The Ephesian's Conversion Series

2. For by grace ye are saved through (the) faith. This is a firm declaration that they had been saved by grace through (the) faith. You notice I included the word “the” or “tas” in Greek parentheses. It is absent in most English translations of this verse, thereby not conveying the correct meaning of the text.

DEFINITION: The word “the” is a definite article in Greek. In this passage, it is “tas” or “ho.”

a. First, “For by grace ye are saved through (the) faith (Gr: dia tas pistis) or (the system of faith); it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8. Salvation is granted to the believers by God’s grace; in Christ; “through the system of faith” and, it is sealed by the “gift of the Holy Spirit.”

NOTE: See EGNT “for by grace ye are saved,” or “through the faith ye are saved,” Page 503. See references in the Reference Section.

b. Further, with the article's omission, one could conclude that their salvation by grace is through their faith alone. However, many scholars have concluded that “It is the system of faith” instead of “the system of law and works.” Paul affirms their salvation is “through the faith” and not “through works of the law or human merit.” Notice this author’s explanation...

1) B. W. Johnson wrote: “The definite article is found before faith in the Greek, showing that the faith, or the gospel, is meant...The grammatical construction of the Greek does not allow us to make “faith” the subject of the last clause. It is not (our) “faith,” but “salvation through the faith,” which is the gift of God,” Page 472. We will revisit this reference later in this lesson.

2) Paul’s declaration: “For by grace are ye saved through the faith; and that not of yourselves,” Ephesians 2:8. In this he asserts that it’s through God’s “quickening” or “making us alive” while together with Christ, that “by grace we were saved,” Ephesians 2:5. Or, the obedient believer has been granted access through the faith into the “grace of God,” Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12.

c. Next, the Ephesians were saved by grace through the system of faith— “not of works, lest any man should boast,” Ephesians 2:9. Now, let me state that the earliest manuscripts include the article “the” in the phrase: “by grace ye are saved through the faith”—and translated it accurately in Ephesians 2:8.

1) to mention a few (Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550; Scrivener's Textus Receptus 1894; Greek Orthodox Church 1904, etc.).

2) These manuscripts include the article “the” before the word “faith” – and after the word “through” in our text, - or “through the faith,” Ephesians 2:8. Signifying – the doctrine of faith – not belief only!

3) Textus Receptus means – “the Received Text, because of the words “Textum…ab omibus receptum,” occurring in the preface of many earlier editions. (The Englishman’s Greek New Testament, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, First Printing 1970, p. v., of the Introduction).

d. Finally, Paul’s message to the Galatians is: “The hearing of faith.” He wrote: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” See Galatians 3:1-2. He asks the Galatians: