^2:2in which³ you formerly lived⁴ according to this world’s present path,⁵ according to the ruler of the kingdom⁶ of the air, the ruler of⁷ the spirit⁸ that is now energizing⁹ the sons of disobedience,¹⁰^2:3among whom¹¹ all of us¹² also¹³ formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath¹⁴ even as the rest … ¹⁵

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Footnotes

3 The relative pronoun which is feminine as is sins, indicating that sins is the antecedent.
4 Grk “walked.” The Greek verb translated lived (περιπατέω, peripateō) in the NT letters refers to the conduct of one’s life, not to physical walking.
5 Or possibly “Aeon.” The word translated present path is the same as that which has been translated [this] age in 1:21 (αἰών, aiōn).
6 Grk “domain, [place of] authority.”
7 Grk “of” (but see the note on the word “spirit” later in this verse).
8 The ruler of the kingdom of the air is also the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience. Although several translations regard the ruler to be the same as the spirit, this is unlikely since the cases in Greek are different (ruler is accusative and spirit is genitive). To get around this, some have suggested that the genitive for spirit is a genitive of apposition. However, the semantics of the genitive of apposition are against such an interpretation (cf. ).
9 Grk “working in.”
10 Sons of disobedience is a Semitic idiom that means “people characterized by disobedience.” However, it also contains a subtle allusion to vv. 4–10: Some of those sons of disobedience have become sons of God.
11 Among whom. The relative pronoun phrase that begins v. 3 is identical, except for gender, to the one that begins v. 2 (ἐν αἵς [en hais], ἐν οἵς [en hois]). By the structure, the author is building an argument for our hopeless condition: We lived in sin and we lived among sinful people. Our doom looked to be sealed as well in v. 2: Both the external environment (kingdom of the air) and our internal motivation and attitude (the spirit that is now energizing) were under the devil’s thumb (cf. 2 Cor 4:4).
12 Grk “we all.”
13 Or “even.”
14 Children of wrath is a Semitic idiom which may mean either “people characterized by wrath” or “people destined for wrath.”
15 Eph 2:1–3. The translation of vv. 1–3 is very literal, even to the point of retaining the awkward syntax of the original. See note on the word dead in .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

NLTNew Living Translation

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as also the rest of them were.

KJV 1900King James Version

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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