In Greek this verse begins a sentence which ends at the end of verse 22. This section uses various figures to describe the new humanity that has been created by the reconciling work of Christ.

Since the paragraph beginning with verse 19 is a type of conclusion to 2.11-18, it is often appropriate to render So then as “And so as a result” or “And because of this” or “And hence as a result.”

Foreigners or strangers: the first noun appears also in verse 12 (Revised Standard Version “strangers to the covenants”); here it has the meaning of foreigners, people of another tribe or country; the second noun (also Acts 7.6, 29; 1 Peter 2.11; and nowhere else in the New Testament) denotes resident aliens, people who live more or less permanently in a foreign city or country and have acquired certain rights but who are not full citizens.

In some languages the same word is used for foreigners and strangers; in such languages it may be necessary to say “strangers as visitors from another country.” And in some instances it may be important to specify to whom individuals are foreigners or strangers, for example, “you Gentiles are no longer foreigners or strangers to God’s people.”

The Gentiles are now fellow citizens with God’s people, which reverses the condition expressed by foreigners; here the figure is that of a city or a country. The next figure is that of a family: members of the family of God.

The expression fellow citizens with God’s people may be expressed as “those who form one nation with God’s people” or “those who form the same tribe with God’s people.” Or else a simile may be used, as follows: “You Gentiles are not like foreigners or strangers any more; it is now as though you and God’s people were from the same country and are members of the family of God.”

Members of the family of God may be expressed as “people who belong to God’s family” or “persons who are part of God’s family.” However, in some languages the term “family” implies both preceding as well as following generations, and therefore it may be inappropriate to use such figurative language. Therefore one may be required to speak of “being the children of God.”

Fellow citizens translates a Greek word which appears only here in the New Testament; God’s people translates “the saints” (see 1.1); and members of the family translates a Greek word which means “people of the house (or home),” a word which occurs in the New Testament only here and in Galatians 6.10; 1 Timothy 5.8.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .