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Verse

Ephesians 2:19

ESV So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
NIV Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household,
NASB So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
CSB So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household,
NLT So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
KJV Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

What does Ephesians 2:19 mean?

Paul offers two negatives paralleled by two positives in this verse. Before Christ, Paul's Gentile readers were unknown outsiders. They had no connection to God, being spiritually dead, and not part of His chosen nation of Israel. These flaws were replaced with blessings at the point of salvation.

First, they are "fellow citizens." In the Roman Empire, Roman citizenship was very important (Acts 16:37–38; 21:39; 22:25–29; 23:27). Citizens of a nation have rights and benefits which non-citizens do not enjoy. A person could be born a citizen or could earn citizenship at a price. Through salvation in Jesus, these Gentiles were now citizens in the family of God, along with all other believers. Paul also mentioned the believer's heavenly citizenship in Philippians 3:20.

Second, they were now family members. Though the Greek word for household could refer to family members and household servants, the focus here is on being a valued family member. Saved Gentiles were now official citizens of God's kingdom and were members of His family, equal with all other believers.
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