As I start to write tonight, January 4th, 2020, I will attempt to describe what has been on my heart for over thirty years. It is the most important message I have to communicate to those who believe in Jesus and want to follow Him. The One New Man. This One New Man is spoken of in the Bible in a number of different terms and several aspects. Each description in scripture brings out important characteristics of this great reality. Some of the terms used are "The Kingdom of God," "The Body of Christ," "The family of God," "The Bride of Christ," "The Wife of the Lamb" and "The New Jerusalem."
"The Kingdom of God" focuses on the fact that God is the King over all. We are all subject to Him whether we like it or not, or even know it or not. He is the King over all kings. He is a Good King, the best possible King.
"The Family of God" shows that He is our Father, who loves us with everlasting love. He is kind and all wise. He knows in great detail our every need, and He is ready and able to meet our every need, beyond our expectations, but He also knows that as His children, we are foolish and disobedient. So He lets us experience the consequences of our disobedience. And he disciplines us for our good.
He has given us gifts, that we would be built up into the fully functioning "Body of Christ." Jesus, as the head, desires a body that He can use to do what He wants to do in the earth. We are His hands to do His work, and His feet to take the Gospel of the Kingdom into the whole world.
"The Bride of Christ" is devoted to loving Jesus above all other things, desiring to please Him in all things. The Bride's greatest desire is to be fully known by Him, and to live intimately with Him forever.
"The Wife of the Lamb" and "The New Jerusalem" coming down out of Heaven from God speak of the glorious future of these realities.
"The One New Man" gives us a description with some details not well covered by these other terms.
Paul is the only apostle who uses the words "new man." And that, only in two of his letters, Ephesians and Colossians.
And "one new man" only once:
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
(Ephesians 2:15)
This verse in its context contains the most important insight into what Paul means by the term "new man." The verse as quoted above is from the "New King James Version" of the Bible. And if you will notice the word 'from' is in italics. Words in italics are not in the Greek text being translated into English, but are supplied in the English so that it makes sense to the English reader. This is very common as you can see from the other italicized words in this verse. Now if you leave out all the other italicized words the verse can still be understood, but may seem a bit awkward for English:
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, the law of commandments in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, making peace, (Ephesians 2:15 NKJV with some italicized words removed.)
If you think about it, it is still quite understandable. But now try removing 'from.' But removing 'from' makes it... well, incomprehensible:
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, the law of commandments in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man the two, making peace, (Ephesians 2:15 NKJV with all italicized words removed.)
As I am writing this tonight, I admit that I had never before noticed that this word from was italicized. So I looked at the Greek to see what was there. Now Greek grammar and English grammar are quite different, and the difference here is mostly word order. English depends very much on the order of the words, while Greek does not depend on the word order for that. For example in English, "John loves Mary" is very different from "Mary loves John," but in Greek the meaning does not come from the word order, but rather from the word endings, and other grammar rules. So in Greek the word order could be either way or even "Loves John Mary" or "Mary John loves," etc., and they all mean what in English "John loves Mary" means.
Now I will give the verse in the Greek word order, and then we can see why the word "from" is not in the Greek:
the enmity in - his flesh, the law of commandments in decrees having annulled, that the two he might create in himself into one new man, making peace; (Ephesians 2:15 from George Ricker Berry's Interlinear Greek-English New Testament.)
So you see that in the Greek word order the word from is not needed at all.
But, what on earth does this mean anyway?
What are 'the two'?
Now we need the fuller context to know what 'the two' are referring to.
I want to make a comment about 'context.' Sometimes, even quite often, when Christians are in a debate over some doctrine, when one side is confronted with a verse by the other person, that they don't have a good answer for, they will 'pull the context card.' What they often are doing is trying to defuse, or even dismiss the verse that may be quite clearly not supporting their view. They say 'well you are taking the verse out of context.' Often what they are really doing is stalling for time or trying to downplay what the verse id clearly saying.
But here reading the context is absolutely necessary to understand what 'the two' are:
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
(Ephesians 2:11-18)
In verse 11 through 13 Paul is talking to those believers who were "once Gentiles in the flesh." They were called the "Uncircumcision" by the Jews, which are "called the Circumcision." Before they believed into Christ, these Uncircumcised Gentiles were outsiders, they were far off, aliens and strangers.
In verses 14 through 18, now that they have received the gospel, Christ is our peace. He has made "both one." He, Christ, has brought the two groups of people together into unity, into 'one,' by destroying the enmity between the two groups, "the law of commandments in decrees having annulled" (Greek word order.)
Look how many times the words two and both are used in these verses:
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
(Ephesians 2:11-18)
I have labored in considerable detail to make these verses very clear, and for good reason!
This concept, the "New Man," Paul uses in two other verses. These other two places cannot be properly understood with out knowing how the one new man was formed in Christ on the cross, as clearly described in Ephesians 2:15.
There is a great many today who, it seems have no idea what these other two portions of scripture are talking about. I will give the other two verses, with a little context, from the increasingly popular (ESV), English Standard Version of the Bible:
and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:24 (ESV))
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
(Colossians 3:10 (ESV))
Wait a minute!
These verses don't say anything about any "new man"!
No, sadly they do not... in the ESV, that is, and also in a large number of other 'modern" versions of the Bible!
Well lets look at Ephesians 2:15 in the ESV:
by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
(Ephesians 2:15 (ESV))
Well there it is; the "new man."
So what is going on here? Which is correct, or more accurate?
Again, we get back to the truth by looking at the source that these versions are (supposedly) translated from, the Greek text.
The Greek word for 'man' in these verses is 'anthropos.' We get the word anthropology from this Greek word. Anthropology is 'the study of man'; anthropos + ology = man + study.
This word 'anthropos' (Greek: ανθρωπος) is used over 550 times in the Greek New Testament and is translated as man (or men), in the King James Version, in all but five places. Here are the five places with the literally translated Greek words in parentheses:
He said unto them, An enemy (Lit. A man, an enemy) hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
(Matthew 13:28 (KJV))
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder (Lit. a certain man, a householder), which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
(Matthew 21:33 (KJV))
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king (Lit. unto a man, a king), which made a marriage for his son,
(Matthew 22:2 (KJV))
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds (Lit. the men, the shepherds) said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
(Luke 2:15 (KJV))
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans (Lit. Roman men), and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
(Acts 16:37 (KJV))
But these new versions have changed from the word 'man' to 'self' in only these few places, because they have no idea what the verses are actually saying.
Paul is the one writing these two letters, Ephesians and Colossians, and he wrote them both, and sent them at the same time, by the hand of Tychicus. These two letters are closer in content to each other, than any other of Paul's letters. The thoughts he is expressing are completely tied together by the words he uses. So to translate 'anthropos' in one place as 'man' and then as 'self' in other places completely destroys the connection and Paul's meaning!
The first Bible version, that I am aware of, which translated 'anthropos' as 'self' was published in 1903. It was an idiomatic translation, the Weymouth New Testament, published after his death in 1902.
It is shocking to me how many newer versions have copied this mistranslation. Here is a list of versions that I have found that have followed this error:
New International Version (NIV)
Berean Study Bible
Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version (ESV)
Good News Translation
Holman Christian Standard Bible
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
New American Standard 1977
New Heart English Bible
And there are other versions which use other words, in these places, that destroy the connection, just the same.
I would like to point out that Weymouth's translation, as stated on its title page, is an idiomatic translation:
The New Testament in
Modern Speech
an idiomatic translation into every-
day English from the text of
"The Resultant Greek
Testament"
I have seen the damage caused by "idiomatic translation" in many other cases, and such damage is grievous. Translating should be as literal as possible. There are idioms in Hebrew and Greek which are perfectly understandable to an English reader if translated literally. But that is a topic for another time.
So what's the big deal? What is lost in these versions?
First if we think about the word 'self' as a separate word, it occurs in only four verses in the King James Version New Testament:
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
(John 5:30)
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
(John 17:5)
I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
(Philemon 1:19)
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
(1 Peter 2:24)
Here in these places the word 'self' simply refers to the person being talked about. The 'self' is not something that a person has like a coat or even a body, it is the person. And nowhere in the older versions is the Greek word 'anthropos' ever translated as 'self.'
The word 'self' in a compound word or a hyphenated word is very common. The compound words 'myself,' 'itself,' 'herself' and 'themselves' are called 'reflexive pronouns,' which means that they refer to the person or thing being talked about in the context as in "Bob often gets into trouble; he does it to himself." Here 'he' and 'himself' simply refer to 'Bob,' not some 'part' of Bob. And there are many hyphenated words like self-seeking, self-indulgence and self-control. 'Self-control' is you controlling you; you controlling the whole you.
Well lets look at all the places where the Greek word 'anthropos' is translated 'self' in these newer versions; there are a few more:
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
(Romans 6:6 ESV)
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
(2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV)
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ...
and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:22 and 24 ESV)
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
(Colossians 3:9-10 ESV)
In each of these verses, the Greek word is 'anthropos' and should be translated 'man.' Not only so, but the translators of these versions have played with other grammatical features to fit their understanding. Notice that in Ephesians 4, verse 22 has 'your old self' whereas verse 24 has 'the new self.' But in the Greek both have the same masculine, singular definite article 'the,' not a possessive pronoun 'your.'
Sorry for the details, but as the saying goes; "the Devil is in the details." And sadly that is exactly the case in these verses!
So what is the Devil trying to hide here?
Now it we go back to Ephesians 2:15, where no version uses 'self' to translate 'anthropos,' and look again at the ESV, we can learn what Paul is talking about in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3. It is the "one new man":
by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
(Ephesians 2:15 ESV)
Even the ESV translates it 'man' because it is complete nonsense to translate it as "that he might create in himself one new self in place of the two." 'Self' would make no sense.
Paul says what he means and means what he says, that is why he used the same word, 'anthropos' in all these verses.
Once you understand that there is on planet earth, an old man, Adam, and one new man, Christ; that is what he is talking about in these verses also. So in Ephesians 4 especially he is describing this one new man in great detail.
It is not about a 'self' that you 'have', it is a 'man' that you are 'in':
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
(1 Corinthians 15:22 NKJV)
Which man are you in?
Adam is the man that is old and decaying:
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
(Ephesians 4:22)
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
(Colossians 3:9)
Christ is the new man that is being renewed:
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(Galatians 3:27)
and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:24)
and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
(Colossians 3:10)
What Paul is saying is not about you as an individual Christian changing your 'self.' 'Self-help' books will do you no good! It is about what man are you living in, even practically. If your concern is all about your individual life, and not about the body of Christ, then you are in the wrong man, Adam.
Paul makes this very clear in Ephesians 4:
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
(Ephesians 4:1-6)
This one new man you can put on, its really that easy! But first you must put off the old man.
The old man is composed of the divided, sectarian, argumentative, opinionated, dogmatic members who are confident that they are right and those others are wrong and to be rejected. He is the religious man, the self-righteous man who does not want to associate with those 'bad people' out there. He is more concerned that 'he' goes to heaven than that the Lord has His will done on earth. He can't imagine that God's will could actually be done on earth. He is waiting to go to Heaven where God's will is done. He is convinced that 'his' church is more correct than those other churches in town. He can't see any real problem with denominations. He thinks that he is 'keeping the unity of the spirit' because he believes the right doctrines, or 'apostles creed,' those core beliefs that 'all true Christians' believe. He doesn't think that all the other doctrines that divide us are important; they are the non-essential doctrines.
The picture Paul paints of the one new man is way different than that!:
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
(Ephesians 4:11-16)
Here Paul describes how the 'perfect man' is formed. It is as "we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God." This is the 'perfect man,' the one new man. This is what it means to build up the body of Christ. We, the members of His body, each need to grow up, so we are no longer children.
There is so much packed into these six verses, that it is hard to know how to lay it out any better than Paul already has. Please read it over several times and ponder every part.
The denominations, with all their conflicting doctrines are the being "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine." We must grow up so this is no longer the case. Paul's words are very strong when he talks about how we are "carried about with every wind of doctrine." He says "by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting." Many think that their church's doctrine came from the apostles, but Paul uses words like "trickery," "deceitful plotting" and "cunning craftiness." It is time for each one of us to "grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ." This is what each of us must do. It is not 'your church' that is doing that. It is not 'the pastor' who will teach you 'all things':
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
(1 John 2:27)
It is up to you to get to know the Lord Jesus Christ through the teaching of His Holy Spirit. There is no other way to "grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ." Only the Holy Spirit can teach you all things. So you must put off the old man:
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
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,
(Ephesians 4:17-22)
This is Paul's continuation of the verses about children being "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting," This is the state of divided Christianity with all their conflicting doctrines.
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.
(Ephesians 4:23-24)
This is the new man where there is complete unity, no conflicting doctrines, but:
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
(1 Corinthians 1:10)
Paul is telling the Corinthians the same thing he is telling the Ephesians and Colossians, that there be no divisions among you. Divided Christianity is not the one new man. We must "put it off" so we can "put on the new man." You cannot wear both.
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:25-32)