Gentiles refers to the (v.17)
How Believers and Unbelievers think Different
Mind (4:17, 23) Understanding (4:18) Learned Christ (v.20)
Gentiles/Nonbelievers:
Have in minds because of (vv.17-18)
Futility/Vanity: mataiotees – what is devoid of truth and appropriateness (Thayer’s)
For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,
– Romans 1:21-23 (NASU)
Their condition is due to (v.18)
Ignorance: agnoia – here including the idea of willful blindness: see Romans 1:28, not the “ignorance” which mitigates guilt (Vine’s)
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. – Romans 1:28 (NIV)
Their darkness is due to (v.18)
Hardness: (porosis) of heart (kardia) (NIV, NASU) (v.18)
Hardness: pōrōsis – blindness, hardness, from poroo; a kind of stone; to petrify (Strong’s)
The Greek word translated “hardness” is pōrōsis [4457], which indicates a stony, petrified condition (Swindoll)
Manifests as a (4:18-19)
Over time they: Become callous (NASU) Lost all sensitivity (NIV) Being past feeling (KJV) (v.19)
Having “lost all sensitivity” they their sin (v.19)
Sensuality/Lasciviousness: aselgeia – unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence (Thayer’s)
The man who has aselgeia in his soul does not care how much he shocks public opinion so long as he can gratify his desires (Barclay)
of impurity (NASU) uncleanness (KJV) (v.19)
Akatharsia: impurity, physically or morally (Strong’s)
What it leads to is a (v.19)
With greediness (NASU) …a continual lust for more – Ephesians 4:19 (NIV)
The End Result: from the (v.18)
Now to Believers: (vv.20-24)
I learn Christ through (v.20)
Learn: manthano – learn by use and practice (Thayer’s)
Jesus is the and the
Learn Christ: (v.20) heard Him, taught in Him (v.21)
Change into a new kind of and (vv.22-24)
Lay aside the old self (v.22)
Be renewed in the spirit (attitude NIV) of your mind (v.23)
And put (enduo) on the new self (v.24)
Enduo: in the sense of sinking into a garment
clothe with (KJV), put on (Strong’s)