ἀνανεόομαι

From the study of Ephesians 4:23

Range of meaning

To renew, restore, make fresh or young again; very often used of renewing a relationship, alliance, agreement or friendship that had lapsed or needed reaffirming. Built from ana- ('again, back') + neos ('new, young, fresh').

Against the English

English 'renew' fits well. What English loses is the grammar. The verb is a present infinitive standing between two aorist infinitives (ἀποθέσθαι 'to put off' in v. 22 and ἐνδύσασθαι 'to put on' in v. 24). Aorists here present an action as a whole, like changing clothes. The present presents an action as continuing. Paul pictures one decisive change of clothing with an ongoing renewal running through it. Most English versions cannot show this without adding words like 'continually'.

Used elsewhere in the period

In 1 Maccabees it is the stock verb for renewing treaties of friendship with Rome and Sparta (1 Macc 12:1, 3, 10, 16; compare 14:18, 22). Josephus and documentary papyri use it in similar 'renewing an arrangement' senses. Its NT relatives point to the same idea: ἀνακαινόω ('renew', Col 3:10, 'renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator'; 2 Cor 4:16, 'the inner self is being renewed day by day') and ἀνακαίνωσις τοῦ νοός ('the renewal of the mind', Rom 12:2). The old claim that neos means 'new in time' and kainos means 'new in kind' (Trench) is mostly blurred in the Greek of the period. Paul uses kainos for the 'new self' in v. 24 and ana-neo- here with no clear difference in meaning.

From the study of 1 Maccabees 12:3

Range of meaning

To make new again, to renew. In inscriptions and historians it is the regular term for renewing a treaty, a friendship or a grant of privileges. This was often done when a new ruler took over, because Hellenistic agreements were frequently tied to the persons who made them.

Against the English

Most versions say 'renew'. The KJV and Brenton put it as 'to the end ye should renew', which makes the Romans the ones who renew. The Greek middle form (ἀνανεώσασθαι) has the envoys renewing it for their own side.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used again for the same diplomacy at 1 Macc 12:1 ('to confirm and renew the friendship'), 12:10, 12:16, 14:18 and 14:22. Josephus uses the same idiom (e.g. Ant. 13.163–169). In the New Testament it appears only at Ephesians 4:23, in a moral sense ('be renewed in the spirit of your minds').