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Ephesians 2:12

King James Version (KJV)

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:

Translations

Ephesians 2:12 - Amplified Bible

[Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged {and} outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.

Ephesians 2:12 - American Standard Version

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.

Ephesians 2:12 - Bible in Basic English

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.

Ephesians 2:12 - Darby Bible

that ye were at that time without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Ephesians 2:12 - English Standard Version

remember that you were at that time 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.

Ephesians 2:12 - King James Version

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:

Ephesians 2:12 - La Biblia de las Americas

recordad que en ese tiempo estabais separados de Cristo, excluidos de la ciudadanìa de Israel, extraños a los pactos de la promesa, sin tener esperanza, y sin Dios en el mundo.

Ephesians 2:12 - The Message

Ephesians 2:12 - New American Standard Bible

{remember} that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Ephesians 2:12 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

recuerden que en ese tiempo ustedes estaban separados de Cristo, excluidos de la ciudadanìa (comunidad) de Israel, extraños a los pactos de la promesa, sin tener esperanza y sin Dios en el mundo.

Ephesians 2:12 - World English Bible

that you 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.

Ephesians 2:12 - Young's Living Translation

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;

Ephesians 2:12 - Additional Comments

As strangers to the covenants of promise, non-Christians are not recipients of the thousands of promises God has made to those who have a relationship with Him. For example:
1. to supply every need we have (Phil 4:19)
2. His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Cor 12:9, Eph 2:8, Romans 5:2)
3. His children will not be overtaken with temptation, that there is a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13, Daniel 6:16)
4. victory over death (Acts 2:32, 1 Cor 15:3,4, 57)
5. all things work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28)
6. peace beyond understanding (Phil 4:6-7)
The Ephesians were strangers to the covenant, not only by faith, but by knowledge and experience, for their culture did not include the ways and teachings of the Jews. They grew up with the teachings of the god Diana (Artemis). They were truly strangers to the ways of the Jews, and therefore the ways of God.
As he mentions, without Christ one is excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and one is a stranger to the covenants of God's promise. But! this means when one joins with Christ, becoming a Christian, an incredible array of privileges are received -- with the relationship comes the bestowing of all the thousands of promises to believers, one becomes an heir with Christ, a child of God, and joins the commonwealth of Israel. The splendor of all that a person receives upon faith in Christ is overwhelming, mind-numbing! What a new life awaits the person who chooses to receive Christ, and what a loss for the person who chooses not to. If only they knew all the vast resources, privileges, and blessings awaiting them!
There may have been things we hoped in, but without Christ, we are without hope for a future. If there is hope, it is false (effectively then there is no hope).
"without God" is one Greek word, "atheos" (meaning godless), from which we get "atheist". They had gods, but not the true God. Whether people believe in no god or false gods, they are "atheists", without God, the true God. There is no effective difference.

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