Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Ephesians: Chapter 2].
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2:1 {And you did he quicken} (\kai hum•s\). The verb for {did he
quicken} does not occur till verse 5 and then with \h•m•s\ (us)
instead of \hum•s\ (you). There is a like ellipsis or anacoluthon
in Col 1:21,22, only there is no change from \hum•s\ to
\h•m•s\. {When ye were dead} (\ontas nekrous\). Present active
participle referring to their former state. Spiritually dead.
{Trespasses and sins} (\parapt•masin kai hamartiais\). Both words
(locative case) though only one in verse 5.
2:2 {According to the course of this world} (\kata ton ai•na tou
kosmou toutou\). Curious combinations of \ai•n\ (a period of
time), \kosmos\ (the world in that period). See 1Co 1:20 for
"this age" and 1Co 3:9 for "this world." {The prince of the
power of the air} (\ton archonta t•s exousias tou aeros\). \A•r\
was used by the ancients for the lower and denser atmosphere and
\aith•r\ for the higher and rarer. Satan is here pictured as
ruler of the demons and other agencies of evil. Jesus called him
"the prince of this world" (\ho arch•n tou kosmou toutou\, Joh
16:11). {That now worketh} (\tou nun energountos\). Those who
deny the existence of a personal devil cannot successfully deny
the vicious tendencies, the crime waves, in modern men. The power
of the devil in the lives of men does explain the evil at work
"in the sons of disobedience" (\en tois huiois t•s apethias\). In
5:6 also. A Hebrew idiom found in the papyri like "sons of
light" (1Th 5:5).
2:3 {We also all} (\kai h•meis pantes\). We Jews. {Once lived}
(\anestraph•men pote\). Second aorist passive indicative of
\anastreph•\, old verb, to turn back and forth, to live (2Co
1:12). Cf. \pote periepat•sate\, of the Gentiles in verse 2.
{The desires} (\ta thel•mata\). Late and rare word except in LXX
and N.T., from \thel•\, to will, to wish. Plural here "the
wishes," "the wills" of the flesh like \tais epithumiais t•s
sarkos\ just before. Gentiles had no monopoly of such sinful
impulses. {Of the mind} (\t•n dianoi•n\). Plural again, "of the
thoughts or purposes." {Were by nature children of wrath}
(\•metha tekna phusei org•s\). This is the proper order of these
words which have been the occasion of much controversy. There is
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/EPH2.RWP.html (1 of 7) [28/08/2004 09:12:30 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Ephesians: Chapter 2)