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.
Also we - i:e., we also. Paul joins himself in the same category, passing from the second (Ephesians 2:1-2) to the first person.
All - Jews and Gentiles. All - Jews and Gentiles.
Had our conversation - `our way of life' (2 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Peter 1:18). This х anestrapheemen (G390)] implies an outwardly more decorous course than the 'walk' in gross sins on the part of the Gentile Ephesians in times past (Ephesians 2:2). Paul and his Jewish countrymen, though outwardly more seemly than the Gentiles (Acts 26:4-5; Acts 26:18), had been essentially like them in living to the unrenewed flesh, without the Spirit of God.
Fulfilling - Greek, 'doing.'
Mind, х ton (G3588) dianoioon (G1271)] - 'our thoughts.' Mental suggestions and purposes (independent of God); spiritual sins of the intellect; as distinguished from blind impulses of "the flesh," the sensual, worldly principle.
And were by nature. He intentionally substitutes 'and we were' for 'and being,' to contrast emphatically his and their past state by nature with their present state by grace. Not merely, we had our way of life fulfilling our fleshly desires, and so being children of wrath; but we were by nature originally "children of wrath," and consequently had our way of life fulfilling our fleshly desires. "Nature" х phusei (G5449)] implies that which has grown with our growth, and strengthened with our strength, as distinguished from that worked on us by mere external influences: what is inherent, not acquired (Job 14:4; Psalms 51:5). An incidental proof of original sin.
Children of wrath - not merely 'sons,' as 'sons х huiois (G5207)] of disobedience' (Ephesians 2:2), but "children" х tekna (G5043)] by generation; not merely by adoption, as 'sons' might be. The Greek order marks this innate corruption: 'Those who in their (very) nature are children of wrath:' Ephesians 2:5, "grace" is opposed to "nature" here; and salvation (implied in Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 2:8, "saved") to "wrath." Compare Article IX, 'Common Prayer Book.' 'Original, or birth-sin, standeth not in the following of Adam, but is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man naturally engendered of Adam (Christ was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit of the virgin), whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil; and therefore, in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation.' Paul shows that even the Jews, notwithstanding their birth from Abraham, were naturally children of wrath as the Gentiles, whom the Jews despised for their birth from idolaters (Romans 3:9; Romans 5:12-14). 'Wrath (God's judicial hatred of sin) abideth' on all who disobey the Gospel in faith and practice (John 3:36). "Children of wrath" - a Hebraism; i:e., essentially objects of wrath in our inherent nature, as born in sin. So 'son of death' (margin, 2 Samuel 12:5), "son of perdition" (John 17:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
As others, х hoi (G3588) loipoi (G3062)] - 'as the rest' of mankind are (1 Thessalonians 4:13).