What time does 'at that time' refer to in Ephesians 2:12?
In Ephesians 2:12, 'at that time' refers to the period when Israel was uppermost in God's program—from Abraham's call until Paul. During that era, Jews looked down on Gentiles as uncircumcised, while Gentiles were aliens from Israel, strangers to the covenants, without Christ, hope, or God.
Les explains that verse 12's phrase 'at that time' points back to the time when the Jew was still uppermost in God's program and was looking down on the Gentile as the uncircumcised dogs of humanity. The Jews were in the driver's seat from the call of Abraham until the Apostle Paul. During that period, Gentiles 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 notes this confirms that while God was dealing with Israel, with exceptions, the Gentile was outside, not part of the nation of Israel. The next verse then says, '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 time does Paul mean when he says 'at that time' in Ephesians 2?
The time Paul is referring to in this passage is the Old Testament economy, when Israel was under all of God's promises and God was dealing with Jew only on the covenant basis.
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.