In Colossians 3:1010And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10) JND, we read that we are in the position of “having put on the new [man], renewed into full knowledge according to the image of him that created him.” In Ephesians 4:2424And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24), we are seen as “having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness” (JND). It is instructive to notice the difference between these similar expressions in the two books.
Our English language does not admit of all the fine distinctions employed by the Spirit of God in Scripture. In Ephesians 4 the expression “new man” (kainos) is expressed by a totally different word from that used in Colossians 3:1010And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10), for Greek has two words for “new,” while in English we have only one word. One word in Greek implies something that has never appeared before, such as when we might say in English, “That is quite a new fashion.” The other Greek word means that something is new of the sort, but that it has often been seen before, as we might say in the spring, “The new leaves are coming out.”
Ephesians speaks of the former; a “new man,” which is not Adam in innocence, nor Adam righteous by the law, but a totally new sort of man, which had not been before at all. The new man here is “created in righteousness and true holiness” (or “holiness of truth”). This same word is used for the “new bottles” (Matt. 9, Luke 5), into which the new wine must be put. It is also used in Matthew 26:2929But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29), where the Lord will drink the wine cup “new” in His Father’s kingdom. So “a new commandment I give unto you” (John 13), and “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:55And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:5)).
Renewed
The “new” (neos) of Colossians 3:1010And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10) is different, for there it is not the new man as to his genus, but the putting on practically the new man (because we have absolutely put him on, by the death and resurrection of Jesus), that is, the practical life in which we live here below. Yet even while this is true, the word “renewed” (anakainoō) is made up of the first new, so that while the practice of the new man is the great thought, care is taken to show that it is a totally new sort of man which we have put on.
In short, the two words are characteristic of the Epistles in which they are found. In Ephesians 4 it is a “new man” in contrast to the old and all that went before. In Colossians 3 it is the practical new life in which we live, though care is taken to show by the word “renewed” that it is an entirely new thing; first formed of God, and then constantly renewed into His likeness by the practical judgment of evil within. God’s nature takes its place in us more fully by this putting off the old man and his deeds, and our deepening in the knowledge of Him as light and love.
Full Personal Knowledge
The word “knowledge” too is very striking here. It is not the same as that used for “knowledge” in other parts of Scripture. It means full personal knowledge — that by which I recognize a person, as I say “I know that man.” It is knowledge meditated upon and known subjectively in the soul. See Colossians 1:99For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9), where the same word is used for the knowledge of His will, and in verse 10, where you find it used for growing by the true knowledge of God” as the passage should read.
There is a good example of the use of these two words in 2 Peter 1:55And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (2 Peter 1:5) and 8. He desires (vs. 5) that we may add “to virtue knowledge,” and in verse 9, that thus we shall not be barren in the knowledge, or full knowledge, of our Lord Jesus Christ. The former was the knowledge received, as objectively presented to the soul; the latter was the same knowledge meditated upon and known subjectively. This is one of the beautiful touches of God’s hand in Scripture through the pen and heart of an uneducated fisherman of Galilee!
I do not pretend to give a critical exposition in noting these words, but to present what has interested me as so characteristic as to their use in Scripture.
F. G. Patterson (adapted)