“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”
My Notes
What Does Ephesians 2:4 Mean?
Two of the most important words in Scripture: But God. After describing humanity as dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world, fulfilling the lusts of the flesh — Paul pivots. But God.
"Rich in mercy" describes not just mercy but abundance of it — richness, overflow, more than enough. God's mercy is not scarce. It is a resource so vast that Paul calls it riches.
"For his great love wherewith he loved us" identifies the motive: love. Not duty, not obligation, not grudging concession. Great love. The mercy flows from love, and the love is described as great — emphasizing its magnitude.
The verse sets up what follows (2:5-6): even when we were dead in sins, God made us alive with Christ, raised us up, and seated us in heavenly places. The dead were made alive. And the cause was not human effort but divine mercy driven by great love.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does 'but God' mean in the context of your own story — where did he intervene?
- 2.How does 'rich in mercy' change your view of God's capacity to forgive?
- 3.Why does Paul emphasize that the motive is love, not duty?
- 4.Where do you need to hear 'but God' right now — in what area does the diagnosis feel hopeless?
Devotional
But God. Two words that change everything. After the diagnosis — dead in sins, enslaved to the world, following the devil, fulfilling the flesh — the sentence pivots. But God.
Rich in mercy. Not poor in mercy. Not reluctant with mercy. Rich. Overflowing. More mercy than you could use in a thousand lifetimes.
For his great love wherewith he loved us. The mercy is not cold or clinical. It is driven by love — great love, the kind that sees everything wrong with you and moves toward you anyway.
This is the hinge of the gospel. The bad news is real — dead in sins, no capacity to save yourself. And then: but God. The intervention comes from outside. The mercy comes from above. The love arrives uninvited, unexpected, and aimed directly at the dead.
If your story has a 'dead in sins' chapter — and every story does — then your story also has a 'but God' chapter. The death is real. But God is richer. The sin is genuine. But God's love is greater.
But God. The two words that rewrite every hopeless diagnosis.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
But God, who is rich in mercy,.... Mercy is a perfection of the divine nature, and is essential to God; and may be…
But God, who is rich in mercy - On the use of the word “rich” by Paul, see the notes at Eph 1:7. It is a beautiful…
But God, who is rich in mercy - As they were corrupt in their nature, and sinful in their practice, they could possess…
Here the apostle begins his account of the glorious change that was wrought in them by converting grace, where…
But God The Divine counter-fact now comes in, brighter for the awful contrast.
who is rich in mercy See note on…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture