Eph. 4:18. Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God,
Although the light of the knowledge of God and of a pure life was shining, they darkened themselves, having weakened the sight of the soul with the gloom of passions and worldly cares. Indeed, passions and worldly concerns represent a great and hard-to-cross torrent that darkens the mind. Therefore, those who live in this way are also alienated from the life of God, that is, from the life according to God. For the rational life consists in comprehending the truth. And he who is blind to it does not truly live, since truth is the essence and light of the mind.
Eph. 4:18. because of their ignorance and the hardness of their heart.
So, if they are in ignorance, why do you blame them? One who is ignorant should be taught, not accused. But this ignorance, he says, arose in them as a result of hardening, that is, insensibility; and the insensibility as a result of their inclination toward an impure life, so that they are worthy of accusation. But listen to what follows further.
Eph. 4:19. They, having reached a state of insensibility, gave themselves over to licentiousness, so as to practice every impurity with insatiability.
Do you not see that of their own free will they became so insensible? "Having become callous," that is, having grown completely lazy, not wishing to do anything good, having reached complete insensibility and having become as if mad, "they gave themselves over to licentiousness." For what purpose? To practice uncleanness, because they made it (uncleanness) their occupation and constant activity, and not just one form of it, but every kind. How then could they not have lost all sensitivity, having given themselves over to every kind of uncleanness? For an impure life is the cause of wicked doctrine as well and leads to a failure to understand everything good. Therefore, when in another place you hear that God gave them over "to a debased mind" (Rom. 1:28), remember these words too and, comparing the one with the other, understand that God is said to give over those who give themselves over, that is, He permitted and abandoned them, since they themselves made themselves worthy of that. And even the expression "with greediness" points to a voluntary insensibility in them. For, he says, it was possible for them to use both money and pleasures in moderation, but having given themselves over to excess, they became coarsened in everything and insensible to everything good.
Eph. 4:20. But you did not so learn Christ;
Eph. 4:21. because you have heard about Him and have been taught in Him, – since the truth is in Jesus, –
Eph. 4:22. to put off the former way of life of the old man,
Such is the position of the pagans; "but you did not so learn Christ; because you heard of Him and were taught in Him," that is, after you came to know Christ. And he speaks not with doubt, but with complete confidence. For the knowledge of Christ consists precisely in living virtuously; just as one who lives wickedly does not know Christ. "They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him" (Titus 1:16). And the words "as the truth is in Jesus" understand thus: you should not remain in the same state as the pagans walk. For Christ's work is not vanity, but truth, teaching, and life. Sin is a lie, for it lacks substance and has no purpose; but virtue is truth, for it is stable and has purpose. What then were you taught, in what does Christ's truth consist? In that you put off the old man, that is, the habits of the former life and the life that is old and subject to sin.
Eph. 4:22. corrupted by deceitful lusts,
You can understand this in two ways: either as the lusts decay, so too the man himself, that is, the reason, becomes corrupt. In what way do the lusts decay? From illness and old age beauty fades, and strength likewise, and indeed everything is finally destroyed by death. For "in that day," says David, "all his thoughts perish" (Ps. 146:4). Or else: "in lusts" is said instead of: from lusts. Since from them your old man is corrupted, like cotton and iron, from what they are born, from that they also perish. For the love of glory also destroys — as regards the soul, always, but sometimes bodily as well; and pleasures too. And he fittingly called the enjoyment that comes from them deception. For all of this is fraud and deceit, because it only appears to be pleasure, but in reality is bitterness. Deception consists precisely in this — to appear one thing and be another.
Eph. 4:23. and be renewed (ἀνανεοῦσθαι) in the spirit of your mind
Lest anyone think that he introduces another person, he says: "be renewed," that is, renew the very thing that has grown old and make it different. So the subject is one and the same, and the change is only in character and thought. In what way could this renewal occur? Through the Holy Spirit, Who takes up residence in our mind, because the Spirit does not tolerate old deeds. What is said has this meaning: be renewed by a spiritual renewal in your mind, and not by a bodily renewal occurring in the body.
Eph. 4:24. and put on the new man,
Do you see that the subject is one and the same, which draws into itself and is clothed upon, but the garments are different, namely vice and virtue? For just as it is easy to undress and dress, so too are vice and virtue easy, if we so desire. Why then does he represent vice and virtue under the image of a man? Because a man is characterized by his deeds, and they reveal a man no less than his nature — whether he is good or evil. Thus, the new man is one who has been renewed by baptism, who must be both strong and free from injury and healthy, for all these things are proper to youth.
Eph. 4:24. Created according to God, in righteousness and holiness of truth.
This man, he says, is created not according to lust, but "according to God," that is, from God is that creation which is well-pleasing to Him, in the font not from water and earth, but "in righteousness and holiness." For in that lies the essence of such a man. Righteousness is virtue in general, just as we customarily call a blameless man righteous. And the Lord, saying: "unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" (Matt. 5:20), means here every virtue. "Holiness" is purity and the fulfillment of all that is due; as for example with regard to the dead we say: οσίαν — when someone has fulfilled what is due toward them¹⁰, and also άφιοσάμην (I have discharged my duty — I have accomplished everything). But since in the Old Testament there was talk of righteousness, he says that it was a type of this righteousness. But I say to you about the righteousness of truth and of the Gospel. Or in contrast to outward and hypocritical righteousness, he pointed to true righteousness. Although this man was created in baptism in righteousness and holiness, he must still clothe himself in them now through life and deeds. And when you hear that one must put on, then understand that one must never take off, as it is also said: "he clothed himself with cursing as with a garment" (Ps. 109:18), and "You cover Yourself with light as with a garment" (Ps. 104:2). And we have the custom of saying: so-and-so has put on the mask of such-and-such a person.
Eph. 4:25. Therefore, having put away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Having spoken about the old man in general, he then describes him in parts as well. And, first of all, he removes lying in relation to one another and, what is especially important and capable of arousing shame, because we are members of one another — as if saying: would the eye, having seen a beast, lie to the feet and prevent them from running? Or would the foot, having felt a deep pit hidden beneath reeds and earth, lie and not let the eye know, so that it might look in another direction and find a way around? And in general, in everything you will find the same thing. Therefore, let us also not lie to one another, for we are members of one body.
Eph. 4:26. Be angry, and do not sin:
Having said "do not lie," then, since anger often arises from lying, he says: it would be good not to be angry at all, but if it happens, then at least do not bring yourselves to sin by immoderately giving in to anger. And some say that there is only one sinless anger — namely, against demons and passions, which is what the holy apostle proposes to us here.
Eph. 4:26. "let not the sun go down upon your wrath;"
Let not, he says, this feeling remain in you for long, and let not the setting sun leave you as enemies, lest its light shine upon you as unworthy, and lest the night kindle this fire even more through thoughts and contribute to the arising of evil designs.
Eph. 4:27. And do not give place to the devil.