Ephesians 2:10 and the Purpose of Good Works in Believers

Ephesians 2:10 reads: "For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them" ^[1]. This verse concludes Paul's exposition of salvation by grace through faith (2:8–9) and introduces a critical theological tension: if salvation comes entirely by grace, what role do good works play in the Christian life?

Literary and Historical Context

The verse appears in the opening chapters of Ephesians, where Paul addresses Gentile believers in Asia Minor, contrasting their former spiritual death with their new life in Christ. The immediate context (2:1–10) moves from condemnation ("dead in trespasses") through salvation ("by grace you have been saved through faith") to purpose. The conjunction "for" (Greek gar) signals that verse 10 explains or grounds what precedes it. Paul has just insisted that salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast" (2:9), yet now he declares believers are created for good works ^[5].

Key Terms and Exegetical Decisions

The word "workmanship" (Greek poiēma) carries the sense of "a thing of His making" or "handiwork," emphasizing divine craftsmanship ^[5]. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes that this refers to the spiritual creation, not the physical—believers are "new creatures" in Christ ^[5]. The phrase "created in Christ Jesus" echoes 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians 4:24, underscoring that good works follow regeneration, not vice versa ^[5].

The clause "which God before made ready" (Greek proētoimasen) indicates divine preparation or foreordination. John Gill interprets this as God marking out beforehand the particular works each believer will perform, comparing it to John 5:36 where Christ speaks of works the Father gave him to accomplish ^{[5, 6]}. This raises questions about divine sovereignty and human agency: are these works predetermined in detail, or does God prepare a general path of obedience?

The Relationship Between Grace and Works

The verse addresses a perennial objection: if salvation is by grace alone, are good works unnecessary? Easton's Bible Dictionary acknowledges this "old objection" has been "answered a thousand times" yet persists ^[2]. The Augsburg Confession explicitly denies that Lutheran teachers forbid good works, insisting they have taught "to good purpose concerning all estates and duties of life" ^[11]. The concern is that emphasizing grace might lower the sense of moral obligation.

Paul's formulation resolves the tension by sequence and causation. The Tyndale commentary states plainly: "Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation" ^[4]. Calvin's Institutes affirms that while good works are "inferior causes" of God's blessing to believers, "the efficient cause of our salvation is placed in the love of God the Father" ^[7]. Works follow from the transformed heart produced by God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) ^[4]. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown emphasizes that "we are not saved by, but created unto, good works," and notes that Paul never calls the works of the law "good works" ^[5].

John Gill describes the new creation as "a very curious work," comparing it to a poem—the soul's transformation is gradual, "not perfected at once, but... gradually carried on" ^[6]. This internal work precedes external obedience. Only those who "abide in Christ can perform" good works, as Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, citing John 15:4–5 ^[3].

Purpose and Function of Good Works

If works do not earn salvation, what is their purpose? The verse itself provides the answer: believers are created unto (Greek epi) good works—works are the goal or purpose of the new creation. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists multiple functions: good works are "by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:11), they are "wrought by God in us" (Isaiah 26:12; Philippians 2:13), and Scripture is "designed to lead us to" them (2 Timothy 3:16–17; James 1:25) ^[3].

The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes perseverance, stating that faith must be "working through charity" to endure to the end ^[13]. While Catholic theology has historically emphasized merit and cooperation with grace, the Catechism here stresses that faith itself is "an entirely free gift" that must be nourished ^[13]. Aquinas, in discussing charity, notes that the Church's charity extends even to enemies, and that "good is twofold: one is spiritual, namely the health of the soul" ^[9].

Theological Implications Across Traditions

Reformed theology stresses that good works are evidence of genuine faith and the necessary fruit of regeneration, but never the ground of justification ^{[5, 7]}. Charles Hodge writes that the Spirit enables the believer to "see the glory of God" and live "in a higher sphere," becoming "more and more heavenly in... character" ^[8]. The works are real, transformative, and necessary—but they flow from grace, not toward it.

Eastern Orthodoxy, represented by John of Damascus, emphasizes God's foreknowledge and goodness in creation, though the excerpt does not directly address Ephesians 2:10 ^[10]. The Anglican Articles affirm that sacraments are "effectual signs of grace" that "work invisibly in us" and "strengthen and confirm our Faith" ^[12], suggesting a sacramental framework for how grace produces works.

The verse thus establishes that believers are God's craftsmanship, re-created for a purpose prepared before time. Works neither earn salvation nor are optional; they are the predetermined path of obedience for those made alive in Christ.

Sources

Ephesians “Ephesians 2:10 (BBE) — For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Works, Good — The old objection against the doctrine of salvation by grace, that it does away with the necessity of good works, and lowers the sense of their importance (Rom. 6), although it has been answered a thousand times, is still alleged by many. They say if men are not saved by works, then works are not necessary. If the most moral of men are saved in the same way as the very chief of sinners, then good works are of no moment. And more than this, if the grace of God is most clearly displayed in the salvation of the vilest of men, then the worse men are the bet”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Works, Good — Christ, an example of -- Joh 10:32; Ac 10:38. Called Good fruits. -- Jas 3:17. Fruits meet for repentance. -- Mt 3:8. Fruits of righteousness. -- Php 1:11. Works and labours of love. -- Heb 6:10. Are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God -- Php 1:11. They alone, who abide in Christ can perform -- Joh 15:4,5. Wrought by God in us -- Isa 26:12; Php 2:13. The Scripture designed to lead us to -- 2Ti 3:16,17; Jas 1:25. To be performed in Christ's name -- Col 3:17. Heavenly wisdom is full of -- Jas 3:17. Justification unattainable by -- Ro 3:20; Ga 2”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 2:10: workmanship--literally, "a thing of His making"; "handiwork." Here the spiritual creation, not the physical, is referred to (Eph 2:8-9). created--having been created (Eph 4:24; Psa 102:18; Isa 43:21; Co2 5:5, Co2 5:17). unto good works--"for good works." "Good works" cannot be performed until we are new "created unto" them. Paul never calls the works of the law "good works." We are not saved by, but created unto, good works. before ordained--Greek, "before made ready" (compare Joh 5:36). God marks out for each in His purposes beforehand, the p”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship,.... Not as men only, but as Christians; not as creatures merely, but as new creatures; the work of grace upon the soul seems chiefly designed, which like a poem, as the word may be rendered, is a very curious work; the king's daughter is all glorious within, for this is an internal work, and is a good and excellent one; it is not indeed perfected at once, but is gradually carried on, till the finishing stroke is given to it by that hand which begun it; the author of it is God, it is not man's work; nor is it the work of ministers, no, no”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 69: the good works of believers are causes why the Lord does them good, we must still understand the meaning so as to hold unshaken what has previously been said—viz. that the efficient cause of our salvation is placed in the love of God the Father; the material cause in the obedience of the Son; the instrumental cause in the illumination of the Spirit, that is, in faith; and the final cause in the praise of the divine goodness. In this, however, there is nothing to prevent the Lord from embracing works as inferior causes. But how so? ”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 32: the opened eye of the believer is able to discern. The Spirit enables him to see the glory of God as revealed in his works and in his word; the holiness 230 and spirituality of the law; the exceeding sinfulness of sin; his own guilt, pollution, and helplessness; the length and breadth, the height and depth of the economy of redemption; and the reality glory, and infinite importance of the things unseen and eternal. The soul is thus raised above the world. It lives in a higher sphere. It becomes more and more heavenly in its character and ”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Heresy, Art. 4: Article: Whether the Church should receive those who return from heresy? I answer that, In obedience to Our Lord's institution, the Church extends her charity to all, not only to friends, but also to foes who persecute her, according to Mt. 5:44: "Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you." Now it is part of charity that we should both wish and work our neighbor's good. Again, good is twofold: one is spiritual, namely the health of the soul, which good is chiefly the object of charity, since”
CCEL (Eastern Orthodox) “John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, section 97: Chapter XXI .— The purpose 2629 2629 Jer., Contr. Pelag., bk. iii. for which God in His foreknowledge created persons who would sin and not repent. God in His goodness 2630 2630 Damasc., Dialog contra Manich. brought what exists into being out of nothing, and has foreknowledge of what will exist in the future. If, therefore, they were not to exist in the future, they would neither be evil in the future nor would they be foreknown. For knowledge is of what exists and foreknowledge is of what will surely exist in the future”
Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 1 Our teachers are falsely accused of forbidding Good Works. 2: 1 Our teachers are falsely accused of forbidding Good Works. 2 For their published writings on the Ten Commandments, and others of like import, bear witness that they have taught to good purpose concerning all estates and duties of life, as to what estates of life and what works in every calling be pleasing to God. 3 Concerning these things preachers heretofore taught but little, and urged only childish and needless works, as particular holy-days, particular fasts, brotherhoods, pilgrimages, ”
Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 261: Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, CHAPTER THREE (part 6): anyone obtain eternal life 'But he who endures to the end.'"] Perseverance in faith 162 Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith."44 To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith;45 it must be "working through charity," aboundin”

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