Ephesians 2:12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's description of the Gentile condition before Christ — 'separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world' — is the starkest description of covenant exclusion in the New Testament. The five-fold description (separated, alienated, strangers, no hope, without God) contrasts with the five-fold blessing of 2:19-22 that describes the new situation: fellow citizens, saints, members of the household, built on the apostles and prophets, with Christ as cornerstone. The 'covenants of promise' (plural: likely referring to the Abrahamic, Sinaitic, Davidic, and new covenant) indicates that Gentile exclusion was from a comprehensive salvation-historical framework, not merely from one institution. The verse grounds cross-cultural reconciliation in the shared prior condition of alienation overcome by Christ's peace (verse 14).
Other Translations
that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
that ye were at that time apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God, in the world;
That you were at that time without Christ, being cut off from any part in Israel's rights as a nation, having no part in God's agreement, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Cross References
In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, …
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an …
And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the …
And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did …
All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given …
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have …
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.