Ephesians 4:22

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

American King James Version (AKJV)

That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

American Standard Version (ASV)

that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

Basic English Translation (BBE)

That you are to put away, in relation to your earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit;

Webster's Revision

That ye put off concerning the former manner of life the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts:

World English Bible

that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

English Revised Version (ERV)

that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

Clarke's Ephesians 4:22 Bible Commentary

That ye put off - And this has been one especial part of our teaching, that ye should abandon all these, and live a life totally opposite to what it was before.

The old man - See the note on Romans 6:6, and especially see the notes on Romans 13:13, Romans 13:14 (note).

Which is corrupt - The whole of your former life was corrupt and abominable; ye lived in the pursuit of pleasure and happiness; ye sought this in the gratification of the lusts of the flesh; and were ever deceived by these lusts, and disappointed in your expectations.

Barnes's Ephesians 4:22 Bible Commentary

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 conversation - The word "conversation" here means conduct - as it commonly does in the Bible; see the notes, 2 Corinthians 1:12. The meaning here is, "with respect to your former conduct or habits of life, lay aside all that pertained to a corrupt and fallen nature." You are not to lay "everything" aside that formerly pertained to you. Your dress, and manners, and modes of speech and conversation, might have been in many respects correct. But everything that proceeded from sin; every habit, and custom, and mode of speech and of conduct that was the result of depravity, is to be laid aside. The special characteristics of an unconverted man you are to put off, and are to assume those which are the proper fruits of a renewed heart.

The old man - see the notes on Romans 6:6.

Which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts - The meaning is:

(1) That the unrenewed man is not under the direction of reason and sound sense, but is controlled by his "passions and desires." The word "lusts," has a more limited signification with us than the original word. That word we now confine to one class of sensual appetites; but the original word denotes any passion or propensity of the heart. It may include avarice, ambition, the love of pleasure, or of gratification in any way; and the meaning here is, that the heart is by nature under the control of such desires.

(2) those passions are deceitful. They lead us astray, They plunge us into ruin. All the passions and pleasures of the world are illusive. They promise more than they perform; and they leave their deluded votaries to disappointment and to tears. Nothing is more "deceitful" than the promised pleasures of this world; and all who yield to them find at last that they "flatter but to betray."

Wesley's Ephesians 4:22 Bible Commentary

4:22 The old man - That is, the whole body of sin. All sinful desires are deceitful; promising the happiness which they cannot give.

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