Ephesians 4:22 (LSB)

Passage

to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

Nearby Context

Ephesians 4:20 But you did not learn Christ in this way—

Ephesians 4:21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,

Ephesians 4:22 to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

Ephesians 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "aside", "reference", "former", "conduct", "corrupted", "accordance", "lusts", and "deceit". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "aside" and "reference", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 21's "if indeed you heard Him and were..." into verse 23's "and to be renewed in the spirit...", so "aside" and "reference" 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 "aside" and "reference" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.