What time period is Paul referring to in Ephesians 2:12 when he says 'in times past'?
Paul refers to the Old Testament period when Israel was under the covenant promises and God dealt almost exclusively with His covenant people. Gentiles were then called uncircumcision by the circumcision. Exceptions such as Jonah sent to Nineveh, Rahab, and a Syrian show God occasionally reached beyond Israel.
Les explains that Ephesians 2:11–12 is addressed to predominantly Gentile believers at Ephesus. Paul reminds them that it was not always this way: in times past they were Gentiles in the flesh, called uncircumcision by the circumcision made with hands. The Jews referred to Gentiles as uncircumcised and even called them dogs. The time Paul refers to is the whole Old Testament period when Israel was under the covenant promises and God dealt only with His covenant people, with exceptions. Les notes exceptions such as Jonah going to Nineveh, Rahab the harlot, and a Syrian, showing that God occasionally reached beyond Israel.
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.
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 time period does 'at that time' refer to in Ephesians 2:12?
By 'at that time' in Ephesians 2:12, Paul is referring to the period before Christ when the Jew was still uppermost in God's program and was looking down on the Gentile as 'the uncircumcised dogs of humanity.'