to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ephesians 4:22
What does Ephesians 4:22 mean?
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Ephesians 4:22
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The "old self" isn't just a set of bad habits you pick up; it's described as being progressively ruined ("corrupting") by "deceitful desires." This suggests that the corruption is an ongoing process driven by desires that promise fulfillment but ultimately lead to destruction.
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining the core of what it means to truly follow Christ, emphasizing a radical transformation in their way of life. Having just described the futility of the non-believing Gentiles' minds and actions, he now calls believers to actively shed their former selves. This means renouncing the old identity and its corrupt desires, making way for the new identity in Christ that will be described next.
Ever feel like you're shedding old habits, only to find them creeping back? This verse gets to the heart of what it means to truly leave the past behind.
Paul uses the vivid metaphor of 'the old man' not just to describe a sinful nature, but an entire way of life, a former 'conversation' or conduct.
More Than Just a Feeling
This isn't about a temporary mood or a fleeting thought. It's about an ingrained pattern of behavior and thinking rooted in our pre-conversion state. Think of it like this: the 'old man' is the whole wardrobe of your former self, complete with all its styles and habits.
A Radical Renunciation
'Putting off' this old man signifies a decisive break. It's like taking off an old, ill-fitting coat that no longer serves you. It requires a conscious decision to abandon the habits, desires, and perspectives that characterized your life before Christ.
Why do old, unhealthy patterns keep pulling us back? This verse reveals the sneaky power behind them.
The 'old man' is 'corrupt through deceitful desires.' This tells us that the driving force behind our former way of life wasn't just simple mistakes, but desires that actively mislead and betray us.
The Illusion of Fulfillment
These desires promise pleasure, satisfaction, or freedom, but their ultimate end is ruin. They are like a mirage in the desert – appearing real and refreshing, but leading only to deeper thirst and disappointment. This corruption isn't just a state; it's a process of decay fueled by these deceptive cravings.
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Recognizing the Trickery
Understanding this helps us identify the subtle ways sin operates. It doesn't always appear ugly. Often, it masquerades as something good or necessary, masking its destructive potential until it's too late.
Understand the original words
apotithēmi · Greek Verb
A metaphor for radical conversion and sanctification, signifying the permanent abandonment of the sinful identity, habits, and nature inherited from Adam and lived out before salvation. It represents the shedding of the 'old man' that is alienated from God.
phtheirō · Greek Verb (Participle)
The inherent state of moral depravity and spiritual rot resulting from sin, leading inevitably to death and separation from the life of God. It characterizes the fallen condition of humanity.
epithumia · Greek Noun
Impulses, cravings, or passions that deceive, promising fulfillment but leading away from God into sin. They are fundamentally deceptive because they mask the destructive nature of sin.
The exhortation to 'put off the old self' in Ephesians 4:22 is deeply rooted in the radical, transformative message Paul preached during his missionary journeys and imprisonment. It directly addresses the profound life-change expected of believers who have encountered Christ and are living in the context of the early church, contrasting their new identity with their former pagan lifestyles.
c. 5 BC - AD 30/33
Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ
The earthly life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, forming the foundation of Christian faith and practice.
c. AD 30-33
Pentecost and the Birth of the Church
The coming of the Holy Spirit and the establishment of the early Christian church in Jerusalem, marked by powerful preaching and the conversion of thousands.
c. AD 33-60
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels extensively throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches and spreading the gospel, encountering both fervent believers and significant opposition.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul is imprisoned in Rome, during which time he writes several epistles, including Ephesians, to encourage and instruct the churches he had founded.
This passage speaks of the 'old self' being crucified with Christ, directly paralleling the idea of 'putting off the old man' by referring to its complete destruction through Christ's sacrifice.
Colossians 3:9-10This passage also commands believers to 'put off the old self' and describes it as being 'renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator,' reinforcing the concept of shedding the old identity for a new one in Christ.
Galatians 5:19-21This passage lists 'works of the flesh' that align with the 'deceitful desires' mentioned in Ephesians, showing the sinful behaviors that the 'old self' engages in and that believers are called to renounce.
Jeremiah 17:9This verse highlights the deceitfulness of the human heart, which directly relates to the 'deceitful lusts' that characterize and corrupt the 'old self' described in Ephesians 4:22.
barnesEphesians 4:22: "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;"
That ye put off - That you lay aside, or renounce. The manner in which the apostle states those duties, renders it not improbable that there had been some instruction among them of a contrary character, and that it is possible there had been some teachers there who had not enforced, as they should bare done, the duties of practical religion. Concerning the former…
vincentEphesians 4:22: "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;"
That ye put awayDependent upon ye were taught, and specifying the purport of the teaching.The old manSee on Romans 6:6. Compare Colossians 3:9.Which is corrupt (τὸν φθειρόμενον)The A.V. misses the force of the participle. The verb is passive, which is being corrupted, and marks the progressive condition of corruption which characterizes "the old man." Rev., corr…
The "old self" isn't just a set of bad habits you pick up; it's described as being progressively ruined ("corrupting") by "deceitful desires." This suggests that the corruption is an ongoing process driven by desires that promise fulfillment but ultimately lead to destruction.
Paul is explaining the core of what it means to truly follow Christ, emphasizing a radical transformation in their way of life. Having just described the futility of the non-believing Gentiles' minds and actions, he now calls believers to actively shed their former selves. This means renouncing the old identity and its corrupt desires, making way for the new identity in Christ that will be described next.
Paul is explaining the core of what it means to truly follow Christ, emphasizing a radical transformation in their way of life. Having just described the futility of the non-believing Gentiles' minds and actions, he now calls believers to actively shed their former selves. This means renouncing the old identity and its corrupt desires, making way for the new identity in Christ that will be described next.
"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires," — The "old self" isn't just a set of bad habits you pick up; it's described as being progressively ruined ("corrupting") by "deceitful desires." This suggests that the corruption is an ongoing process…
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Last reviewed October 2026