What is the context?
Because their life belongs with Christ, Paul tells the believers to put to death the practices of their earthly nature. He names sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, identifying greed as idolatry.
He then addresses the damage done through anger and speech: rage, malice, slander, filthy language and lying. These are things to put aside, not qualities that define the new life.
The clothing picture explains the change. They have taken off the old self and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the Creator’s image. Paul joins a real change of identity with an ongoing renewal.
This renewed life is shared across divisions of people and status. Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, slave and free are brought into a life centered on Christ. The next paragraph describes the compassion and love to put on together.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Christians commonly understand this as a call to leave sinful practices behind because of the new life in Christ. Wesley’s notes on verses 5–11 apply the call to desires as well as speech and conduct. The USCCB notes likewise read the taking-off and putting-on language as a changed way of life flowing from union with Christ. The call concerns living out that renewal, rather than harming the physical body.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
The language of the Creator’s image reaches back to Genesis 1:26–28, where God makes humanity in His image. This is a supported connection in the image language: God’s work in Christ renews human life toward its created purpose.
Ephesians 2:13–22 describes Christ making people once divided into one new humanity, God’s household and a dwelling for His Spirit. Renewal thus includes a people learning to live together under Christ across former divisions.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.