Verse:
Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness (justify / dikaiosune) and true holiness (sanctify / hosiotes).
Commentary by Albert Barnes
Verse 24. And that ye put on the new man. The new man refers to the renovated nature. This is called, in other places, the "new creature, or the new creation," See Barnes "2 Corinthians 5:17", and refers to the condition after the heart is changed. The change is so great, that there is no impropriety in speaking of one who has experienced it as "a new man." He has new feelings, principles, and desires. He has laid aside his old principles and practices, and, in everything that pertains to moral character, he is new. His body is indeed the same; the intellectual structure of his mind the same; but there has been a change in his principles and feelings which make him, in all the great purposes of life, a new being. Learn, that regeneration is not a trifling change. It is not a mere change of relations, or of the outward condition. It is not merely being brought from the world into the church, and being baptized, though by the most holy hands; it is much more. None of these things would make proper the declaration, "he is a new man." Regeneration by the Spirit of God does.
After God. ~kata yeon~. In respect to God. The idea is, evidently, that man is so renewed as to become like God, or the Divine image is restored to the soul. In the parallel passage in Colossians Colossians 3:10 the idea is expressed more fully--"renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Man, by regeneration, is restored to the lost image of God. Comp. Genesis 1:26.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
Is created. A word that is often used to denote the new birth, from its strong resemblance to the first act of creation. See it explained See Barnes "2 Corinthians 5:17".
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
In righteousness. That is, the renewed man is made to resemble God in righteousness. This proves that man, when he was made, was righteous; or that righteousness constituted a part of the image of God in which he was created. The object of the work of redemption is to restore to man the lost image of God, or to bring him back to the condition in which he was before he fell.
And true holiness. Marg., as in Greek, holiness of truth-- standing in contrast with "lusts of deceit" (Greek) in Ephesians 4:22. Holiness properly refers to purity towards God, and righteousness to integrity towards men; but it is not certain that this distinction is observed here. The general idea is, that the renovated man is made an upright and a pious man; and that therefore he should avoid the vices which are practised by the heathen, and which the apostle proceeds to specify. This phrase also proves that, when man was created, he was a holy being.
Ephesians 4:22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
"in righteousness" Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10Source
Galatians 6:15 Ephesians 2:10
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Commentary by JamiesonFaussetBrown
put on the new man after God, etc.
--Opposed to "the old man," which is to be "put off" (Eph 4:22). The Greek here (kainon) is different from that for "re-new-ed" (Eph 4:23).
Eph 4:22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; Put on not merely a renovated nature, but a new, that is, altogether different nature, a changed nature (compare Note,, see on Col 3:10).
Eph 4:23
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Col 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. in righteousness
--Translate, "Which hath been created (once for all: so the Greek aorist means: in Christ, Eph 2:10; so that in each believer it has not to be created again, but to be put on) after (the image of) God" (Ge 1:27; Col 3:10; 1Pe 1:15), &c.
Eph 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. God's image in which the first Adam was originally created, is restored, to us far more gloriously in the second Adam, the image of the invisible God (2Co 4:4; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3).
Ge 1:27 Col 3:10
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.1Pe 1:15
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
2Co 4:4 Col 1:15
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Heb 1:3
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. true holiness
--"IN" it as the element of the renewed man. Source
--rather, as the Greek, "holiness of the truth"; holiness flowing from sincere following of "the truth of God" (Ro 1:25; Ro 3:7; Ro 15:8): opposed to "the lusts of deceit" (Greek, Eph 4:22);
Ro 1:25 Ro 3:7
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. Ro 15:8
Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?"
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs compare also Eph 4:21, "truth is in Jesus." "Righteousness" is in relation to our fellow men, the second table of the law; "Holiness," in relation to God, the first table; the religious observance of offices of piety (compare Lu 1:75). In the parallel (Col 3:10)
Eph 4:22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; it is, "renewed in knowledge after the image," etc. As at Colosse the danger was from false pretenders to knowledge, the true "knowledge" which flows from renewal of the heart is dwelt on; so at Ephesus, the danger being from the corrupt morals prevalent around, the renewal in "holiness," contrasted with the Gentile "uncleanness" (Eph 4:19), and "righteousness," in contrast to "greediness," is made prominent.
Lu 1:75 Col 3:10
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Commentary by John Gill
And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness;
Which some understand of Jesus Christ, who is truly and really man, and a new or extraordinary one, (Jeremiah 31:22) and as such is God's creature, and is made after his image, and which appears in his perfect holiness and righteousness; and the phrase of putting on well agrees with him, (Romans 13:14) (Galatians 3:27) whose righteousness is a garment, pure and spotless, and which is put on by the hand of faith: though rather by the "new man" is meant, the new nature, the new principle, or work of grace in the soul, elsewhere called a new creature; and it bears this name in opposition to, and distinction from the old man, or corruption of nature, before spoken of; and because it is "de noro", or anew, put into the hearts of men;
Jeremiah 31:22
How long will you wander,
O unfaithful daughter?
The LORD will create a new thing on earth-
a woman will surround a man."it is not what was in them naturally; nor is it any old principle renewed, or wrought up in another and better form; but it is something that is infused, that was never there before: and because it is new in all its parts; such who have it, have new hearts and new spirits given unto them; they have new eyes to see with, and new ears to hear with, and new hands to handle and work with, and new feet to walk with; and they live a new life and conversation: so the Jews says of a man that truly repents of sin, and does not return to it, that he is (vdx xya) , "a new man" : now to put on this new man, is not to make ourselves new creatures; for this is not by the power of man, but by the Spirit of God; this is God's work, and not man's; it is he who made us at first, remakes us, and not we ourselves; besides, these Ephesians the apostle writes to, were already made new men, or new creatures; but to put on the new man, is to walk in our lives and conversations agreeably to the new man, or work of grace upon the soul; as to put off the old man, respects the former conversation, or a not walking as formerly, and agreeably to the dictates of corrupt nature, so to put on the new man, is to walk according to the principles of grace and holiness formed in the soul: and of this new man it is further said,
Romans 13:14 Galatians 3:27
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Source
the principle of the soul is "created", and therefore is not the effect of man's power, which cannot create; it is peculiar to God only to create; it is a creature, and therefore not to be trusted in, and depended on; for not grace, but the author of grace, is the object of trust: it is created "after God"; by his power, according to his mind and will, and after his image, and in his likeness; which greatly consists "in righteousness and true holiness"; called "true", in opposition to the typical and ceremonial holiness of the Jews, and to the pretended holiness of hypocrites; and denotes the truth and genuineness of the Spirit's work of sanctification upon the heart; unless this should rather be considered as the effect of his grace upon the soul; for so the words may be rendered, "unto righteousness and true holiness"; for the new man is of such a nature, and so formed, as to tend to acts of righteousness and holiness, and to engage men to the performance of them: some copies read, "in righteousness, and holiness, and truth"; and so the Ethiopic version seems to have read.
Commentary by John Wesley
The new man After
- Universal holiness. Source
- In the very image of God.
Commentary by Matthew Henry
And that you put on the new man, Ephesians 4:24. By the new man is meant the new nature, the new creature, which is actuated by a new principle, even regenerating grace, enabling a man to lead a new life, that life of righteousness and holiness which Christianity requires. This new man is created, or produced out of confusion and emptiness, by God's almighty power, whose workmanship it is, truly excellent and beautiful. After God, in imitation of him, and in conformity to that grand exemplar and pattern. The loss of God's image upon the soul was both the sinfulness and misery of man's fallen state; and that resemblance which it bears to God is the beauty, the glory, and the happiness, of the new creature. In righteousness towards men, including all the duties of the second table; and in holiness towards God, signifying a sincere obedience to the commands of the first table; true holiness in opposition to the outward and ceremonial holiness of the Jews. We are said to put on this new man when, in the use of all God's appointed means, we are endeavouring after this divine nature, this new creature. This is the more general exhortation to purity and holiness of heart and life.
Source
Commentary by Scofield
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
new manrighteousness (See Scofield "Romans 10:10") .
The new man is the regenerate man as distinguished from the old man and is a new man as having become a partaker of the divine nature and life and in no sense the old man made over, or improved ;
Colossians 3:3,4 2 Peter 1:4
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. The new man is Christ, "formed" in the believer;
2 Corinthians 5:17 Colossians 3:10
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Ephesians 2:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Galatians 2:20 Galatians 4:19
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Colossians 1:27
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 1 John 4:12
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. Source
Romans 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
About Commentary Authors
Prepared by William C. Barman for George Young Memorial United Methodist Church -- Palm Harbor, FL on 9/25/03; 5:26:14 PM