Ephesians 4:22 (KJV)

Passage

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Nearby Context

Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "concerning", "former", "conversation", "corrupt", "deceitful", and "lusts". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "concerning" and "former", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 21's "If so be that ye have heard..." into verse 23's "And be renewed in the spirit of...", so "concerning" and "former" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "concerning" and "former" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.