good works: and being brought near by Christ,
19  should not live as Gentiles and foreigners, but as citizens with the saints, and the family of God

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 2:6

In Christ Jesus [εν Χριστωι Ιησου]
All the preceding turns on this phrase. See note on Colossians 3:1 for the word συνηγειρεν — sunēgeiren [source]
Made to sit with him [συνεκατισεν]
First aorist active indicative of συνκατιζω — sunkathizō old causative verb, but in N.T. only here and Luke 22:55. [source]
Raised us up []
Compare Romans 6:5. [source]
Made us sit together [συνεκάθισεν]
Compare set Him, Ephesians 1:20. Together is ambiguous. Render with Him, as Rev. “Even now we sit there in Him, and shall sit with Him in the end” (Andrews, cited by Ellicott). Compare Romans 8:30; Revelation 3:21. Meyer renders hath given us joint seat. [source]
In Christ Jesus []
Connect with raised up, made us sit, and in heavenly places. Resurrection, enthronement, heaven, all are in Christ. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 2:6

Luke 2:34 The fall and rising again [πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν]
For the fall, because he will be a stumbling-block to many (Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 21:42, Matthew 21:44; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 1:23). For the rising, because many will be raised up through him to life and glory (Romans 6:4, Romans 6:9; Ephesians 2:6). The A. V. predicates the falling and the rising of the same persons: the fall and rising again of many. The Rev., the falling and rising up of many, is ambiguous. The American Revisers give it correctly: the falling and the rising. [source]
Luke 2:34 Is set for the falling and the rising up of many in Israel [Κειται εις πτωσιν και αναστασιν πολλων εν τωι Ισραηλ]
Present indicative of the old defective verb appearing only in present and imperfect in the N.T. Sometimes it is used as the passive of τιτημι — tithēmi as here. The falling of some and the rising up of others is what is meant. He will be a stumbling-block to some (Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 21:42, Matthew 21:44; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:16.) who love darkness rather than light (John 3:19), he will be the cause of rising for others (Romans 6:4, Romans 6:9; Ephesians 2:6). “Judas despairs, Peter repents: one robber blasphemes, the other confesses” (Plummer). Jesus is the magnet of the ages. He draws some, he repels others. This is true of all epoch-making men to some extent. [source]
1 Corinthians 15:48 As is the earthly [οιος ο χοικος]
Masculine gender because of αντρωπος — anthrōpos and correlative pronouns Christ in his ascended state (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 2:20; Philemon 3:20.). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

Ephesians 1:3 In the heavenly places [ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις]
Another keyword; one of the dominant thoughts of the epistle being the work of the ascended Christ. Places is supplied, the Greek meaning in the heavenlies. Some prefer to supply things, as more definitely characterizing spiritual blessing. But in the four other passages where the phrase occurs, Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12, the sense is local, and ἐπουράνιος heavenlyis local throughout Paul's epistles. The meaning is that the spiritual blessings of God are found in heaven and are brought thence to us. Compare Philemon 3:20. [source]
Ephesians 1:3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [ο τεος και πατηρ του Κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου]
Και — Kai is genuine here, though not in Colossians 1:3. The one article First aorist active participle of ευλογεω — eulogeō the same word, antecedent action to the doxology (ευλογητος — eulogētos). With So-called instrumental use of εν — en though in is clear. Every spiritual blessing (πασηι ευλογιαι πνευματικηι — pasēi eulogiāi pneumatikēi). Third use of the root ευλογ — eulog (verbal, verb, substantive). Paul lovingly plays with the idea. The believer is a citizen of heaven and the spiritual blessings count for most to him. In the heavenly places in Christ In four other places in Ephesians (Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12). This precise phrase (with εν — en) occurs nowhere else in the N.T. and has a clearly local meaning in Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10, doubtful in Ephesians 6:12, but probably so here. In Ephesians 2:6 the believer is conceived as already seated with Christ. Heaven is the real abode of the citizen of Christ‘s kingdom (Philemon 3:20) who is a stranger on earth (Philemon 1:27; Ephesians 2:19). The word επουρανιος — epouranios (heavenly) occurs in various passages in the N.T. in contrast with τα επιγεια — ta epigeia (the earthly) as in John 3:12; 1 Corinthians 15:40, 1 Corinthians 15:48, 1 Corinthians 15:49; Philemon 2:10, with πατρις — patris (country) in Hebrews 11:16, with κλησις — klēsis (calling) in Hebrews 3:1, with δωρεα — dōrea (gift) in Hebrews 6:4, with βασιλεια — basileia (kingdom) in 2 Timothy 4:18. [source]
Ephesians 1:3 With [εν]
So-called instrumental use of εν — en though in is clear. Every spiritual blessing (πασηι ευλογιαι πνευματικηι — pasēi eulogiāi pneumatikēi). Third use of the root ευλογ — eulog (verbal, verb, substantive). Paul lovingly plays with the idea. The believer is a citizen of heaven and the spiritual blessings count for most to him. In the heavenly places in Christ In four other places in Ephesians (Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12). This precise phrase (with εν — en) occurs nowhere else in the N.T. and has a clearly local meaning in Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10, doubtful in Ephesians 6:12, but probably so here. In Ephesians 2:6 the believer is conceived as already seated with Christ. Heaven is the real abode of the citizen of Christ‘s kingdom (Philemon 3:20) who is a stranger on earth (Philemon 1:27; Ephesians 2:19). The word επουρανιος — epouranios (heavenly) occurs in various passages in the N.T. in contrast with τα επιγεια — ta epigeia (the earthly) as in John 3:12; 1 Corinthians 15:40, 1 Corinthians 15:48, 1 Corinthians 15:49; Philemon 2:10, with πατρις — patris (country) in Hebrews 11:16, with κλησις — klēsis (calling) in Hebrews 3:1, with δωρεα — dōrea (gift) in Hebrews 6:4, with βασιλεια — basileia (kingdom) in 2 Timothy 4:18. [source]
Ephesians 1:3 in []
is clear. Every spiritual blessing (πασηι ευλογιαι πνευματικηι — pasēi eulogiāi pneumatikēi). Third use of the root ευλογ — eulog (verbal, verb, substantive). Paul lovingly plays with the idea. The believer is a citizen of heaven and the spiritual blessings count for most to him. In the heavenly places in Christ In four other places in Ephesians (Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12). This precise phrase (with εν — en) occurs nowhere else in the N.T. and has a clearly local meaning in Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10, doubtful in Ephesians 6:12, but probably so here. In Ephesians 2:6 the believer is conceived as already seated with Christ. Heaven is the real abode of the citizen of Christ‘s kingdom (Philemon 3:20) who is a stranger on earth (Philemon 1:27; Ephesians 2:19). The word επουρανιος — epouranios (heavenly) occurs in various passages in the N.T. in contrast with τα επιγεια — ta epigeia (the earthly) as in John 3:12; 1 Corinthians 15:40, 1 Corinthians 15:48, 1 Corinthians 15:49; Philemon 2:10, with πατρις — patris (country) in Hebrews 11:16, with κλησις — klēsis (calling) in Hebrews 3:1, with δωρεα — dōrea (gift) in Hebrews 6:4, with βασιλεια — basileia (kingdom) in 2 Timothy 4:18. [source]
Ephesians 1:3 In the heavenly places in Christ [εν τοις επουρανιοις εν Χριστωι]
In four other places in Ephesians (Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12). This precise phrase (with εν — en) occurs nowhere else in the N.T. and has a clearly local meaning in Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10, doubtful in Ephesians 6:12, but probably so here. In Ephesians 2:6 the believer is conceived as already seated with Christ. Heaven is the real abode of the citizen of Christ‘s kingdom (Philemon 3:20) who is a stranger on earth (Philemon 1:27; Ephesians 2:19). The word επουρανιος — epouranios (heavenly) occurs in various passages in the N.T. in contrast with τα επιγεια — ta epigeia (the earthly) as in John 3:12; 1 Corinthians 15:40, 1 Corinthians 15:48, 1 Corinthians 15:49; Philemon 2:10, with πατρις — patris (country) in Hebrews 11:16, with κλησις — klēsis (calling) in Hebrews 3:1, with δωρεα — dōrea (gift) in Hebrews 6:4, with βασιλεια — basileia (kingdom) in 2 Timothy 4:18. [source]
Colossians 2:13 He quickened together [συνεζωοποίησεν]
Only here and Ephesians 2:5. Endowed with a new spiritual life, as Colossians 2:12. This issues in immortal life. Compare Ephesians 2:6. [source]
Colossians 2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism [συνταπεντες αυτωι εν τωι βαπτισματι]
Second aorist passive participle of συνταπτω — sunthaptō old word, in N.T. only here and Romans 6:4, followed by associative instrumental case Thayer‘s Lexicon says: “For all who in the rite of baptism are plunged under the water, thereby declare that they put faith in the expiatory death of Christ for the pardon of their past sins.” Yes, and for all future sins also. This word gives Paul‘s vivid picture of baptism as a symbolic burial with Christ and resurrection also to newness of life in him as Paul shows by the addition “wherein ye were also raised with him” “In which baptism” First aorist passive indicative of συνεγειρω — sunegeirō late and rare verb (Plutarch for waking up together), in lxx, in N.T. only in Colossians 2:12; Colossians 3:1; Ephesians 2:6. In the symbol of baptism the resurrection to new life in Christ is pictured with an allusion to Christ‘s own resurrection and to our final resurrection. Paul does not mean to say that the new life in Christ is caused or created by the act of baptism. That is grossly to misunderstand him. The Gnostics and the Judaizers were sacramentalists, but not so Paul the champion of spiritual Christianity. He has just given the spiritual interpretation to circumcision which itself followed Abraham‘s faith (Romans 4:10-12). Cf. Galatians 3:27. Baptism gives a picture of the change already wrought in the heart “through faith” (δια της πιστεως — dia tēs pisteōs). [source]
Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things [οἵτινες ὑποδείγματι καί σκιᾷ λατρεύουσιν τῶν ἐπουρανίων]
The connection is, “there are those who offer the gifts according to the law, such as ( οἵτινες ) serve,” etc. For λατρεύουσιν servesee on 2 Timothy 1:3. Omit unto. Rend. serve the copy and shadow, etc., or, as Rev., that which is a copy and shadow. For ὑπόδειγμα copysee on 1 Peter 5:3; see on 2 Peter 2:6. Comp. Hebrews 9:23. Τῶν ἐπουρανίων “of heavenly things.” Τὰ ἐπουράνια in N.T. usually “heavenly places.” See Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12: “heavenly things,” John 3:12; Philemon 2:10; Hebrews 9:23. [source]
Hebrews 1:3 Sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high [ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης ἐν ὑψηλοῖς]
Comp. Psalm 110:1, Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; Ephesians 1:20; Revelation 3:21. The verb denotes a solemn, formal act; the assumption of a position of dignity and authority The reference is to Christ's ascension. In his exalted state he will still be bearing on all things toward their consummation, still dealing with sin as the great high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. This is elaborated later. See Hebrews 8:1-13; Hebrews 9:12ff. Μεγαλωσύνη majestyonly here, Hebrews 8:1; Judges 1:25. Quite often in lxx. There is suggested, not a contrast with his humiliation, but his resumption of his original dignity, described in the former part of this verse. Ἐν ὑψηλοῖς , lit. in the high places. Const. with sat down, not with majesty. The phrase N.T.olxx, Psalm 92:4; Psalm 112:5. Ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις inthe highest (places ), in the Gospels, and only in doxologies. See Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:10; Luke 2:14. Ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις inthe heavenly (places ), only in Ephesians. See Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12. [source]
Revelation 4:4 I saw four and twenty elders [εικοσι τεσσαρας πρεσβυτερους]
No ειδον — eidon in the text, but the accusative case calls for it. Twenty-four as a symbolic number occurs only in this book and only for these elders (Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 19:4). We do not really know why this number is chosen, perhaps two elders for each tribe, perhaps the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles (Judaism and Christianity), perhaps the twenty-four courses of the sons of Aaron (1 Chron 24:1-19), perhaps some angelic rank (Colossians 1:16) of which we know nothing. Cf. Ephesians 2:6. [source]
Revelation 4:4 Four and twenty thrones [τρονοι εικοσι τεσσαρες]
So P Q, but Aleph A have accusative τρονους — thronous (supply ειδον — eidon from Revelation 4:1) and τεσσαρες — tessares (late accusative in ες — ̇es). This further circle of thrones beyond the great throne.I saw four and twenty elders (εικοσι τεσσαρας πρεσβυτερους — eikosi tessaras presbuterous). No ειδον — eidon in the text, but the accusative case calls for it. Twenty-four as a symbolic number occurs only in this book and only for these elders (Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 19:4). We do not really know why this number is chosen, perhaps two elders for each tribe, perhaps the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles (Judaism and Christianity), perhaps the twenty-four courses of the sons of Aaron (1 Chron 24:1-19), perhaps some angelic rank (Colossians 1:16) of which we know nothing. Cf. Ephesians 2:6.Sitting Upon their thrones.Arrayed (περιβεβλημενους — peribeblēmenous). Perfect passive participle of περιβαλλω — periballō (to throw around).In white garments Locative case here as in Revelation 3:5 (with εν — en), though accusative in Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:13.Crowns of gold (στεπανους χρυσους — stephanous chrusous). Accusative case again like πρεσβυτερους — presbuterous after ειδον — eidon (Revelation 4:1), not ιδου — idou In Revelation 19:14 εχων — echōn (having) is added. John uses διαδημα — diadēma (diadem) for the kingly crown in Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 19:12, but it is not certain that the old distinction between διαδεμ — diadem as the kingly crown and στεπανος — stephanos as the victor‘s wreath is always observed in late Greek. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 2:6 mean?

and He raised [us] up together seated [us] together in the heavenly realms Christ Jesus
καὶ συνήγειρεν συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

συνήγειρεν  He  raised  [us]  up  together 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: συνεγείρω  
Sense: to raise together, to cause to raise together.
συνεκάθισεν  seated  [us]  together 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: περικαθίζω 
Sense: to cause to sit down together, place together.
ἐπουρανίοις  heavenly  realms 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: ἐπουράνιος  
Sense: existing in heaven.
Χριστῷ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.