Regeneration

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: R By: George A. Morrish

• 1 min. read • grade level: 9

The word is παλιγγενεσία, literally “new birth,” a renovation as in the return of spring. The word occurs but twice in the New Testament. In Matthew 19:28²⁸And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28) it speaks of the time when Christ will sit on the throne of His glory; and in Titus 3:5⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5) it refers to the new order of things in connection with the presence of the Spirit, into which believers were brought. The word does not occur in the LXX. Josephus (Ant. xi. 3, 9) uses it for the “restoration” of the Jewish nation after the exile. It will be seen that the word regeneration has not in scripture the sense of “new birth,” to which the term has been commonly applied. Intimately connected with regeneration is the idea of “washing,” referring probably to a cleansing, or separation from old associations, which is essential to the idea of regeneration.