Ephesians 4:22-24
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The "old self" isn't just a collection of bad habits, but a whole corrupt identity "being corrupted," meaning it's actively decaying and moving towards destruction. This decay isn't random; it's driven by "lusts of deceit," which are desires that promise fulfillment but ultimately lead to ruin, like a predator’s bait.
Paul is explaining the practical implications of embracing the truth of Christ. Having just described the transformation that occurs when one truly learns Christ, he now clarifies what that transformation entails: shedding the old ways of life and adopting new ones. This specific verse focuses on the "putting off" aspect, which involves renouncing a former corrupt way of living driven by deceptive desires.
Ever feel like you're wrestling with an older, worse version of yourself? Scripture calls this the 'old self,' and it's more than just bad habits.
Paul uses the powerful image of the "old self" (or "old man") to describe the entirety of who we were before Christ.
More Than Just Actions
This isn't just about the things we did in our past life. It's about the fundamental identity, the corrupted nature, that drove those actions. Think of it like a computer's operating system versus the apps you run on it. The "old self" is the core system, deeply flawed and prone to errors.
Driven by Deceitful Desires
What fuels this old self? Paul points to "deceitful desires." These aren't just random urges; they are desires that promise fulfillment but ultimately lead to ruin. They're like a siren's song, luring us away from what's good and true. These desires corrupt our thinking, our motives, and our entire being, progressively leading toward destruction.
We're called to 'put off' this old self. What does that really mean? It's not a minor adjustment, but a profound exchange.
The command to "put off your old self" is a call to a radical transformation, akin to removing old, filthy clothes.
Beyond Behavior Modification
This isn't about simply trying to be a slightly better version of your old self. It's a complete shedding of that former identity, the one that was rooted in corruption and driven by deceitful desires.
A New Identity in Christ
Paul presents this 'putting off' as part of a larger process. While Ephesians 4:22 focuses on what we must discard, verses that follow (like 4:24) speak of 'putting on the new self.' This isn't a neutral act; it's an exchange. We are leaving behind a dying identity to embrace a new one created in God's image.
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.
ananeoo · Greek Verb
Paul's words in Ephesians 4:22, urging believers to 'put off the old self,' resonate deeply within the context of a Roman Empire rife with corruption and deceit. He speaks directly to people living under oppressive powers and facing internal spiritual battles, reminding them that true transformation comes from a radical break with past destructive habits, driven by the deceptive allure of worldly desires.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
The Apostle Paul writes Ephesians while under house arrest in Rome, able to receive visitors and teach. This context influences his exhortations on Christian conduct and community.
c. AD 19-37
Reign of Emperor Tiberius
The Roman Empire, under an emperor known for his paranoia and severity, exerted immense power and influence. This era shaped the political and social landscape in which Paul ministered.
c. AD 54-68
Reign of Emperor Nero
Nero's reign was marked by extravagance, cruelty, and the persecution of Christians, including the likely martyrdom of Paul. This period intensified the spiritual warfare believers faced.
c. AD 47-49
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
Paul spent over two years in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor, establishing a strong Christian community. The letter to the Ephesians likely addresses challenges faced by this church and others in the region.
This passage uses similar language, describing believers as having 'put off the old self' and 'put on the new self,' directly paralleling the 'putting off' described in Ephesians 4:22.
Romans 6:6This verse speaks of 'our old self was crucified with him' to abolish the body of sin, connecting the concept of the 'old man' to a decisive, past action of God through Christ that sets believers apart from their former corrupt state.
Galatians 5:17This passage highlights the ongoing conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, which is the underlying dynamic of the 'deceitful lusts' that corrupt the 'old self' mentioned in Ephesians 4:22.
2 Corinthians 5:17This verse declares that 'if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,' underscoring the transformative reality that occurs when the 'old self' is put off and a new identity is embraced in Christ.
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 collection of bad habits, but a whole corrupt identity "being corrupted," meaning it's actively decaying and moving towards destruction. This decay isn't random; it's driven by "lusts of deceit," which are desires that promise fulfillment but ultimately lead to ruin, like a predator’s bait.
Paul is explaining the practical implications of embracing the truth of Christ. Having just described the transformation that occurs when one truly learns Christ, he now clarifies what that transformation entails: shedding the old ways of life and adopting new ones. This specific verse focuses on the "putting off" aspect, which involves renouncing a former corrupt way of living driven by deceptive desires.
Paul is explaining the practical implications of embracing the truth of Christ. Having just described the transformation that occurs when one truly learns Christ, he now clarifies what that transformation entails: shedding the old ways of life and adopting new ones. This specific verse focuses on the "putting off" aspect, which involves renouncing a former corrupt way of living driven by deceptive desires.
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The ongoing process of spiritual transformation by the Holy Spirit, involving a change in the internal orientation, perspective, and faculties of the believer's understanding. It is a re-creation of the inner life toward the mind of Christ.
kainos anthrōpos · Greek Noun phrase
The new identity imparted to the believer at conversion, characterized by a fundamental change of nature that reflects the character of Christ. It is a new 'person' or moral orientation shaped by the Holy Spirit.
homoiōsis · Greek Noun
Refers to the moral nature of God, which is the standard and goal for human character. It signifies that the believer is a new creation molded to mirror the divine attributes of justice and purity.
dikaiosynē · Greek Noun
The state of moral rectitude, integrity, and uprightness in living, consistent with God's commands and character. It is the practical application of being right with God.
hosiotēs · Greek Noun
The state of being set apart for God’s exclusive use, resulting in purity of life and character. It reflects the sanctity of God’s own nature.
c. AD 50-52
Disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus
Paul encountered disciples in Ephesus who had only been baptized with John's baptism and had not received the Holy Spirit. This indicates a possible earlier, less complete understanding of Christian teaching in the region.
c. AD 50s-60s
Rise of Gnosticizing Errors
Various early Christian communities faced challenges from emerging 'Gnostic' ideas, which sometimes blended philosophical speculation with Christian beliefs, leading to distorted understandings of Christ.
"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousn…" — The "old self" isn't just a collection of bad habits, but a whole corrupt identity "being corrupted," meaning it's actively decaying and moving towards destruction. This decay isn't random; it's driv…
