Re: [TruthTalk] Eph 4:20-24

[Knpraise]

NKJV   "  But you have not so learned Christ.  If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus; that you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. " 

Not so learned Christ:    a correction is in the offing and it is centered in the person of Christ Jesus, Himself.   "learned" is an aorist ind. active  --  there's your favorite tense, Billy T.   Their "education" in Christ was fully revealed.  They know the "truth."  But they have moved away from same.  

Have been taught by Him:  aorist pass  --   He teaches and we receive.  We don't consent; we don't evaluate;  we receive the teaching    -------   an action that reveals a degree of faith, of conviction on our part  ......................  so we receive. 

As the truth is in Jesus :    "truth" is perceived or realized in Jesus.  It is relational in nature and declares our partnership with Him.   It is not truth as found in a legal statement or an equation; rather, it is attached to the relationship we have with the Incarnate God.   If truth is so attached (to the relationship we have with Jesus), it's revelation is an ever increasing one    -----    growing as our relationship grows;  understanding more and more.   

That you put off  ..... the old man which grows corrupt:   "to put off"  --  to remove as one removes clothing.   This is to be done at once (Barth) because of the growing danger the old man is to our revealed purpose.  This "corrupting"  (pres. pass. part.) is something that happens to us (hence "passive")  and is a current and ever present danger.    

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind:  "renewed" reads "make new again"  ( pres. pass. inf.).  The renewal is a renewing  --  a continuing event (present tense) done by another (hence "passive).   In the context, the renewing is done by Christ, hence the importance of the relationship we are having with Him.   

Which was created:   (aorist pass)   --  "having been created [by another]."   The true man which was created in righteousness and holiness................................perhaps a call by Paul for us to cloth ourselves in the holiness and righeousness of the already created, completed, fully realized New Man   ---------   Jesus. do you think ???    Perhaps Paul is not talking about action, right activity,   but of becoming Him.   

I lost my brother, years ago.   Twenty years my senior  --  he was like a second Dad.  And the more I was in his presence, the more I became like him  --   the more I wanted to be like him.  I WANTED to be like him because of my association with him.    That, it seems to me, is the benefit of Community................the exchange of the bad for the good, especially in the Community of the Divine.  Faith unto faith.  

It is clear from this reading, that the conflict of the old and the new continues.   One is decreasing and the other is increasing.    Gal 3:27 could very well be a theme (in part)  passage for this Ephesian text:   "know ye not that as many of you as have been immersed into Christ have put on Christ."  


Just thinking out loud. 

Jd