In early Christian writings ἀνακαινίζω is a
common word in connection with regeneration and baptism, Barn., 6, 11: ἀνακαινίσας (sc. God)
ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἀφέσει τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν; Chrys.
Hom. in R., 20 (MPG, 60, 598): ἀνακαίνισον αὐτὴν (sc. τὴν ψυχήν) μετανοίᾳ, Liturgia
Marci (F. E. Brightman, Liturgies Eastern
and Western [1896], 126, 1): ἀνεκαίνισας διὰ τοῦ φρικτοῦ καὶ ζωοποιοῦ καὶ οὐρανίου μυστηρίου τούτου, cf. O.
Sol. 11:11: “The Lord renewed me by His vesture and created me by His light”;
17:4: “I received the countenance and form of a new being, I entered therein
and was redeemed”; Act. Thom. 132 (baptismal hymn): σοὶ δόξα ἀνακαινισμὸς διʼ οὗ ἀνακαινίζονται οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι οἱ μετὰ διαθέσεως σοῦ ἁπτόμενοι. Of the
angel of repentance in Herm. s., 8, 6, 3: τοῦ ἀνακαινίσαι τὰ πνεύματα αὐτῶν, cf. s.,
9, 14, 3; v., 3, 8, 9. (TDNT
3:451-52)