In contrast to unsaved Gentiles, Christians" minds are no longer dark, they are no longer aliens from God, and their hearts are no longer hard and impure. They did not learn to follow Christ by the natural mental processes that customarily lead to the degradation of unsaved Gentiles. They learned to follow Him as His disciples from the gospel. [source][source][source]
"Usually we learn subjects, not persons; but the Christian"s choicest lesson-book is his loveworthy Lord." [1][source]
Context Summary
Ephesians 4:20-32 - Putting On The "new Man"
The Lord Jesus is our text-book and our teacher, the schoolhouse in which we are taught, and the object lesson in which all truth is enshrined. But all is in vain unless we definitely and forever put away the old man; that is, our old manners and customs in so far as they are contrary to the Spirit of Christ. With equal decision we are called upon to seek the daily renewal of our spirit and the outward conformity of our mode of life to the example of Jesus. But it should never be forgotten that the latter will be a dry husk unless it is energized from the true vine. There can be little of Christ without unless He dwells without a rival within. But the Holy Spirit will see to this, if only we grieve Him not.
What a transformation immediately ensues! Truth instead of falsehood, gentleness for anger, earnest toil for dishonesty, cleansed instead of filthy speech. If all believers were to live like this, the world would know that the Son of God has come. It is not enough that a man should believe to secure deliverance from the wrath of God; he must daily seek to attain to such resemblance of Jesus as shall make men recall Him to mind. [source]
Chapter Summary: Ephesians 4
1He exhorts to unity; 7and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men; 11that his church might be edified, 16and grow up in Christ 18He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles; 24to put on the new man; 25to cast off lying; 29and corrupt communication
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 4:20
But ye did not so learn Christ [υμεις δε ουχ ουτως εματετε τον Χριστον] In sharp contrast to pagan life Second aorist active indicative of μαντανω manthanō f0). [source]
Have not learned [οὐχ ἐμάθετε] Rev., giving the force of the aorist tense, did not learn; at the time of your conversion, when you were instructed in Christ's precepts. The phrase learn Christ occurs nowhere else. Christ does not stand for the doctrine of Christ; but Christ is the subject of His own message. See Ephesians 4:21. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 4:20
Ephesians 4:21Even as truth is in Jesus [κατως εστιν αλητεια εν τωι Ιησου] It is not clear what Paul‘s precise idea is here. The Cerinthian Gnostics did distinguish between the man Jesus and the aeon Christ. Paul here identifies Christ (Ephesians 4:20) and Jesus (Ephesians 4:21). At any rate he flatly affirms that there is “truth in Jesus” which is in direct opposition to the heathen manner of life and which is further explained by the epexegetical infinitives that follow (αποτεσται ανανεουσται δε και ενδυσασται apothesthaiananeousthai dekai endusasthai). [source]
2 Timothy 1:12Yet I am not ashamed [αλλ ουκ επαισχυνομαι] Plain reference to the exhortation to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:8. Him whom I have believed (ωι πεπιστευκα hōi pepisteuka). Dative case of the relative (ωι hōi) with the perfect active of πιστευω pisteuō the antecedent to the relative not expressed. It is not an indirect question. Paul knows Jesus Christ whom he has trusted. I am persuaded See 2 Timothy 1:5. To guard (πυλαχαι phulaxai). First aorist active infinitive of πυλασσω phulassō the very word used in 1 Timothy 6:20 with παρατηκην parathēkēn as here, to guard against robbery or any loss. That which I have committed unto him Literally, “my deposit,” as in a bank, the bank of heaven which no burglar can break (Matthew 6:19.). See this word also in 2 Timothy 1:14. Some MSS. have the more common παρακατατηκη parakatathēkē (a sort of double deposit, παρα para beside, down, κατα kata). Against that day (εις εκεινην την ημεραν eis ekeinēn tēn hēmeran). The day of Christ‘s second coming. See also 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10, and often in the Gospels. Elsewhere, the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14), the day of Christ or Jesus Christ (Philemon 1:6,Philemon 1:10; Philemon 2:16), the day (1 Thessalonians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Romans 13:12), the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:20), the day of judgment (Romans 2:5,Romans 2:16). [source]
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 4:20
In sharp contrast to pagan life Second aorist active indicative of μαντανω manthanō f0). [source]
Rev., giving the force of the aorist tense, did not learn; at the time of your conversion, when you were instructed in Christ's precepts. The phrase learn Christ occurs nowhere else. Christ does not stand for the doctrine of Christ; but Christ is the subject of His own message. See Ephesians 4:21. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 4:20
It is not clear what Paul‘s precise idea is here. The Cerinthian Gnostics did distinguish between the man Jesus and the aeon Christ. Paul here identifies Christ (Ephesians 4:20) and Jesus (Ephesians 4:21). At any rate he flatly affirms that there is “truth in Jesus” which is in direct opposition to the heathen manner of life and which is further explained by the epexegetical infinitives that follow (αποτεσται ανανεουσται δε και ενδυσασται apothesthaiananeousthai dekai endusasthai). [source]
Plain reference to the exhortation to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:8. Him whom I have believed (ωι πεπιστευκα hōi pepisteuka). Dative case of the relative (ωι hōi) with the perfect active of πιστευω pisteuō the antecedent to the relative not expressed. It is not an indirect question. Paul knows Jesus Christ whom he has trusted. I am persuaded See 2 Timothy 1:5. To guard (πυλαχαι phulaxai). First aorist active infinitive of πυλασσω phulassō the very word used in 1 Timothy 6:20 with παρατηκην parathēkēn as here, to guard against robbery or any loss. That which I have committed unto him Literally, “my deposit,” as in a bank, the bank of heaven which no burglar can break (Matthew 6:19.). See this word also in 2 Timothy 1:14. Some MSS. have the more common παρακατατηκη parakatathēkē (a sort of double deposit, παρα para beside, down, κατα kata). Against that day (εις εκεινην την ημεραν eis ekeinēn tēn hēmeran). The day of Christ‘s second coming. See also 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10, and often in the Gospels. Elsewhere, the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14), the day of Christ or Jesus Christ (Philemon 1:6, Philemon 1:10; Philemon 2:16), the day (1 Thessalonians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Romans 13:12), the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:20), the day of judgment (Romans 2:5, Romans 2:16). [source]
See 2 Timothy 1:5. To guard (πυλαχαι phulaxai). First aorist active infinitive of πυλασσω phulassō the very word used in 1 Timothy 6:20 with παρατηκην parathēkēn as here, to guard against robbery or any loss. That which I have committed unto him Literally, “my deposit,” as in a bank, the bank of heaven which no burglar can break (Matthew 6:19.). See this word also in 2 Timothy 1:14. Some MSS. have the more common παρακατατηκη parakatathēkē (a sort of double deposit, παρα para beside, down, κατα kata). Against that day (εις εκεινην την ημεραν eis ekeinēn tēn hēmeran). The day of Christ‘s second coming. See also 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10, and often in the Gospels. Elsewhere, the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14), the day of Christ or Jesus Christ (Philemon 1:6, Philemon 1:10; Philemon 2:16), the day (1 Thessalonians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Romans 13:12), the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:20), the day of judgment (Romans 2:5, Romans 2:16). [source]
Literally, “my deposit,” as in a bank, the bank of heaven which no burglar can break (Matthew 6:19.). See this word also in 2 Timothy 1:14. Some MSS. have the more common παρακατατηκη parakatathēkē (a sort of double deposit, παρα para beside, down, κατα kata). Against that day (εις εκεινην την ημεραν eis ekeinēn tēn hēmeran). The day of Christ‘s second coming. See also 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10, and often in the Gospels. Elsewhere, the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14), the day of Christ or Jesus Christ (Philemon 1:6, Philemon 1:10; Philemon 2:16), the day (1 Thessalonians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Romans 13:12), the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:20), the day of judgment (Romans 2:5, Romans 2:16). [source]
The day of Christ‘s second coming. See also 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10, and often in the Gospels. Elsewhere, the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14), the day of Christ or Jesus Christ (Philemon 1:6, Philemon 1:10; Philemon 2:16), the day (1 Thessalonians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Romans 13:12), the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:20), the day of judgment (Romans 2:5, Romans 2:16). [source]