Ephesians 2.2c-The Cosmic World System of Satan
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday September 5, 2023
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 2:2c-The Cosmic World System of Satan
Lesson # 73
Ephesians 2:1 Now, correspondingly, even though, each and every one of you as a corporate unit were spiritually dead ones because of your transgressions, in other words, because of your sins. 2 Each and every one of you formerly lived by means of these in agreement with the standard of the unregenerate people of this age, which is the production of the cosmic world system, in agreement with the standard of the sovereign ruler, namely the sovereign governmental authority ruling over the evil spirits residing in the earth’s atmosphere. Specifically the spirit who is presently working in the lives of those members of the human race who are characterized by disobedience. (Lecturer’s translation)
The contents of Ephesians 2:2 continues Paul’s thought from Ephesians 2:1 because both speak of the transgressions or sins committed against God by the recipients of the Ephesian epistle prior to their justification.
As we noted, in the latter, these pre-justification transgressions or sins were the reason why these Gentile Christians were spiritually dead, however, in the former, they are the means by which they lived their lives prior their justification.
Ephesians 2:2 contains a declarative statement which is modified three prepositional phrases.
The third prepositional phrase is modified by an appositional clause, which contains an articular participle, which is modified by a prepositional phrase.
The declarative statement en hais pote periepatēsate (ἐν αἷς ποτε περιεπατήσατε), “Each and every one of you formerly lived by means of these” refers to the lifestyle of the recipients of the Ephesian epistle prior to the Father declaring them justified by faith in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.
The first prepositional phrase en hais (ἐν αἷς), “by means of these” is fronted in order to link the contents of Ephesians 2:1-2.
It indicates the means by which these Gentile Christians lived their lives prior to the Father declaring them justified through faith in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.
It expresses the idea that these Gentile Christians lived their lives “by means of their transgressions” or in other words, “by means of their sins.”
The second prepositional phrase kata ton aiōna tou kosmou toutou (κατὰ τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου), “in agreement with the standard of this age, which is the production of this cosmic world system” also modifies the declarative statement.
This is indicated by the fact that it reveals that the unregenerate lifestyle of these Gentile Christians was “in agreement with the standard of” the unregenerate people of this present age, which is the work of the cosmic world system.
The third prepositional phrase kata ton archonta tēs exousias tou aeros (κατὰ τὸν ἄρχοντα τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος), “in agreement with the standard of the sovereign ruler, namely the sovereign governmental authority ruling over the evil spirits residing in the earth’s atmosphere” advances upon the previous prepositional phrase.
This is indicated by the fact that the unregenerate lifestyle of the recipients of the Ephesian epistle was in agreement with the standard in which the sovereign governmental ruler of this cosmic world system lives, who is the ruler over the evil spirits residing in the earth’s atmosphere and thus planet earth itself.
Lastly, the appositional clause tou pneumatos tou nyn energountos en tois huiois tēs apeitheias (τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ νῦν ἐνεργοῦντος ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῆς ἀπειθείας), “Specifically the spirit who is presently working in the lives of those members of the human race who are characterized by disobedience” is modifying the third prepositional phrase.
It identifies or describes the sovereign ruler or sovereign governmental authority of the cosmic world system.
He is the spirit who during the present age is working in the lives of those members of the human race who are characterized by disobedience to God.
In Ephesians 2:2, the noun kosmos (κόσμος), “cosmic world system” pertains to a vast system and arrangement of human affairs, earthly goods, godless governments, conflicts, riches, pleasures, culture, education, world religions, the cults and the occult dominated and negatively affected by Satan who is god of this satanic cosmos.
This system is promoted by Satan, conformed to his ideals, aims, methods, and character, and stands perpetually in opposition to God the cause of Christ.
This world system is used to seduce men away from God and the person of Christ and it is anti-God, anti-Christ, and anti-Bible, and very anti-humanity though it often appears as humanitarian as part of Satan’s masquerade as an angel of light.
The noun kosmos is not only a system but also an organization.
An organization is that which is organized.
Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines the verb “organize”:
(1) To form as or into a whole consisting of interdependent or coordinated parts, especially for harmonious or united action
(2) To systematize.
If we paraphrase this definition, we could say that the noun kosmos refers to the “formation into a whole of interdependent and coordinated parts for harmonious and united action” against God.
Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines a “system” as “an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole; due method or orderly manner of arrangement or procedure.”
If we paraphrase this definition, we could say that the noun kosmos refers to the “assemblage of fallen angels forming a complex whole” that is under the authority of Satan.
The cosmic system is not a theocratic or Christocentric society, organization or system since it is designed by Satan to seduce men away from worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan uses temptations to incorporate even believers into his system and organization that is independent of God.
The noun kosmos (κόσμος) functions as a genitive of production.
This indicates that this present age in which all of unregenerate humanity is enslaved to the indwelling Adamic old sin nature as well as enslaved to Satan and his cosmic world system is “produced by” this cosmic world system.
In other words, this present age is “produced by” the sinful rulership of Satan over all the earth and its sinful inhabitants.
In other words, this present age, which began with the fall of Adam and Eve and continues up to the time Paul wrote this epistle, is the work of the cosmic world system of Satan.
This second prepositional phrase kata ton aiōna tou kosmou toutou (κατὰ τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου), “in agreement with the standard of the unregenerate people of this age, which is the production of this cosmic world system” is expressing the idea that prior to justification the recipients of Ephesians epistle were living their lives committing sins against God “in agreement with the standard” in which the unregenerate people of this present age live their lives.
This age is the work or production of the cosmic world system of Satan.
The fact that unregenerate humanity live according to the standard of this present evil age after the Fall and prior to the Second Advent and which age is produced by the cosmic system of Satan is why John prohibits the Christian community from loving the cosmic system in John 2:15-17.
1 John 2:15 Each one of you continue making it your habit of not loving the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone does at any time love this world, then the love for the Father is unequivocally not existing in him. 16 Secondly, each and every one of these things in the world (the flesh’s lust resulting in a person’s lust resulting in the arrogance produced by material possessions) are unequivocally not originating from the Father. On the contrary, they are originating from this world. 17 Furthermore, this world is passing away along with its lust. However, the one who at any time does God’s will is living with reference to that which is eternal. (Lecturer’s translation)