"Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest." - Ephesians 2:3 (NASB)
Here, Paul changes who he is talking about, from “you” (Gentile believers of vs 1, 2) to “we” (Paul and his fellow Jewish believers). But he doesn’t mean “you Gentiles” or “we Jews” here, like he’s claiming special status for Jews. He’s including himself and his friends with the readers of the letter, who could be Jews or non-Jews. He thinks it wouldn’t make sense to say that only the Gentiles are influenced by the “world” and the “devil,” while only the Jews are influenced by the “flesh.” He believes that all these 3 forces (world, devil, and flesh) affect both Jews and Gentiles. The Aorist Passive Indicative verb “formerly lived” verb form emphasizes that fallen mankind was being controlled by outside evil spiritual forces, such as Satan or the demonic, mentioned in Ephesians 2:2, 3:10, and 6:12. It is a metaphorical extension of a word commonly used with the literal sense of “return”. Here, like “walked” in 2:2, it is used in the sense of daily lifestyle, a usage that is also found in the Old Testament.
“In the lusts of our flesh” – Paul refers to the word “flesh” as the third enemy of fallen man. It’s not listed in the same way as the other two enemies in Ephesians 2:2, but it’s similar in meaning. It refers to mankind’s fallen and self-centered nature, which is its own worst enemy. This self-centered nature distorts and manipulates everything and everyone for its own benefit (cf. Genesis 3, Romans 7:14-25). Paul uses the term “flesh” in two distinct ways. Only context can determine the distinction. In Eph. 2:11,15; 5:29,31; 6:5 and 12 it means “the human person,” not “the fallen sin nature” as here.
The phrase “indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind” is a Present Active Participle emphasizing a continual, ongoing, and habitual action. It underscores the perpetual battle within the human body and mind against temptation and sin (see Ephesians 4:17-19, 6:10-20, Romans 6 – 7, and the book of James, which address the struggle inherent in human nature).
The phrase “by nature” refers to the natural tendency of humans to sin, which originates from the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, as well as other passages from the Book of Psalms, Job, and Romans. This idea highlights the widespread impact of humanity’s sinful state.
It’s important to mention that although general rabbinic teachings don’t focus much on the fall of humanity in Genesis 3, there are some indirect references to the source of evil, often involving Genesis 6. This opens up the opportunity to look into different viewpoints on where human sin comes from and what it means in theological discussions.
They say that humans have two intentions (yetzers), one good and one bad. People are controlled by their choices. There’s a well-known saying: “Every person has a good and a bad side. The one they focus on the most grows bigger.” However, the New Testament gives several reasons for human sin: Adam’s fall, choosing to ignore the truth, and making sinful decisions.
“children of wrath” “Children of. . .”, like “sons of. . .”, – is an Hebraic idiomatic phrase for a person’s character. God is opposed to sin and rebellion in His creation. The wrath of God is both temporal (in time) and eschatological (at the end of time). The final expression, “even as the rest,” clarifies that this condition is characteristic of the entire human race. Paul talks this much more extensively in Rom 1:18–3:20 and 1 Thess. 4:13; 5:6).
The world we live in revels in carnal pleasures, pursuing earthly wealth and sinful happiness without regard for Christ. It follows the counsel of the ungodly and is driven by the spirit of disobedience. Its religion is a mere façade of godliness, devoid of true power, an empty shell of life. This unregenerate human society is carelessly dancing its way to destruction, the polar opposite of the true Church of God, where transformed souls journey towards heaven with solemn joy. The Bible warns us not to love the world or be yoked with unbelievers. Any compromise with the world does not come from God, and any religious group resembling the world is not true to the message of the cross. Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
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