Ephesians 4:18
Ephesians 4:18 (KJV)
18 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:
Ephesians 4:18 (Literal)
18 having the thoughts of their minds in darkness and alienated from the life of God because of their refusal of knowledge and hardness of mind,
Ephesians 4:18 (Expanded)
18 having their minds blacked out and alienated from the life God gives, because they have refused to accept the true knowledge available because of the calloused hardness of their idol-worshiping minds.
CONTEXT- Putting on the New Man
Ephesians 4:17-32
17 Therefore I say this and solemnly witness to it in the lord’s name, that you quit walking as the unsaved Gentiles who walk by the
egotistical perverseness of their minds, 18 having the thoughts of their minds in darkness and alienated from the life of God because of
their refusal of knowledge and hardness of mind, 19 who have cut themselves off from the Hope, having surrendered themselves to unbridled lust to practice all uncleanness with a covetous desire for more. 20 But you learned living differently when you were taught
about Christ, 21 inasmuch as you heard him with understanding and were taught by him, even as the truth is in what Jesus taught. 22 Now, you stop your former behavior of the old man, corrupted according to the passionate desires of the deceiver. 23 And you will be renewed in your life, that is to say, your mind. And you will become a new person in your life, because of your renewed mind. 24 And [to] clothe yourself with the new man which by God was created in righteousness and pure truth. 25 Wherefore, put away the lie and every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 You be righteously angry and you will not be sinning; don’t go to bed with even a momentary irritation. 27 Do not give any portion or space or an opportunity to the Devil. 28 And he who was stealing, quit stealing, but work hard with his hands at good things, in order that he may have something to share with that one who needeth. 29 Let no impure word come out of your mouth, but that which is pleasing, building up the believers, in order that your word may minister grace [God’s] to the hearing ones. 30 Do not offend or grieve God Who is Holy Spirit by Whom you were sealed until the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness and venom and anger and making an uproar and blasphemous speech be put away from you with no intention to hurt. 32 And be ye gentle one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other in the same manner as God also in Christ forgave you.
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The Structure of Ephesians
A. Salutation and Opening (1:1, 2)
B. All Spiritual Blessings (1:3-14)
C. Prayer to God by Paul (1:15-23)
D. Seated in the Heavenlies (2:1-7)
E. God’s Works (2:8-10)
F. New Man, not Judean or Gentile (2:11-18)
G. The Temple Fitly Framed Together (2:19-22)
H. The Mystery, the One Body (3:1-13)
I. Prayer to the Father (3:14-21)
H. The unity of the One Body (4:1-6)
G. The Body Fitly Joined Together (4:7-16)
F. Putting on the New Man (4:17-32)
E. Man’s Works (5:1—6:9)
D. Standing in the Heavenlies (6:10-18)
C. Prayer to God for Paul (6:19, 20)
B. Making Known the Spiritual Blessings (6:21, 22)
A. Blessing and Closing (6:23, 24)
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