2:3a
All of us: In 2:1–2, Paul was talking about the Ephesian Christians, who were not Jews. But in this verse he includes himself also. So the phrase All of us refers to both Jews and non-Jews.
lived among them: The pronoun them refers to those people who are disobedient in 2:2c.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
were like them (Good News Translation)
-or-
behaved like them
-or-
as they did so we (incl.) also did
at one time: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at one time is one word in Greek and it means “in the past.” It refers to a time before they believed in Christ.
This time word can also be put earlier in the clause. For example:
In the past all of us lived like them (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh (Revised Standard Version)
2:3b
fulfilling the cravings of our flesh: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fulfilling literally means “doing” or “making.” In this context it means to do the sinful things we desire to do.
cravings: The word cravings refers to very strong desires. In this context, it refers to lusts or selfish desires.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
desires to sin
-or-
ungodly wants
flesh: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as flesh refers to the evil/selfish character of humans. See flesh, Meaning 6 in the Glossary for more information.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds (Good News Translation)
-or-
following the passions and desires of our evil nature (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
trying to please our sinful selves (New Century Version)
2:3c
This verse part restates the same idea that is found in 2:3b.
indulging its desires and thoughts: The pronoun its refers to the sinful nature in 2:3b.
indulging: The Greek participle that the Berean Standard Bible translates as indulging is literally “doing.” It is another way of expressing “fulfilling” in 2:3b. People did whatever their sinful nature caused them to want to do.
desires and thoughts: The phrase desires and thoughts is similar in meaning to “cravings” in 2:3b.
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
doing the evil we want to do and think about
2:3d
Like the rest: The phrase Like the rest means that the Ephesians and Jews were just like all the other people in the world.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
just like everyone else (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
We were the same as all other people (New Century Version)
-or-
as they did so have all of us (incl.) done
by nature: The phrase by nature refers to the condition that believers were in before God showed them mercy. They were naturally sinful.
Here are some other ways this phrase has been translated:
We were born with an evil nature (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
In our natural condition (Good News Translation)
children of wrath: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as children of wrath is a Jewish figure of speech that means “deserving of or subject to God’s wrath.” The word wrath means “anger.” In the New Testament, the word translated as wrath often represents the idea of punishment. So the idea of punishment is also implied in this phrase. See the second meaning line of the display for an example of including this implied information.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
subject to God’s anger (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
destined to suffer God’s anger (Good News Translation)
-or-
people whom God would punish
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