παλιγγενεσία

From the study of Titus 3:5

Range of meaning

From palin ('again') + genesis ('coming into being, birth'). Coming-into-being again, renewal of existence, rebirth. It was used at several scales: (1) cosmic, for the world reborn after its destruction (Stoic thought); (2) national, for a people restored after disaster or exile; (3) personal, for a person's return to life or a new state of life, such as a politician's 'rebirth' after exile; (4) in Jewish-Christian use, the end-time renewal of all things.

Against the English

'Regeneration' (KJV, ESV, NASB, WEB) is a Latin calque of the Greek: re-generatio, 'generation again'. Today it sounds like a technical doctrine term or a biology word. 'New birth' / 'rebirth' (BSB, NIV) is warmer and clearer, but it can narrow the word to the evangelical 'born again' moment. The Greek word belongs to the same family as world-renewal language, so it is bigger than an inner experience, though it does include the person.

How it drifted

Later theology made 'regeneration' a technical term for the Spirit's first inward act in the individual, and argued at length about its order relative to faith and baptism. The Greek word had none of that precision. It meant a fresh start of existence, often on a large scale.

Used elsewhere in the period

Only twice in the NT: here and Matt 19:28, 'in the palingenesia, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne', the renewal of the world. Stoics used it for the cosmos reborn after the periodic conflagration (e.g. Marcus Aurelius 11.1). Philo calls Noah and his family leaders of the world's palingenesia after the flood (Life of Moses 2.65). Josephus uses it for the restoration of the Jewish homeland after the Babylonian exile (Antiquities 11.66). Cicero calls his own return from exile his palingenesia (Ad Atticum 6.6). It does not appear in the LXX proper.

From the study of Matthew 19:28

Range of meaning

From palin ('again') + genesis ('coming into being, birth, origin'). The basic sense is 'coming into existence again'. Uses in the period:

• the cosmic renewal of the world after its destruction (Stoic philosophy)
• restoration of a nation or homeland after disaster
• coming back to life or rebirth of a person or soul
• in later Christian use, spiritual or baptismal rebirth

Against the English

KJV, WEB and NASB have 'regeneration'. NIV and BSB have 'the renewal of all things', ESV 'the new world', NLT 'when the world is made new'. 'Regeneration' is accurate as a word, but to modern church ears it means personal spiritual rebirth, which is not the sense here.

How it drifted

In English theology 'regeneration' became the technical term for the new birth of the individual believer, under the influence of Titus 3:5 (the only other New Testament use) and later debates about baptism and conversion. So readers hear Matthew 19:28 through that lens, though here the word describes a time in world history, not an inner experience.

Used elsewhere in the period

• Stoic philosophy used palingenesia for the world being reborn after a periodic cosmic fire.
• Philo uses it for the earth renewed after the Flood (Life of Moses 2.65).
• Josephus writes of the 'recovery and palingenesia of the homeland' when the exiles returned from Babylon (Antiquities 11.66). That is national restoration.
• Jewish hope of the period expressed the same idea in other words: 'new heavens and a new earth' (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22), God 'renewing his creation' (2 Baruch 32:6; compare 1 Enoch 45:4–5; 4 Ezra 7:75).
• Titus 3:5, 'washing of palingenesia', applies the word to the believer's renewal.