{Separate from Christ} (ch(9372)is Christou). Ablative case
with adverbial preposition ch(9372)is, describing their former
condition as heathen. {Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel}
(ap(886c)lotri(936d)enoi t(8873) politeias tou Isra(886c)). Perfect passive
participle of apallotrio(935c), for which see  Col 1:21 . Here
followed by ablative case politeias, old word from politeu(935c),
to be a citizen ( Php 1:27 ) from polit(8873) and that from polis
(city). Only twice in N.T., here as commonwealth (the spiritual
Israel or Kingdom of God) and  Ac 22:28  as citizenship.
{Strangers from the covenants of the promise} (xenoi t(936e)
diath(886b)(936e) t(8873) epaggelias). For xenos (Latin _hospes_), as
stranger see  Mt 25:35,38,43f. , as guest-friend see  Ro 16:23 .
Here it is followed by the ablative case diath(886b)(936e). {Having no
hope} (elpida m(8820)echontes). No hope of any kind. In  Ga 4:8 
ouk (strong negative) occurs with eidotes theon, but here
m(885c) gives a more subjective picture ( 1Th 4:5 ). {Without God}
(atheoi). Old Greek word, not in LXX, only here in N.T.
Atheists in the original sense of being without God and also in
the sense of hostility to God from failure to worship him. See
Paul's words in  Ro 1:18-32 . "In the world" (en t(9369) kosm(9369))
goes with both phrases. It is a terrible picture that Paul gives,
but a true one.