Barry Hofstetter wrote:
No, "in" would be better. It's either an associative dative or a dative of cause. "Dead to" sounds like sin has ended, and Paul here is saying that while we were dead in our sins God had mercy on us, it was while we were dead in our sins that God raised us up... Remember that the present participle denotes that the action or state is current to that of the main verb.
Hi Barry thank you for taking the time to respond. Any addition information you have pertaining to this would be appreciated. As I said to Jonathan I think the main verb thing leaves to much wiggle room in knowing for sure, It seems a bit subjective. I would like to also add in relation to your post that a theological summation for interpretation can go either way. One can prove theologically one is dead to sin and dead in sin via Romans 6;6-13 and Colossians 2:13 respectively.
Here are a couple translations that show how the context flows.
Far Above All Translations of the Robinson Pierpont of the Byzantine Text form;
Including you who are dead to transgressions and sins, in which you once walked, according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit which is now active in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all also once had our mode of life, in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh, and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as the rest are too, but God, being rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us, made us, being dead to transgressions, alive together with Christ you have been saved by grace
(Eph 2:1-5 FAA)
From the Concordant Literal Version:
And you, being dead to your offenses and sins, in which once you walked, in accord with the eon of this world, in accord with the chief of the jurisdiction of the air, the spirit now operating in the sons of stubbornness " (among whom we also all behaved ourselves once in the lusts of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the comprehension, and were, in our nature, children of indignation, even as the rest), yet God, being rich in mercy, because of His vast love with which He loves us" (we also being dead to the offenses and the lusts), vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved!)"
(Eph 2:1-5 CLV)
H. T. Anderson's work:
(Eph 2:1 [Anderson])
Even you, being dead to offenses and sins,
(Eph 2:2 [Anderson])
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is actively at work in the sons of disobedience:
(Eph 2:3 [Anderson])
among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the feelings, and were by nature children of wrath, even as others:
(Eph 2:4 [Anderson])
but God, being rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,
(Eph 2:5 [Anderson])
made alive with Christ even us, being dead to our offenses, (by grace you are saved,)
Thank you again and thank you in advance for any further information you may provide.