Ephesians 4:22 · Bible study
Ephesians 4:22 Commentary: Putting Off the Old Man
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to "put off the old man" corrupted by deceitful desires? Exegetical insights from Greek grammar and major commentators.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A command to decisively renounce the sinful self, which is decaying under the influence of deceptive desires.
- Key words: ἀποθέσθαι (put off, aorist infinitive), παλαιὸς ἄνθρωπος (old man), φθειρόμενον (being corrupted, present passive participle), ἀπάτης (deceit, personified).
- Main debate: Whether “putting off” is a once-for-all positional reality (Rom 6:6) or an ongoing practical process; the present participle “being corrupted” supports the latter, while the aorist infinitive points to the former.
- Theological theme: Sanctification as a decisive break with the old creation, grounded in union with Christ.
- Best use: A key verse for teaching the nature of conversion and the daily discipline of repentance.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
WEB World English Bible 2000
that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit,
KJV King James Version 1769
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
ye are to put off concerning the former behaviour the old man, that is corrupt according to the desires of the deceit,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
[namely] your having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
A que dejéis|strong="G0659, G5209", cuanto á la pasada manera de vivir, el viejo hombre que está viciado conforme á los deseos de error;
quanto ao comportamento passado, que deveis abandonar o velho ser humano, que se corrompe pelos maus desejos de engano;
eu égard à votre vie passée, du vieil homme qui se corrompt par les convoitises trompeuses,
So legt nun von euch ab nach dem vorigen Wandel den alten Menschen, der durch Lüste im Irrtum sich verderbt.
Te weten dat gij zoudt afleggen, aangaande de vorige wandeling, den ouden mens, die verdorven wordt door de begeerlijkheden der verleiding;
avete imparato, per quanto concerne la vostra condotta di prima, a spogliarvi del vecchio uomo che si corrompe seguendo le passioni ingannatrici;
To jest, żebyście złożyli według pierwszego obcowania starego człowieka, który się psuje przez pożądliwości oszukiwające;
отложить прежний образ жизни ветхого человека, истлевающего в обольстительных похотях,
就要 脫去 你們 從前 行為 上的舊 人，這 舊人是因 私慾 的迷惑 漸漸變壞的；
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;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Ephesians 4:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse calls believers to a decisive renunciation of their sinful nature. The Cambridge Bible notes that the Greek infinitive ἀποθέσθαι (aorist) points to a definite crisis, the “putting-off” is a single event tied to conversion. Vincent's Word Studies highlights the present passive participle φθειρόμενον: the old man “is being corrupted” (or “waxes corrupt”), showing an ongoing decay, not a static condition. Calvin describes the old man as the natural disposition inherited from Adam, which must be laid aside like a filthy garment. Barnes adds that the “deceitful lusts” (ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀπάτης) personify deceit itself; these lusts promise satisfaction but deliver disappointment. The shared conviction is clear: the old self, driven by deceptive and decaying desires, must be stripped off so the new self, created in God's likeness, can be put on.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Positional once-for-all view: The aorist infinitive suggests a completed action; Romans 6:6 says 'our old man was crucified with Christ'; Colossians 3:9 says 'you have put off the old man.'
- Progressive practical view: Present participle 'being corrupted' indicates ongoing decay; Ephesians 4 itself is a command (not a statement of fact) implying daily application; 2 Corinthians 4:16 speaks of 'outward man perishing' daily.
What is clear: The verse commands a definitive break with the former sinful pattern of life, enabled by union with Christ, and it identifies the root cause of that corruption as deceitful desires.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Timing of 'putting off' | All traditions see it as a necessary part of salvation and sanctification. | Some (e.g., Cambridge Bible) see the aorist infinitive as referring to a past crisis at conversion; others (e.g., Vincent) emphasise the present participle 'being corrupted' to argue for an ongoing process of renunciation. |
| Nature of the 'old man' | The old man is universally understood as the fallen human nature inherited from Adam. | Calvin identifies it strictly with the natural disposition; others see it as encompassing both the legal position (under sin's condemnation) and the moral corruption, as in the Cambridge note on 'the old state.' |
| Role of deceitful lusts | All agree that desires of the old man are deceptive and lead to corruption. | Some commentators (Barnes, JFB) personify 'deceit' as a power that uses lusts as its tools; others (Calvin) warn against limiting these lusts to gross sins and include more subtle ones like ambition and self-reliance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, a wealthy port city dominated by the temple of Artemis and famous for its practice of magic (Acts 19). Many believers had come out of that Gentile world, which Paul describes as walking “in the vanity of their mind” (4:17). The phrase “former conversation” (προτέραν ἀναστροφήν) refers to their entire manner of life before Christ, not just a few bad habits, but a whole orientation shaped by false religion and moral darkness.
The metaphor of putting off an old garment was familiar in early Christian baptismal instruction. Candidates stripped off their old clothes to symbolize the renunciation of the old self and then put on white garments representing the new creation in Christ. Paul draws on that rich imagery here. The “old man” (παλαιὸς ἄνθρωπος) is a term he uses elsewhere (Romans 6:6, Colossians 3:9) to denote the whole fallen identity, both the legal standing under sin and the moral corruption that flows from it.
The “lusts of deceit” (ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀπάτης) echo Old Testament warnings about the deceptive power of sin (Proverbs 11:18, Jeremiah 49:16). In Ephesus, where magical spells promised power and pleasure but delivered emptiness, this warning hit home. Paul insists that the truth “in Jesus” (v.21) exposes those lies. The call to put off the old man is not a suggestion; it is the necessary flip side of learning Christ.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Ephesians 4:22. The verse is stable across the major Greek manuscripts. The only variation is in the form of the infinitive (ἀποθέσθαι is consistently the middle voice, intensive), but this does not affect interpretation.
Reception History
Early Christian baptismal liturgies (as early as the Apostolic Tradition) used this passage to teach the candidate's renunciation of Satan and all his works, literally stripping off old garments before entering the water. In the Reformation, both Luther and Calvin read this verse as a call to daily repentance (the 'mortification of the flesh') and as a proof of total depravity. Modern evangelical preaching often pairs this verse with Colossians 3:9, 10 as a practical guide to the 'put off/put on' pattern of sanctification. The idea of deceitful desires has also been used by pastoral writers to address the deceptiveness of sin and the need for discernment in the Christian life.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Old Man, Our Identity in Adam. The Greek παλαιὸς ἄνθρωπος refers to everything we were before Christ: our fallen nature, its guilt, and its corruption. Calvin calls it “the natural disposition we bring from our mother’s womb.” This is not just behavior but the root behind it.
- Corrupted by Deceitful Desires. The participle φθειρόμενον (present passive) means “is being corrupted.” Decay is happening now, driven by “desires of deceit.” Every act of sin feeds the corruption. Barnes notes that these desires “promise more than they perform”, they always leave us empty.
- The Decisive Act of Putting Off. The aorist infinitive ἀποθέσθαι suggests a clean break. This is not gradual self-improvement; it is a once-for-all renunciation grounded in the cross. To put off the old man is to refuse to let him rule your daily life.
Five-Point Outline
- Our former way of life (προτέρα ἀναστροφή), a whole pattern of thinking and acting that must be left behind.
- The old man, the fallen self, inherited from Adam, judged and crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).
- Progressive corruption, φθειρόμενον shows the old self is not improving; left to itself, it only decays further.
- Deceitful desires, each desire is a lie dressed as a promise; the root word ἀπάτη personifies deceit as a seductive power.
- The call to put off, this is a command, not a description. Believers are told to act on what is already true in Christ.
Illustration Hooks
- Changing clothes before a formal event: you don’t just add a jacket over dirty clothes; you take off the old entirely.
- A promise from a sales pitch that sounds too good to be true, and turns out to be a trap. Every sinful desire is such a pitch.
- An old coat that is falling apart at the seams and no longer fits the new person you have become.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “If I already put off the old man at conversion, why do I still struggle with the same sins?”
- “How do I know if a desire is deceptive or a good gift from God?”
- “How can this verse help me forgive someone who keeps hurting me?”
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the hinge of Paul's argument in Ephesians 4. Having described the old Gentile walk (vv.17, 19), he now says that learning Christ means putting off the old man and putting on the new. The change is not optional; it is essential to what it means to follow Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- In your own words, what is “the old man”? How does Paul’s phrase differ from saying “old habits”?
- Why does Paul call the desires “deceitful”? Can you think of a time when a desire promised one thing but delivered something else?
- The participle φθειρόμενον is passive: the old man “is being corrupted.” What does this tell us about the nature of sin apart from Christ?
- How does the aorist tense of “put off” (a single decisive action) relate to the ongoing battle with sin in a believer’s life?
- What is one specific “former conversation” (behavior or mindset) that you need to put off this week? How can the group pray for you?
- How does the cross of Christ make this command both possible and necessary (see Romans 6:6)?
- What would change in your church if everyone took seriously the call to “put off the old man” daily?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 1:14 | Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” |
| Job 22:23 | If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents. |
| Proverbs 11:18 | Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. |
| Jeremiah 49:16 | As for your terror, the pride of your heart has deceived you, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill, though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there,” says Yahweh. |
| Ezekiel 18:30 | “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity will not be your ruin. |
| Ezekiel 18:32 | For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live! |
| Obadiah 1:3 | The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ |
| Romans 6:6 | knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the apostle's wording suggests some teachers had neglected to stress practical Christianity. He clarifies that "former conversation" means conduct, and the command to "put off" applies only to what comes from sin and depravity, not every innocent habit. The old nature is ruled by deceitful passions that promise much but leave their followers disappointed.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin distinguishes the "old man" as our inborn corrupt nature from Adam, not as a reference to the Old Testament. He also warns that "deceitful lusts" include not only obvious vices but also subtle corruptions like ambition and self-love that people often applaud.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary stresses that the Greek verb for "put off" is an aorist, pointing to a single definite crisis rather than a gradual process. This putting off of the old man is a past event, breaking connection with the First Adam and establishing union with the Second, so the believer enters acceptance and spiritual power at once.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note explains that putting off the old man means actively casting off ones former sinful way of life. This old nature is thoroughly corrupted by deceitful lusts and must be deliberately rejected, not merely outgrown.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that putting off the old man does not mean removing or destroying this corrupt nature from believers. Rather, it means dethroning him from his ruling power over the life and conduct. The old man remains alive and retains his sinful nature, but he no longer governs the believer's actions.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sharpens the image of the old nature by personifying deceit as a master whose servants are our own lusts. These lusts act as the man’s own executioners, actively corrupting him and fitting him for eternal destruction. Corruption and ruin are inseparably linked.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights that the Greek verb in the King James rendering "which is corrupt" is actually a passive participle describing a progressive condition: the old man is continuously being corrupted, not merely in a decayed state. He also notes that "deceitful lusts" literally means "lusts of deceit," where deceit itself is personified as the source.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the old man as the entire body of sin, not merely isolated faults. His key insight is that all sinful desires are fundamentally deceitful: they promise happiness but cannot deliver what they offer.