Let's look at Ephesians 2:8 in context. We see its obvious Ephesians 2 is all focused on grace and salvation. Really all of Ephesians is focused on grace. This should be one warning that ephesians 2:8 may not be speaking on both faith and salvation as the gift. Paul had to include faith because part of how grace is to be given. But Paul was focusing on grace throughout the whole letter.
For by grace you are saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves; (it is) of God the gift.
The 2nd warning is given in the greek interlinear verse.
Grace and faith are both a noun, feminine, and singular.
Gift is a noun, neuter, and singular.
We have to first look and see that gift being neuter doesn't match feminine even though all three are singular.Only implying gift is matched to another word in the verse.
This is a demonstrative pronoun which is always followed by a noun This is neuter and singular which matches the following noun gift.
And so the gift is matched with this. But now the question is since this is singular and referring to one word or concept. But obviously, we can't know because grace and faith are feminine. So now we understand this must be referred to the concept of the subject at hand.
We have to study it in context to see is Paul speaking of at all inephesians about faith being the gift of God at any other point. In fact, he does not but is heavily focused on grace. So this is warning 3.
Warning four is seeing what the word gift is related to throughout the NT since the greek word in Ephesians 2:8 is used once. You do not have to go very far to finda example. In Ephesians 3:7
Ephesians 3:7New International Version (NIV)
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
Romans 6:23Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And so with all these clues pointing to gift being referred to a singular concept and in context it is obvious what this concept is. The gift is referred to grace.
For by grace you are saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves; (it is) of God the gift.
The 2nd warning is given in the greek interlinear verse.
Grace and faith are both a noun, feminine, and singular.
Gift is a noun, neuter, and singular.
We have to first look and see that gift being neuter doesn't match feminine even though all three are singular.Only implying gift is matched to another word in the verse.
This is a demonstrative pronoun which is always followed by a noun This is neuter and singular which matches the following noun gift.
And so the gift is matched with this. But now the question is since this is singular and referring to one word or concept. But obviously, we can't know because grace and faith are feminine. So now we understand this must be referred to the concept of the subject at hand.
We have to study it in context to see is Paul speaking of at all inephesians about faith being the gift of God at any other point. In fact, he does not but is heavily focused on grace. So this is warning 3.
Warning four is seeing what the word gift is related to throughout the NT since the greek word in Ephesians 2:8 is used once. You do not have to go very far to finda example. In Ephesians 3:7
Ephesians 3:7New International Version (NIV)
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
Romans 6:23Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And so with all these clues pointing to gift being referred to a singular concept and in context it is obvious what this concept is. The gift is referred to grace.
