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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Ephesians 2:12 - 2:12
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Eph 2:12. Ὅτι, that) On this word, you were [Eph 2:12], and you are made [Eph 2:13], depend; but the particle is repeated from Eph 2:11.-χωρὶς, without) The antithesis is in Christ, Eph 2:13. Their misery is detailed under these three heads: without, and strangers-and without God [ἄθεοι, atheists]: you were without Christ, without the Holy Spirit, without God; comp. Eph 2:18 and the following verses; ch. Eph 3:6, Eph 4:4-5, notes.-χωρὶς Χριστοῦ, without Christ) He proves this in the following clause, being alienated from (ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι); nor does he say, aliens (ἀλλότριοι):[27] comp. note at Eph 4:18.-τῆς πολιτείας τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, from the polity of Israel) The whole commonwealth of Israel had respect to Christ.-καὶ ξένοι, and strangers) destitute of share in.-τῶν διαθηκῶν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, the covenants of promise) God, the gift of Christ being presupposed, had above all promised the Holy Spirit; Eph 1:13; Gal 3:14, note; Luk 24:49; Acts 2; and the covenants had been subservient to that promise, Rom 9:4. This clause is proved by the following, having no hope; for if they had had a promise, they would have had the hope corresponding to it; but they had no hope; and therefore they had not even a promise.-ἄθεοι, atheists) They had not come to the fixed opinion, that there were no gods; for they had even Diana and Jupiter, Act 19:35 : but, so far were they from having the true God, 1Th 4:5, they were even ignorant of Him, who He was. He says first, you were out of [without] Christ; afterwards he infers, you were without God.-ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, in the world) Paul proves the latter also, that they were without God; and he does so on the ground, that they wandered in the world, which is wide (2Co 1:12), and vain (Luk 12:30; Joh 1:10, at the end), serving the creatures, enjoying the things, that perish, removed far off [from God].
[27] Engl. Vers. loses this point by its rendering, aliens from.-ED.