rebirth, regeneration, restoration
Palingenesia is one of the most loaded words in the New Testament. It only appears twice, but both times it carries enormous freight. It means rebirth, regeneration, beginning again. Literally it is two words pressed together: palin (again) plus genesis (birth, origin). To experience palingenesia is to be brought into existence a second time. Not improved. Not patched. Born again, from scratch. Jesus uses the word once, in Matthew 19, when he tells the disciples that 'in the palingenesia,' when the Son of Man sits on his throne, they will sit with him judging the tribes of Israel. He is talking about cosmic renewal, the renewal of all things. The whole creation reborn. Paul uses it once, in Titus 3, where he says God saved us by the washing of palingenesia and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Personal rebirth this time. The same Spirit who will one day renew the universe is at work renewing individual hearts now. The two uses belong together. The new birth of the believer is a foretaste of the new birth of the world. The Spirit who is renewing me is rehearsing for the day he renews everything. Palingenesia is both intimate and cosmic, and the Bible refuses to separate them.
I spent years thinking the Christian life was about behavior modification. Try harder. Sin less. Read more. Palingenesia stopped me. Scripture does not describe what God does in us as polishing. It describes it as birth. You did not improve your way out of being unborn. You were born. The same is true here. And the comfort is bigger than the personal part. The world is not getting steadily worse on the way to nowhere. The same Spirit who reached into me to start something new is going to reach into the cosmos and do it on a scale we can barely imagine. My little rebirth and the universe's coming rebirth are the same project. That puts my worst weeks in perspective. The work that has begun does not depend on me to finish.
Palin means 'again.' Genesis means 'birth' or 'beginning.' Stoic philosophers had used palingenesia for the cyclical rebirth of the cosmos. Jewish writers like Philo borrowed it for the renewal after the flood. The New Testament took the word, kept its weight, and pointed it at one specific renewal: the one started at the cross and finished when Christ returns.
Where palingenesia appears in Scripture, and why each verse showcases it.
Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones.
'New world' translates palingenesia. Jesus uses it for the cosmic rebirth at his return. The disciples will be there.
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
'Regeneration' is palingenesia. Personal rebirth, not personal effort. The Spirit does the work.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The 'born again' theme. Different Greek (gennethe anothen) but the same concept palingenesia carries.
The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
The cosmic side of palingenesia. Creation will share in the rebirth.
Words in the same semantic family.
Every video where Adam teaches on this word, in publication order.
