You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
2 Wherein[en][hos] in time past[pote] ye
walked[peripateo] according to[kata] the course[aion] of this[toutou] world,[kosmos] according
to[kata] the prince[archon] of the power[exousia] of
the air,[aer] the spirit[pneuma] that now[nun] worketh[energeo] in[en] the children[huios] of disobedience:[apeitheia]
KJV-Interlinear
2 in which
you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons
of disobedience. NASB
Wherein, refers to the sins mentioned in the previous verse. This includes all manner of sin, not just criminality, but also indifference and the pattern of life that leads inevitably to sin.
Think of sin as all opposition or disregard or indifference or belief substitutions for God, Christ, and truth. Do not limit the idea of sins to your pet list of infractions that you generally see in others.
Walked, is an expression that refers to the course of life, the day to day things that you do and think and believe and pursue during your life. Walking or running is often used to symbolize the path or race or course you follow through your life.
The course of this world is often used as all aspects of sin or evil, which are in opposition to God. World, is sometimes referred to the cosmos, or the realm of the physical existence, and cosmos diabolicus is generally used as a phrase to describe the policies and actions and plan and pursuits of Satan, or the whole realm of evil in all of is aspects.
Prince, 'archon,' means anyone who is in authority or has power over something in order to rule it.
Air, 'aer,' is a reference to breathing while unconscious, to blow, air, something that lacks substance, but exists and is unseen.
The prince of the air is a reference to Satan, who is the current ruler over this world, ruling from his own position of evil.
Now, note one important thing here. Man does not rule this world. Satan is the unseen ruler and his policy of evil is the framework or constitution by which he rules this world.
Spirit, 'pneuma,' means to breathe or breath or blast. It is often times used as a notation for the soul, but is also used in reference to living creatures such as man, angels and so forth, as the reference to breathing is symbolic of their life.
All breathing comes from God and is therefore a part of creation. Creation is not the creator. Creation cannot create itself.
Children of disobedience is a reference to all who follow the policies of Satan.
Now, Satan is the ruler. Satans policy is evil. Evil is in total opposition of God. All opposition to God is evil. Anyone who pursues evil is by default follower of Satan.
The breathing of evil is the active engagement and pursuit or evil as a pattern, a chosen pattern of life which the individual freely chooses to pursue and adopt as their way of life.
So, no matter how good or sincere or opinionated you think you are, if you are not in compliance with Gods will, then you are in compliance with Satan's will and a follower of Satan.
So, prior to your salvation, in times past, you had but one course of life, namely evil. Once you believed in Christ, then you received the opportunity to escape evil and enter into the life that God has originally designed for you, namely good.
Salvation is automatic with faith in Christ, however there is another aspect of life, your new pattern in the spiritual life which you still must choose on a daily basis, in order to grow up in your spiritual life to spiritual maturity. You can still imitate the unbelievers in their lives of evil, but what good is that when you have something far, far better?
