Ephesians 4:18 (GNV)

Passage

Hauing their vnderstanding darkened, and being strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardnesse of their heart:

Nearby Context

Ephesians 4:16 By whome al the body being coupled and knit together by euery ioynt, for ye furniture therof (according to the effectual power, which is in the measure of euery part) receiueth increase of the body, vnto the edifying of itselfe in loue.

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord, that yee hencefoorth walke not as other Gentiles walke, in vanitie of their minde,

Ephesians 4:18 Hauing their vnderstanding darkened, and being strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardnesse of their heart:

Ephesians 4:19 Which being past feeling, haue giuen themselues vnto wantonnesse, to woorke all vncleannesse, euen with griedinesse.

Ephesians 4:20 But yee haue not so learned Christ,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hauing", "vnderstanding", "darkened", "strangers", "life", "through", "ignorance", and "hardnesse". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hauing" and "vnderstanding", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "This I say therefore and testifie in..." into verse 19's "Which being past feeling haue giuen themselues...", so "hauing" and "vnderstanding" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hauing" and "vnderstanding" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.