If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus:

“"But ye did not so learn Christ," he continues, "if so be that ye heard Him, and were taught in Him even as truth is in Jesus." The expression, "If so be that ye heard Him," is not that of one doubting, but of one even strongly affirming: as he also speaks elsewhere, "If so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you." That is to say, It was not for these purposes that "ye learned Christ." This then surely is to learn Christ, to live rightly; for he that lives wickedly knows not God, neither is known of Him; for hear what he saith elsewhere, "They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny Him."”

“Having shown the perversity of the Gentile way of life, here the Apostle shows that the teaching of Christ is totally contrary to this way of life and condition. And because certain persons, perverting the teaching of Christ, said that there is no other life after this one, but that the soul dies with the body, like animals, therefore the Apostle shows, first, that the teaching of Christ is contrary to the preceding life and condition; second, he shows the conditions owed to the teaching of Christ, at the place "put off you," etc. He says therefore: thus it has been said, that those men, despairing, etc.; but you have not so learned Christ, namely, as one to be imitated. How then? For you yourselves have learned from God that you should love one another. 2 Thessalonians 2:15: "Therefore, brothers, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have believed." And how shall we hold them? 1 Thessalonians 2:13: "because when you had received from us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but, as it truly is, the word of God," etc. Colossians 2:7: "rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving." And this indeed, if you have truly heard him, because hearing serves discipline. "If" is used for "because." For this is the message which you have heard, as is said in 1 John 1:5. And this as regards the preaching of the faith. Ecclesiasticus 24:30: "he who hears me shall not be confounded." Proverbs 15:31: "the ear that hears the reproofs of life shall abide in the midst of the wise," etc. And in him you have been taught, namely how the things pertaining to the faith are to be kept and fulfilled. Matthew, last chapter: "they did as they had been taught," etc. And this, as the truth is in Jesus, as if he were to say: if you have heard the faith of Christ preached, and how the things preached ought to be fulfilled, you are taught, just as Jesus is, concerning whom it is preached to you, who is the truth. But you must not walk thus, as some who despair. But how then? He adds: put off you, etc. This text can indeed be read in two ways. In one way, so that it is read as "to put off," and then it is construed with what precedes thus: thus is the truth in which you have been taught in Jesus, that you put off, etc. But if it is read "put off" as an imperative, which reading is more commonly held, we shall say that, because both the life and the teaching of the Gentiles are contrary to the life and teaching of Jesus, in which you have been taught, it remains that you put off, etc. He therefore does two things. Because, since vices must first be uprooted before virtues are implanted, first he teaches them to put off the condition of their former and old way of life; second, to take up the new condition of Jesus, at the place "but be renewed in the spirit," etc. He says therefore: put off, etc. Here three things are to be considered. First, what is to be understood by the old man. Some say that here the old man is called the exterior man, and the new man is called the interior man. But it must be said that the old man is called both interior and exterior — he who is subjected to oldness both as to the soul, through sin, and as to the body, because the members of the body are the weapons of sin. And thus, a man subjected to sin according to soul and body is called the old man, insofar as those things are old which are on the way to corruption, or are already being corrupted; because that which grows old and decays is near to perishing, as is said in Hebrews 8:13. And thus a man subjected to sin is called old, because he is on the way to corruption; on account of which he adds, "which is corrupted according to the desires of error." For each thing is corrupted when it departs from the order of its own nature. Now the nature of man is such that his desire tends toward that which is according to reason. But the perfection and good of reason is truth. When therefore reason tends toward error, and desire is corrupted from this error, then he is called the old man. Now he says "according to the desires," namely evil ones. Romans 13:14: "make not provision for the flesh in its desires." 1 Timothy 6:9: "many desires, both harmful and useless, which plunge man into ruin and destruction," etc. But because these desires are drawn in some from weakness, and in others indeed from malice, as in those who say that God has no providence, therefore he says "of error," because in such persons, thus erring, the intellect and the affection are corrupted. Or "according to the desires of error," that is, desires which make men err, according to that word of Wisdom 2:21: "these things they thought, and they erred," etc. Proverbs 14:8: "the imprudence of fools is erring." But how he is to be put off, the Apostle teaches, saying in Colossians 3:9: "stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds," etc. He is not, then, to be put off or stripped away substantially, but only as to his evil works, or way of life. 1 Peter 2:12: "having your conversation good among the Gentiles." 1 Timothy 4:12: "be an example to the faithful in word and in conversation." Then when he says "be renewed," etc., he shows that we ought to put on the new condition. Concerning this he does three things. First he shows by what we can attain this newness; second, in what this newness consists; third, what it is. As to the first he says: be renewed in the spirit, etc. Here it must be noted that although "spirit" is said in many ways in man, nevertheless a threefold spirit is found: namely, the Holy Spirit — 1 Corinthians 3:16: "do you not know that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?" Likewise, the rational spirit — Galatians 5:17: "the flesh lusts against the spirit." Likewise, the fanciful spirit — Hosea 9:7: "know, Israel, that the prophet is foolish, the spiritual man is insane," that is, given to fancy. This, then, which he says, "in the spirit of the mind," is taken for the Holy Spirit. Now he says that the cause of renewal is the Holy Spirit, who dwells in our mind. Galatians 4:6: "God sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts," etc. Psalm 103:30: "send forth your spirit, and they shall be created," etc. Or "spirit" can be taken for the rational spirit, and then spirit is the same as our mind, and this is similar to what is said in Colossians 2:11: "in the stripping off of the body of the flesh," that is, of the body, which is flesh; so here, "in the spirit of the mind," that is, in the spirit which is the mind. But he says this because there is in us another spirit, which is not the mind, namely, that which is common to us and to brute animals. Now he says "be renewed in the spirit of the mind," because that which has not been corrupted is new, and does not need renewal. For if Adam had not been corrupted, he would not have needed renewal, nor would we either. But because he was corrupted, he needed renewal, and his descendants also. And therefore we must be renewed in the present as to the soul, and in the future as to the body, when this corruptible body shall put on incorruption, and this mortal body immortality, as is said in 1 Corinthians 15:53. He says therefore "be renewed in the spirit," here — namely, because unless the spirit is renewed in the present, its body will never be renewed. Or it can be explained as "in the spirit of the mind," that is, your mind having been made spiritual; and it comes to the same thing. But as to what this renewal consists in, as to the second point, he adds when he says: "and put on the new man," etc. Here it must be noted that, just as the first principle of the oldness of every thing was Adam, through whom sin entered into all, so the first principle of newness and renewal is Christ; because just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be brought to life. Hence Galatians, last chapter: "in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creature." Put on therefore our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 13:14. But what this renewal is, he shows when he says: "who according to God is created," etc. This can be understood in three ways. In one way thus, that the word "who" is referred to the spirit, that is: the spirit, which is our mind, was created by God, namely in original justice, that is, in its own newness; or was recreated by a new creation, that it might be just. Above, 2:10: "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Or the word "who" can be referred to the new man, namely Christ. And then it will be construed thus: "who was created," that is, formed in the womb of the Virgin, "according to God," that is, not by human seed, but by the Holy Spirit. Or he was created according to the being of grace and fullness, and this "in justice," with respect to men, and "holiness," with respect to God, and this "of truth," not of falsehood. Luke 1:75: "in holiness and justice." Or so that holiness be in the heart, truth in the mouth, justice in deed.”

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man,.... Which is the corruption of nature; why this is called a man, and an old man; see Gill on Rom 6:6, the putting him off, is not a removing him from the saints, nor a destroying him in them, nor a changing his nature; for he remains, and remains alive, and is the same old man he ever was, in regenerate persons; but it is a putting him off from his seat, and a putting him down from his government; a showing no regard to his rule and dominion, to his laws and lusts, making no provision for his support; and particularly, not squaring the life and conversation according to his dictates and directions; and therefore it is called a putting him off, concerning the former conversation: the change lies not, in the old man, who can never be altered, but in the conversation; he is not in the same power, but he retains the same sinful nature; he is put off, but he is not put out; and though he does not reign, he rages, and often threatens to get the ascendant: these words stand either in connection with Eph 4:17 and so are a continuation and an explanation of that exhortation; or else they point out what regenerate souls are taught by Christ to do, to quit the former conversation, to hate the garment spotted with the flesh, and to put it off; for the allusion is to the putting off of filthy garments, as the works of the flesh may be truly called, which flow from the vitiosity of nature, the old man: which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; the old man, or the vitiosity of nature, has its lusts; and these are deceitful; they promise pleasure and profit, but yield neither in the issue; they promise liberty, and bring into bondage; they promise secrecy and impunity, but expose to shame, and render liable to punishment; they sometimes put on a religious face, and so deceive, and fill men with pride and conceit, who think themselves to be something, when they are nothing: and through these the old man is corrupt; by these the corruption of nature is discovered; and the corruption that is in the world is produced hereby; and these make a man deserving of, and liable to the pit of corruption; and this is a good reason, why this corrupt old man, with respect to the life and conversation, should be put off.”

“If so be that--not implying doubt; assuming what I have no reason to doubt, that heard him--The "Him" is emphatic: "heard Himself," not merely heard about Him. taught by him--Greek, "taught IN HIM," that is, being in vital union with Him (Rom 16:7). as the truth is in Jesus--Translate in connection with "taught"; "And in Him have been taught, according as is truth in Jesus." There is no article in the Greek. "Truth" is therefore used in the most comprehensive sense, truth in its essence, and highest perfection, in Jesus; "if according as it is thus in Him, ye have been so taught in Him"; in contrast to "the vanity of mind of the Gentiles" (Eph 4:17; compare Joh 1:14, Joh 1:17; Joh 18:37). Contrast Joh 8:44.”