Who is Paul referring to sons of disobedience?

Answer 1

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Ephesians 2:1-3 (King James Version) 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. In context, Ephesians 2:1-3 demonstrates the meaning of the term 'children of disobedience' ( sons being clearly interchangeable with children). The contrast is between the old life under sin before the Ephesians had become Christians with the new life in Christ. The fact that Paul uses the term 'we' indicates that he was himself one of these before his conversion. This is also the meaning in the Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6, the verses immediately following where in typical Pauline phraseology it says the following: Ephesians 5:7-8 (King James Version) 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Colossians 3:7-8 (King James Version)

7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Thus Paul is clearly contrasting the old life under sin with the new life in Christ. The disobedience referred to means disobedience to the word and will of God. The Greek word apeitheia means literally 'the condition of being unpersuadable' and as such it denotes obstinacy and obstinate rejection of God's will. The terms 'sons of' was used to denote key characteristics of people, hence the sons of Zebedee were called 'sons of thunder' presumably because they were either loud or aggressive types (this is borne out by their desire to call the fire of God down on the Samaritans).

Thus 'sons of disobedience' describes the key characteristic of these people prior to their reception of the Christian Gospel. A characteristic which Paul himself certainly shared with them.

Answer 2

The references to sons (or children) of disobedience are at Colossians 3:6, and Ephesians 2:2 and 5:6. In order to answer this question more satisfactorily, it should be noted that a small majority of liberal scholars believe that Colossians was not written by Paul and that a clear majority (over 80%) believe that Ephesians was not written by Paul. So, these books were probable written some time between 80 and 95 CE, by an unknown author whose views need not accurately reflect those of Paul half a century earlier.
The "prince of the power of the air" referred to in Ephesians 2:2 is the "ruler of the world" who exists in the lower heavens, below the angels and God above. We can interpret this as either the Demiurge or the Christian devil, or perhaps a spirit at an intermediate level of belief. We do not normally associate the Demiurge with Paul, but it is possible that this is how the pseudo-Pauline author perceived the ruler of the world. See also 3:10, "So that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens" and 6:12, "For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens".
I think Ephesians 5:6 is clearest as to what tha author meant by "children of disobedience" - those who do not accept the Christian beliefs. Ephesians 2:2 and Colossians 3:6 appear to have the same meaning.