Ephesians 4:22-24
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The verse highlights that the "old self" isn't just bad habits, but a whole way of life that is actively being corrupted from within by deceitful desires. This corruption is a process, like something "waxing corrupt," rather than a static state, emphasizing that these desires promise fulfillment but lead only to ruin.
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)
Paul is explaining the practical outworking of the new life in Christ that believers have received. He has just described how they should no longer live like the unsaved Gentiles, but instead be renewed in their minds and hearts. This verse marks the beginning of his instruction on what that renewal entails: shedding old habits and embracing a new identity.
We often think of 'putting off' sins like changing clothes. But the Bible speaks of shedding an entire 'old self.' What does that really mean for your identity?
Paul uses the powerful phrase 'the old man' to describe our pre-conversion identity. It's not just about a few bad habits; it's your entire way of being, shaped by sin.
More Than Just Bad Deeds
Putting off the 'old man' means recognizing that your identity in Adam is over. It's a radical shift from who you were to who you are in Christ.
What fuels this 'old self'? The verse points to 'deceitful desires.' Discover how these desires work and why they are so destructive.
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The 'old man' is 'corrupt through deceitful desires.' These aren't just fleeting wants; they are powerful, deceptive forces that drive sin and decay.
The Lure and the Lie
Recognizing these deceitful desires is crucial. It's about understanding the seductive power of sin and why we must actively guard our hearts and minds against its allure.
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
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.
Paul wrote Ephesians during his Roman imprisonment, a time when Christians faced intense societal pressure and internal challenges. This context underscores the urgency of his call to shed the 'old self' and embrace the 'new self' rooted in Christ, a radical transformation needed to navigate a corrupt world and live authentically as followers of Jesus.
c. 5 BC - AD 30/33
Life and Ministry of Jesus
The foundational events of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection, which form the basis of Christian belief and the 'new self' believers are called to embody.
c. AD 30s - 50s
Early Spread of Christianity
The gospel message, centered on Jesus Christ, begins to spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire, with apostles like Paul establishing churches.
c. AD 40s
Paul's Conversion and Early Ministry
Saul of Tarsus is converted to Christianity and becomes the Apostle Paul, a key figure in spreading the faith and writing letters to early churches.
c. AD 50
Council of Jerusalem
The early church leaders decide that Gentile believers do not need to follow all Mosaic laws, a crucial step in the mission to the Gentiles.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul writes letters such as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon from prison, addressing theological and practical issues faced by the churches.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome and Persecution
Nero blames Christians for the fire, leading to the first major persecution, highlighting the intense pressure and opposition faced by believers.
This passage explains the concept of the 'old self' being crucified with Christ, directly paralleling the idea of 'putting off' the old self found in Ephesians 4:22.
Colossians 3:9-10Similar to Ephesians, this passage speaks of 'putting off the old self' and being 'renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator,' reinforcing the theme of transformation.
Galatians 5:19-21This passage lists the 'works of the flesh' which are the manifestations of the corrupt 'old self' that believers are called to put off, highlighting the corrupting influence of deceitful desires.
2 Corinthians 5:17This verse describes the believer as a 'new creation' in Christ, emphasizing the radical transformation that occurs when the old self is put off and a new life begins.
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 verse highlights that the "old self" isn't just bad habits, but a whole way of life that is actively being corrupted from within by deceitful desires. This corruption is a process, like something "waxing corrupt," rather than a static state, emphasizing that these desires promise fulfillment but lead only to ruin.
Paul is explaining the practical outworking of the new life in Christ that believers have received. He has just described how they should no longer live like the unsaved Gentiles, but instead be renewed in their minds and hearts. This verse marks the beginning of his instruction on what that renewal entails: shedding old habits and embracing a new identity.
Paul is explaining the practical outworking of the new life in Christ that believers have received. He has just described how they should no longer live like the unsaved Gentiles, but instead be renewed in their minds and hearts. This verse marks the beginning of his instruction on what that renewal entails: shedding old habits and embracing a new identity.
"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 verse highlights that the "old self" isn't just bad habits, but a whole way of life that is actively being corrupted from within by deceitful desires. This corruption is a process, like somethi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
