Robertson Word Pictures - Ephesians 2:3 - 2:3

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Robertson Word Pictures - Ephesians 2:3 - 2:3


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

We also all (kai hēmeis pantes). We Jews.

Once lived (anestraphēmen pote). Second aorist passive indicative of anastrephō, old verb, to turn back and forth, to live (2Co 1:12). Cf. pote periepatēsate, of the Gentiles in Eph 2:2.

The desires (ta thelēmata). Late and rare word except in lxx and N.T., from thelō, to will, to wish. Plural here “the wishes,” “the wills” of the flesh like tais epithumiais tēs sarkos just before. Gentiles had no monopoly of such sinful impulses.

Of the mind (tōn dianoiōn). Plural again, “of the thoughts or purposes.”

Were by nature children of wrath (ēmetha tekna phusei orgēs). This is the proper order of these words which have been the occasion of much controversy. There is no article with tekna. Paul is insisting that Jews as well as Gentiles (“even as the rest”) are the objects of God’s wrath (orgēs) because of their lives of sin. See Romans 2:1-3:20 for the full discussion of this to Jews unpalatable truth. The use of phusei (associative instrumental case of manner) is but the application of Paul’s use of “all” (pantes) as shown also in Rom 3:20; Rom 5:12. See phusei of Gentiles in Rom 2:14. The implication of original sin is here, but not in the form that God’s wrath rests upon little children before they have committed acts of sin. The salvation of children dying before the age of responsibility is clearly involved in Rom 5:13.