By Mark W. Christy
In the theological divide that separates Arminians and Calvinists, Ephesians 2:8 serves as a major battleground. In this verse, Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”[i] Since both sides tend to agree that Paul is discussing the role of grace and faith in relation to salvation, this article will focus on whether saving faith, as mentioned in this verse, is solely a gift of God or simply some form of divine enablement awaiting a freewill response.
Before considering this verse in detail, it will be helpful to introduce it by looking at the context that precedes it. In Ephesians 2:1-2, Paul refers to the unregenerated as spiritually dead in their sin and trapped under Satan’s dominion in spiritual darkness. Addressing his saved audience in v.3, he points out that they too had formerly been numbered among those who remain spiritually dead. In v.4, he introduces the Agent of change who caused his saved audience to no longer be “by nature children of wrath” (v.3). That Agent, God, chose of His own volition to love those who had been trapped in darkness and now number among the redeemed (v.4).
Such was the redeeming power of His love that “even when [Christians] were dead in [their] transgressions, made [them] alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised [them] up with Him, and seated [them] with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (v.5-7). Giving sole glory to God for the salvation of all believers (“by grace you have been saved”), Paul makes no mention of any response from the believers themselves and notes God’s willful choice to love His saved audience despite them having been wholly given over to darkness in their former state.
The complete absence of any human role in the salvation response in the context leading up to v.8 would suggest that Arminians may need to look elsewhere for validation of their views. Even so, those who wish to mount any sort of credible defense of their views have no choice but to strive to ensure that v.8 is not in fact undermining their position. To consider their common approach to handling this verse, one must first consider the grammar that lies behind the English translation.
In v.8, “grace” and “faith” are both feminine singular nouns. “[T]hat,” in the phrase, “and that not of yourselves,” is a neuter singular demonstrative pronoun. Typically, a neuter pronoun should modify a neuter noun. Since there are no neuter nouns for “that” to modify, then it must be modifying the entire initial clause, “for grace you have been saved through faith.” Since “it,” in the phrase “it is the gift of God” refers back to “that,” both phrases that proceed the main clause, “and that not of yourselves” and “it is the gift of God,” collectively modify the main clause in its entirety.
Since the grammar suggests that Paul is not directly stating that faith itself is a gift of God, Arminians may be tempted breathe a sigh of relief given their contention that faith arises from the human will. Paul, however, is not at this time positing faith as a gift even though such affirmations are found elsewhere (cf. Rom 10:17; Acts 3:16; Eph 2:8-9; Phil 1:29; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Tim 1:13-14; 2 Pet 1:1). Instead, Paul is teaching that the salvation process as a whole, including the human response of faith, is wholly a work of God’s grace, hence he can add in v.9, that the grace which saved you through faith is “not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
In conclusion, a proper understanding of Ephesians 2:8-9 only further confirms the Calvinistic position. Even though the passage does not directly refer to faith itself as a gift, it does show that faith is an inclusive part of God’s grace, and therefore, it is itself a gift in this way. Given the larger context of these verses which affirm the Calvinistic position on the doctrine of total depravity and the absolute necessity of God’s regenerating work to occur before a person’s salvation, Arminians would be well-advised to revisit their theology and reconsider it in light of Paul’s clear teaching in Ephesians 2:8-9.
[i]All Scripture references are taken from NASB1995.