Context 2:12 that you were at that time without the Messiah,1 alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise,2 having no hope and without God in the world.
[2:12]1tn Or “without Christ.” Both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” Because the context refers to ancient Israel’s messianic expectation, “Messiah” was employed in the translation at this point rather than “Christ.”