For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
For. Our own past sins should lead us to be lenient toward others. 'Despise none, for such wast thou also,' as the penitent said to his fellow-thief, "Dost thou not fear God ... seeing thou art in the same condemnation." We - Christians.
Were - contrast Titus 3:4, "But after that," etc.; i:e., now: a favorite contrast in Paul's writing, between our past state by nature and our present state by grace. As God treated us, we ought to treat our neighbour. Sometimes - once.
Foolish - senseless х anoeetoi (G453)] in our course of living. Irrational. The exact picture of human life without grace. Grace is the sole remedy (Luke 15:17).
Disobedient - to God. Deceived, [planomenoi] - 'out of the way' (Hebrews 5:2). Serving, х douleuontes (G1398)] - 'in bondage to:' 'serving as slaves.' Divers. The cloyed appetite craves constant variety.
Pleasures - of the flesh. Malice - malignity х kakia (G2549), evil habit of mind; poneeria (G4189), the manifestation of it]. Hateful ... hating - correlatives. Provoking the hatred of others by detestable conduct, and in turn hating them.