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

While God overlooked those times of ignorance, he now calls upon all men everywhere to repent,

I will save you from your people and from the heathen, to whom I will send you

for, though they knew God, they have not honored him as God or given thanks to him, but they have indulged in futile speculations, until their stupid minds have become dark.

For since in God's providence the world with all its wisdom did not come to know God, God chose, through the folly of the gospel message, to save those who had faith in him.

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

But formerly, in your ignorance of God, you were slaves to gods that really did not exist,

not to gratify his passion, like the heathen who know nothing of God.

Alienated

At that time you had no connection with Christ, you were aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the agreements about God's promise; with no hope and no God in all the world.

For to be physically minded means hostility to God, for it refuses to obey God's law, indeed it cannot obey it.

But formerly, in your ignorance of God, you were slaves to gods that really did not exist,

And it has brought you, who were once estranged from him, hostile in attitude and engaged in doing wrong (though now he has reconciled you

not to gratify his passion, like the heathen who know nothing of God.

You renegades! Do you not know that the friendship of the world means enmity with God? So whoever wishes to be the world's friend declares himself God's enemy.

Because

for, though they knew God, they have not honored him as God or given thanks to him, but they have indulged in futile speculations, until their stupid minds have become dark.

and you are sure that you can guide the blind, enlighten people who are in the dark,

But whoever hates his brother is in darkness, and is living in darkness, and he does not know where he is going, for the darkness has blinded his eyes.