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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Ephesians 2:12 - 2:12
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Separate from Christ (chōris Christou). Ablative case with adverbial preposition chōris, describing their former condition as heathen.
Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel (apēllotriōmenoi tēs politeias tou Israēl). Perfect passive participle of apallotrioō, for which see note on Col 1:21. Here followed by ablative case politeias, old word from politeuō, to be a citizen (Phi 1:27) from politēs and that from polis (city). Only twice in N.T., here as commonwealth (the spiritual Israel or Kingdom of God) and Act 22:28 as citizenship.
Strangers from the covenants of the promise (xenoi tōn diathēkōn tēs epaggelias). For xenos (Latin hospes), as stranger see Mat 25:35, Mat 25:38, and Mat 25:43.; as guest-friend see note on Rom 16:23. Here it is followed by the ablative case diathēkōn.
Having no hope (elpida mē echontes). No hope of any kind. In Gal 4:8 ouk (strong negative) occurs with eidotes theon, but here mē gives a more subjective picture (1Th 4:5).
Without God (atheoi). Old Greek word, not in lxx, only here in N.T. Atheists in the original sense of being without God and also in the sense of hostility to God from failure to worship him. See Paul’s words in Rom 1:18-32. “In the world” (en tōi kosmōi) goes with both phrases. It is a terrible picture that Paul gives, but a true one.