Ephesians 2:22 kjv

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:22 nkjv

in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:22 niv

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:22 esv

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:22 nlt

Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2 verses

Ephesians 2 22 Meaning

Ephesians 2:22 proclaims that Gentile believers, alongside Jewish believers, are being continuously integrated and constructed into a sacred spiritual structure. This structure is designated as a permanent dwelling place for God, with the very power and activity of the Holy Spirit enabling this divine inhabitation and ongoing communal building. It emphasizes the active, unifying work of the Triune God in creating His new humanity.

Ephesians 2 22 Context

Ephesians chapter 2 details the profound spiritual transformation and reconciliation that has occurred through Christ. It starkly contrasts the believers' former state of spiritual death and alienation (Eph 2:1-3, 11-12) with their new life in Christ, characterized by grace, spiritual vivification, and inclusion into God's household (Eph 2:4-10, 13, 19). Central to this chapter is the breaking down of the "dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:14) between Jews and Gentiles. Through the cross, Christ created "one new humanity" (Eph 2:15) and granted both groups equal access to the Father through one Spirit (Eph 2:18). Verse 22 acts as the culmination of this idea, presenting the church—comprised of both Jew and Gentile—not just as citizens or members of God's household, but as the very spiritual building, the dwelling place, where God Himself resides. It builds on the architectural metaphors introduced in Eph 2:20-21 (foundation, cornerstone, growing holy temple) to depict the ongoing, active formation of this corporate dwelling. Historically, the Jewish concept of God's dwelling was centered on the Temple; this verse radically redefines it as the living, corporate body of believers, a dynamic entity built by the divine.

Ephesians 2 22 Word analysis

• in whom (ἐν ᾧ, en hō): This refers back to Christ Jesus (Eph 2:20). It signifies that union with Christ is the essential sphere, ground, or instrument for this building process. Apart from Christ, no such construction is possible or meaningful. It underscores Christ's centrality in bringing together His people.
• you also (καὶ ὑμεῖς, kai hymeis): The "you" refers specifically to the Gentiles (the audience of this letter, alongside Jewish believers), previously depicted as alienated and without hope (Eph 2:11-12). The "also" stresses their equal inclusion with Jewish believers who were "built" earlier, highlighting that God's new dwelling encompasses both formerly separated groups.
• are being built together (συνοικοδομεῖσθε, syn-oikodomeisthe):
  • syn- (συν): Prefix meaning "with," "together." Emphasizes the corporate and unified nature of the construction. Believers are not built individually in isolation, but in cohesion.
  • oikodomeisthe (οἰκοδομεῖσθε): From oikos (house) and demō (to build). This is a present passive indicative verb.
    • Present tense: Indicates an ongoing, continuous process. The church is not a finished product but is constantly being built and growing.
    • Passive voice: Shows that God is the primary agent, the divine builder. Believers are the objects of this building, empowered by God. It is God's work in them.
    • Architectural metaphor: Depicts believers as living stones, each fitted and integrated into a collective structure.
• into a dwelling place (εἰς κατοικητήριον, eis katoikētērion):
  • eis (εἰς): "Into," denotes purpose or result. The ultimate goal of this construction.
  • katoikētērion (κατοικητήριον): From kata (down, in) and oikeō (to dwell). A strong and specific term for a permanent residence or habitation. More emphatic than a temporary lodging (skēnē, as in Tabernacle). It conveys God's intent for a settled, permanent, and intimate presence among His people. In the Septuagint (LXX), this word is used in Exod 15:17 to describe God's dwelling on Mount Zion, echoing Old Testament Temple theology. This is no longer a physical building made of stone, but a spiritual one made of living, reconciled people.
• for God (τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Theou): The genitive case here signifies possession or purpose. It's God's dwelling place, and it's being built for God. This structure's ultimate purpose is to serve as the space where God Himself tabernacles among His people. This radically shifts the focus from humanity's efforts to please God to God's gracious act of making His abode with humanity.
• by the Spirit (ἐν Πνεύματι, en Pneumati): The preposition en (ἐν) here most strongly denotes the means, sphere, or agency.
  • Agency: The Holy Spirit is the active, divine force empowering this entire building process. He gives life, unites believers, sanctifies them, and facilitates the divine indwelling. Without the Spirit's power, this spiritual construction cannot happen.
  • Sphere: Believers are built in the spiritual reality that the Spirit creates and maintains.
  • Indwelling: The Spirit Himself is the means by which God (Father and Son) dwells in the collective body of believers. This aligns with John 14:23, where Christ promises that He and the Father will make their home with those who love Him, and this is actualized through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2 22 Bonus section

The metaphor of the church as God's spiritual temple or dwelling place stands in stark contrast to pagan worship practices that built physical temples for deities or imperial figures. Paul emphasizes that the true God does not dwell in structures made by human hands (Acts 17:24), but rather chooses to inhabit a living, dynamic community formed by His grace and Spirit. This spiritual building is "holy" not because of rituals performed within it, but because God Himself makes it holy through His indwelling presence and continuous building work. Furthermore, the emphasis on the Spirit as the agent implies that the life, unity, and worship of this dwelling are spiritual, vibrant, and empowered by divine energy, not by human effort alone. It's a continuous work of the Triune God: through Christ as the foundation, by the Spirit as the means, ultimately for God the Father as the occupant.

Ephesians 2 22 Commentary

Ephesians 2:22 marks the climactic theological statement on the Church as the new locus of God's presence. Building upon the declaration that Gentiles are now fellow citizens and members of God's household, this verse elevates their inclusion to a profound spiritual reality: together, both Jew and Gentile, they constitute God's actual, living habitation. This is a deliberate redefinition of God's dwelling from the physical Temple of old to the dynamic, spiritual community of reconciled believers. The construction is active and ongoing ("are being built together"), emphasizing a continual process of growth, maturation, and integration as individuals are transformed and connected by Christ. It is a work sovereignly initiated and sustained by God (passive voice), executed "by the Spirit," underscoring the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit as the divine architect and indweller, who enables this spiritual dwelling to be a place of true divine presence. The ultimate purpose of this unified, growing structure is "for God," implying that the Church's very existence and function are to house the presence of the Almighty, serving as His sanctuary, His unique home in the world. This profound reality underscores the sacredness and corporate identity of the church.

• Practical application: Recognize that our individual lives and collective church community are actively being shaped by God to be His residence. This calls for intentional unity, seeking to "be built together" in harmony and purpose. It also means stewarding the church as a place of holiness, where God's presence is honored and His Spirit can freely work. This reality gives immense purpose to gathering as believers and living out our faith together.