2:2a
in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as walk refers to the way the Ephesians behaved in the past before they became Christians. It does not mean to be alive which is the opposite of being dead.
in which you used to walk: This phrase refers to the sinning behavior which the Ephesians used to do but no longer did at the time that Paul wrote them.
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
You used to live in sin (New Living Translation (2004))
when you conformed to the ways of this world: The clause conformed to the ways of this world refers to living in a way that disregards God.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
You (plur.) lived in an evil way like the ⌊other⌋ people of this world
-or-
You behaved in evil ways like ⌊other⌋ people who do not know God
-or-
You did bad behavior like the people of this world do
For more discussion on the meaning of world, see world, Meaning 2 in the Glossary.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
world of evil people
-or-
ungodly people of this world
-or-
people who do not know God
2:2b
(Revised English Bible🙂 the commander of the spiritual powers of the air: In 2:2a Paul said that the Ephesian Christians used to follow “the ways of this world.” In 2:2b he added that they also followed the commander of the spiritual powers of the air. It may be clearer in your translation to begin a new sentence here at 2:2b, or at least to repeat the verb from 2:2a, for example:
2a At that time you followed the ways of the unbelieving people in this world, 2b ⌊and⌋ you followed the ⌊evil⌋ ruler who is the chief of the spirits in the air.
(Revised English Bible🙂 commander: The commander that Paul referred to is the devil Satan. For example:
You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. (Contemporary English Version)
Satan is the commander (chief, boss), the one who rules over the evil spirits. If your key term for Satan is something like “the king of evil spirits,” you may want to use it here. The important thing is that it is clear in your translation that Paul is talking about an evil ruler. See devil in the Glossary for more information.
(Revised English Bible🙂 spiritual powers of the air: The Greek word that the Revised English Bible translates as spiritual powers means “authorities.” There are two ways to understand this word.
(1) It refers to the spiritual powers that Satan rules, that is, the evil spirits. For example:
you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space (Good News Translation)
(Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) It refers to the area where Satan has his power, that is, the kingdom of the air. For example:
according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air (NET Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because it fits the context better.
General Comment on 2:2b
You could translate the phrase “the commander of the spiritual powers of the air” as:
the evil ruler who is the king of the spirits in the sky
-or-
Satan who is the chief of the spirits who are as near as the sky
See kingdom in the Glossary for more information.
2:2c
the spirit: Here the word spirit refers to Satan. Paul called Satan a spirit because Satan is a supernatural being that people cannot see.
at work: The phrase at work means that Satan tries to control and affect the thinking and behavior of people who do not believe in Christ.
Here are some other ways the phrase has been translated:
has power over (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
rules over
in the sons of disobedience: The phrase in the sons of disobedience means those people who disobey God. It refers to the people who refuse to submit to God, who do not want to listen to and obey God.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the people who disobey God (Good News Translation)
-or-
of those who refuse to obey God (New Living Translation (2004))
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