among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse reveals that "the mind" itself has desires that lead us astray, not just our physical appetites. This isn't just about gross sins of the body; it also includes the subtle, internal ways our thoughts and intentions can drive us away from God.
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining the universal state of humanity before encountering God's grace. He's transitioning from addressing the Gentiles directly ("you who were dead") to including himself and Jewish believers ("we also"), emphasizing that both groups lived enslaved by sinful desires. This verse sets the stage for the radical grace described in the following verses, which contrasts this state of being "children of wrath" with being made alive in Christ.
Paul paints a stark picture of humanity before Christ. It wasn't just occasional slip-ups; it was a way of life. What does it mean to live 'in the passions of our flesh'?
Paul uses the word 'lived' (which can also be translated as 'conducted ourselves' or 'walked') to describe the habitual way people existed before encountering God's grace. This wasn't a passive state but an active pursuit.
Driven by 'The Flesh' and 'The Mind'
Together, these drove our lives, leading us to 'carry out' or 'do' their desires. It was a life lived according to an internal, fallen blueprint, not an external, divine one.
Paul doesn't just describe our actions; he defines our state. What does it truly mean to be a 'child of wrath'?
This phrase, 'children of wrath,' is a powerful and sobering declaration. It speaks to our inherent condition apart from God's intervention.
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Born into a State of Judgment
Understand the original words
sarx · Greek Noun
The human nature in its fallen, unredeemed state; the seat of sinful impulses and desires that are contrary to the will of God.
orgē · Greek Noun
A state of being under the righteous, judicial judgment of God due to human sinfulness. It describes the holy antagonism of God against all that is evil and corrupt.
This passage echoes Ephesians 2:3 by stating that 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,' highlighting the universal nature of human sinfulness described in the verse.
Romans 5:12This verse directly links sin and death to the entire human race through Adam, reinforcing the concept of being 'by nature children of wrath' as a consequence of our inherited fallen state.
Colossians 1:21This passage describes believers as once being 'aliens and enemies in your minds and in your evil deeds,' which directly relates to living 'in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind' before their transformation.
Jeremiah 17:9This verse declares 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?' This powerfully supports the idea that our natural desires and minds are inherently inclined toward sin and deserving of God's wrath.
Romans 1:18This passage speaks of the 'wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,' providing a theological backdrop for why those living according to their fleshly desires are rightly called 'children of wrath.'
vincentEphesians 2:3: "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."
Had our conversation (ἀνεστράφημεν)See on the kindred noun conversation, 1 Peter 1:15. Rev., more simply, lived.Fulfilling (ποιοῦντες)Rev., doing. The verb implies carrying out or accomplishing, so that the A.V. is more nearly correct. See on Romans 7:15; see on John 3:21.Desires (θ…
bengelEphesians 2:3: "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."
Ephesians 2:3 . Καὶ ἡμεῖς ) we also , viz. Jews. In the last times of the Old Testament sin had greatly prevailed, even among the Jews, in order that grace might more abound; Romans 5:6 ; Romans 5:20 ; Titus 3:3 ; Luke 1:17 ; Luke 1:79 ; Matthew 4:16 .— ἀνεστράφημεν , we were conversan…
The verse reveals that "the mind" itself has desires that lead us astray, not just our physical appetites. This isn't just about gross sins of the body; it also includes the subtle, internal ways our thoughts and intentions can drive us away from God.
Paul is explaining the universal state of humanity before encountering God's grace. He's transitioning from addressing the Gentiles directly ("you who were dead") to including himself and Jewish believers ("we also"), emphasizing that both groups lived enslaved by sinful desires. This verse sets the stage for the radical grace described in the following verses, which contrasts this state of being "children of wrath" with being made alive in Christ.
Paul is explaining the universal state of humanity before encountering God's grace. He's transitioning from addressing the Gentiles directly ("you who were dead") to including himself and Jewish believers ("we also"), emphasizing that both groups lived enslaved by sinful desires. This verse sets the stage for the radical grace described in the following verses, which contrasts this state of being "children of wrath" with being made alive in Christ.
"among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." — The verse reveals that "the mind" itself has desires that lead us astray, not just our physical appetites. This isn't just about gross sins of the body; it also includes the subtle, internal ways our…
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Last reviewed October 2026