What did Paul say the Gentiles were like in Ephesians 2:12?
Paul wrote that the Gentiles were without Christ or Messiah at that time, aliens and non-citizens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope, and without God in this world. This was their condition while God was dealing with Israel.
Les explains that Ephesians 2:12 must be understood in light of the time when the Jew was uppermost in God's program. The Gentiles were called "uncircumcision" by those called "the circumcision in the flesh made by hand." At that time they were without Christ or Messiah, aliens and non-citizens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope, and without God in this world. Les points out that this confirms the Gentile was outside while God was dealing with Israel, not part of the nation of Israel. But the next verse begins, "But now, in Christ."
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:
More Questions
What does Ephesians 2:12 say about the condition of Gentiles before Christ?
Paul describes the earlier condition of the Gentile believers in Ephesians 2:12: at that time they were without Christ/Messiah, aliens non-citizens from Israel's commonwealth, strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope, and without God in this world.
Did Ephesians 2:12 confirm that the old program was 'Jew only, with exceptions'?
Les was not crazy for putting on the board that the pre-Paul program was 'Jew only, with exceptions,' because Ephesians 2:12 confirms it.
Why were the Gentiles without hope and without God before Paul?
Gentiles were without hope and without God in the world while God was dealing with Israel because they were not part of the nation of Israel.