Tuesday, April 19, 2022

ἀνακαινίζω (to make anew/restore) as a Reference to Water Baptism in Early Christianity

 

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)