SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:2
en que en otro tiempo anduvisteis conforme a la condicin de este mundo, conforme a la voluntad del príncipe de la potestad de este aire, el espíritu que ahora obra en los hijos de incredulidad,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:2
Verse 2. Wherein in time past ye walked] There is much force in these expressions; the Ephesians had not sinned casually, or now and then, but continually; it was their continual employment; they walked in trespasses and sins: and this was not a solitary case, all the nations of the earth acted in the same way; it was the course of this world, kata ton aiwna tou kosmou toutou, according to the life, mode of living, or successive ages of this world. The word aiwn, the literal meaning of which is constant duration, is often applied to things which have a complete course, as the Jewish dispensation, a particular government, and the term of human life; so, here, the whole of life is a tissue of sin, from the cradle to the grave; every human soul, unsaved by Jesus Christ, continues to transgress. And the nominally Christian world is in the same state to the present day. Age after age passes on in this way and the living lay it not to heart! The prince of the power of the air] As the former clause may have particular respect to the Jewish people, who are frequently denominated hzh lw[ olam hazzeh, this world, this latter clause may especially refer to the Gentiles, who were most manifestly under the power of the devil, as almost every object of their worship was a demon, to whom the worst of passions and practices were attributed, and whose conduct his votaries took care to copy. Satan is termed prince of the power of the air, because the air is supposed to be a region in which malicious spirits dwell, all of whom are under the direction and influence of Satan, their chief.
The spirit that now worketh] tou nun energountov The operations of the prince of the aerial powers are not confined to that region; he has another sphere of action, viz. the wicked heart of man, and in this he works with energy. He seldom inspires indifference to religion; the subjects in whom he works are either determinate opposers of true religion, or they are systematic and energetic transgressors of God's laws.
Children of disobedience] Perhaps a Hebraism for disobedient children; but, taken as it stands here, it is a strong expression, in which disobedience, h apeiqeia, appears to be personified, and wicked men exhibited as her children; the prince of the power of the air being their father, while disobedience is their mother. Thus they are emphatically, what our Lord calls them, Matt. xiii. 38, children of the wicked one; for they show themselves to be of their father the devil, because they will do his works, John viii. 44. Some think that by children of disobedience the apostle means particularly the disobedient, unbelieving, refractory, and persecuting Jews; but I rather think he speaks this generally, and refers to the Jews in the following verse.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked , &c.] Sins and transgressions are a road or path, in which all unconverted sinners walk; and this path is a dark, crooked, and broad one, which leads to destruction and death, and yet is their own way, which they choose, approve of, and delight to walk in; and walking in it denotes a continued series of sinning, an obstinate persisting in it, a progress in iniquity, and pleasure therein: and the time of walking in this path, being said to be in time past, shows that the elect of. God before conversion, walk in the same road that others do; and that conversion is a turning out of this way; and that when persons are converted, the course of their walking is altered, which before was according to the course of this world meaning this world, in distinction from the world to come, or the present age, in which the apostle lived, and designs the men of it; and the course of it is their custom, manner, and way of life; to which God's elect, during their state of unregeneracy, conform, both with respect to conversation and religious worship: great is the force that prevailing customs have over men; it is one branch of redemption by Christ, to deliver men from this present evil world, and to free them from a vain conversation in it; and it is only the grace of God that effectually teaches to deny the lusts of it; and it is only owing to the prevalent intercession and power of Christ, that even converted persons are kept from the evil of it: according to the prince of the power of the air : which is not to be understood of any supposed power the devil has over the air, by divine permission, to raise winds, but of a posse, or body of devils, who have their residence in the air; for it was not only the notion of the Jews f12 , that there are noxious and accusing spirits, who fly about rywab , in the air, and that there is no space between the earth and the firmament free, and that the whole is full of a multitude of them; but also it was the opinion of the Chaldeans f13 , and of Pythagoras f14 , and Plato f15 , that the air is full of demons: now there is a prince who is at the head of these, called Beelzebub, the prince of devils, or the lord of a fly, for the devils under him are as so many flies in the air, ( Matthew 12:24) and by the Jews called f16 , ayjwrd whbr , the prince of spirits; and is here styled, the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; by which spirit is meant, not the lesser devils that are under the prince, nor the spirit of the world which comes from him, and is not of God; but Satan himself, who is a spirit, and an evil, and an unclean one; and who operates powerfully in unbelievers, for they are meant by children of disobedience, or unbelief; just as atwnmyhm ynb , children of faith f17 , in the Jewish dialect, designs believers; and over these Satan has great influence, especially the reprobate part of them; whose minds he blinds, and whose hearts he fills, and puts it into them to do the worst of crimes; and indeed, he has great power over the elect themselves, while in unbelief, and leads them captive at his will; and these may be said in their unregeneracy to walk after him, when they imitate him, and do his lusts, and comply with what he suggests, dictates to them, or tempts them to.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Sin is the death of the soul. A man dead in trespasses and sins has n desire for spiritual pleasures. When we look upon a corpse, it gives a awful feeling. A never-dying spirit is now fled, and has left nothin but the ruins of a man. But if we viewed things aright, we should be far more affected by the thought of a dead soul, a lost, fallen spirit A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world. Wicked men ar slaves to Satan. Satan is the author of that proud, carnal dispositio which there is in ungodly men; he rules in the hearts of men. From Scripture it is clear, that whether men have been most prone to sensua or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath. What reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for that grace which will make them of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! God's eterna love or good-will toward his creatures, is the fountain whence all his mercies flow to us; and that love of God is great love, and that merc is rich mercy. And every converted sinner is a saved sinner; delivere from sin and wrath. The grace that saves is the free, undeserve goodness and favour of God; and he saves, not by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul. A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives a lif of holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace. Sinners rol themselves in the dust; sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, ar raised above this world, by Christ's grace. The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners heretofore, encourages others i after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy. Our faith, our conversion and our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest any man should boast These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us, therefor all boasting is shut out. All is the free gift of God, and the effec of being quickened by his power. It was his purpose, to which he prepared us, by blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit producing such a change in us, that we should glorify God by our good conversation, and perseverance in holiness. None can from Scripture abuse this doctrine, or accuse it of any tendency to evil All who do so, are without excuse.
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 αις 3739 ποτε 4218 περιεπατησατε 4043 5656 κατα 2596 τον 3588 αιωνα 165 του 3588 κοσμου 2889 τουτου 5127 κατα 2596 τον 3588 αρχοντα 758 της 3588 εξουσιας 1849 του 3588 αερος 109 του 3588 πνευματος 4151 του 3588 νυν 3568 ενεργουντος 1754 5723 εν 1722 τοις 3588 υιοις 5207 της 3588 απειθειας 543
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Course (aiwna). Lit., age. See on John i. 9.
Power (exousiav). Collective, the whole empire of evil spirits.
The air. According to Paul's usage, in the simple physical sense. See Acts xxii. 23; 1 Cor. ix. 26; 1 Thess. iv. 17; Apoc. xvi. 17. The air is regarded as the region of the demons' might.
The spirit. See on 1 Cor. ii. 12. The term designates the power over which Satan rules, on the side of its operation in men's hearts.
Now. With an implied reference to its former working in his readers. Compare once, ver. 3 Children of disobedience (uioiv thv apeiqeiav). Compare ch. v. 6. A Hebraistic expression. Compare son of perdition, John xvii. 12; children of obedience, 1 Pet. i. 14; children of cursing, 2 Pet. ii. 14. Rev., correctly, sons of disobedience: belonging to disobedience as sons to a parent.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:2 {According to the course of this world} (kata ton aiwna tou kosmou toutou). Curious combinations of aiwn (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 arconta tes exousias tou aeros). Ar was used by the ancients for the lower and denser atmosphere and aiqer 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 arcwn 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 tes apeqias). In #5:6 also. A Hebrew idiom found in the papyri like "sons of light" (#1Th 5:5).
