Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 2:5

"even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved)," — Ephesians 2:5 (ASV)

Even when we were dead in sins. (See Barnes' commentary on Ephesians 2:1).

Compare to Romans 5:8. The construction here is: "God, who is rich in mercy, on account of the great love which he bore to us, even while we were dead in sin, has quickened us," etc. It does not mean that he quickened us when we were dead in sin, but that he loved us then and made provision for our salvation.

It was love for the children of wrath; love for those who had no love to return to him; love for the alienated and the lost. That is true love—the sincerest and the purest benevolence—love not like that of people, but such as only God bestows. People love their friends, their benefactors, their kindred—God loves his foes and seeks to do them good.

Hath quickened us. Has made us alive. (Ephesians 2:1).

Together with Christ. In connection with him, or by virtue of his being raised up from the grave. The meaning is that there was such a connection between Christ and those whom the Father had given to him, that his resurrection from the grave involved their resurrection to spiritual life. It was like raising up the head and the members—the whole body together. (See Barnes' commentary on Romans 6:5).

Everywhere in the New Testament, the close connection of the believer with Christ is affirmed. We are crucified with him. We die with him. We rise with him. We live with him. We reign with him. We are joint heirs with him. We share his sufferings on earth (1 Peter 4:13), and we share his glory with him on his throne (Revelation 3:21).

By grace ye are saved. The marginal note says, by whose. (See Barnes' commentary on Romans 3:24).

Paul's mind was full of the subject of salvation by grace, and he interjects it here, even in an argument, as a point which he would never have them lose sight of. The subject before him was one eminently adapted to bring this truth to mind; and though, in the course of his arguments, he had no time now to dwell on it, yet he would not allow any opportunity to pass without referring to it.