Ephesians 4:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

The understanding

1 Thessalonians 4:5

Alienated

Because

Romans 1:21

Romans 2:19

1 John 2:11

Bible References

The understanding

Though God overlooked those times of ignorance, He now commands all men everywhere to repent,

I will continue to rescue you from the Jewish people and from the heathen to whom I am going to send you,

because, although they once knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give Him thanks, but became silly in their senseless speculations, and so their insensible hearts have been shrouded in darkness.

For since in accordance with the wisdom of God the world had never in reality, by means of its wisdom, come to know God, God chose through the nonsense of the message proclaimed, to save the people who put their faith in Him.

In their case, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbelievers, to keep the glorious light of the good news of Christ, who is the likeness of God, from dawning upon them.

But at that former time, as you did not know the true God, you were slaves to gods that do not really exist,

not out of evil passions as the heathen do who do not know God;

Alienated

At that time you were without any connection with Christ; you were aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the sacred compacts made by God's promise, with no hope, and no God in the world.

Because one's thinking the things suggested by the lower nature means enmity to God, for it does not subject itself to God's law, nor indeed can it.

But at that former time, as you did not know the true God, you were slaves to gods that do not really exist,

So you, who were once estranged from Him, and hostile in disposition as shown by your wrongdoings, He has now reconciled

not out of evil passions as the heathen do who do not know God;

You faithless wives! Do you not know that the friendship of the world means enmity with God? So whoever wants to be a friend to the world puts himself down as an enemy to God.

Because

and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those in darkness,

But whoever continues to hate his brother is in darkness and is living in darkness, and he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.