The Pulpit Commentary on Ephesians 4:24

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

And put on the new man. As the fruit of inward renewal, let there be outward renovation. A new object is clean, fresh, tidy; let your life have something of the same aspect—let your principles, aims, habits, be new, in the sense of being conformed to Christ, who is your life.

Which after God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. "After God," equivalent to "after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:10). Some think" the new man" equivalent to "Christ" (Romans 13:14), constituted the Head of renewed humanity, as Adam of depraved.

But this would not correspond with the exhortation to put off the old man, nor should we be exhorted to put on Christ after being exhorted to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. In what sense, then, has the "new man" been created?

The idea presented itself to the apostle in the abstract—there has been a creation of a new man; but concretely, we have to conform to the Divine creation, in respect of righteousness and holiness; righteousness denoting personal uprightness and fidelity to all social duties; holiness, the state of the spirit toward God.

The last words, "of truth," denote the relation of righteousness and holiness to the truth. The words are opposed to "of deceit" in Ephesians 4:22. Lust is bred of deceit, but righteousness and holiness of truth.

They never deceive, never disappoint, are solid to the end.

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