ἀνακαίνωσις
renewing
Definition
ἀνακαίνωσις refers to the process of renewal, specifically the spiritual transformation of a person's inner being. In Romans 12:2, it describes the ongoing renewal of the mind that enables believers to discern God's will, contrasting with conformity to the world. In Titus 3:5, it is linked to salvation, describing the renewal brought about by the Holy Spirit through the washing of regeneration. The word emphasizes a comprehensive, inward change that affects one's entire orientation and character.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used only twice in the New Testament, both times by Paul. In Romans 12:2, it is used in an ethical context, urging believers to be transformed by the renewal of their minds. In Titus 3:5, it appears in a soteriological context, describing the renewal accomplished by the Holy Spirit as part of salvation. Both uses connect the concept to the work of God in the believer's life.
Etymology
Derived from the verb ἀνακαινόω (anakainoō, G341), meaning 'to renew' or 'to make new again.' It combines the prefix ἀνά (ana), often indicating 'up' or 'again,' with καινός (kainos), meaning 'new' in quality or character. Thus, it signifies a restoration to a new state, distinct from mere repetition.
Semantic Range
This word is central to the New Testament teaching on sanctification and regeneration. It describes the transformative work of the Holy Spirit that begins at conversion (Titus 3:5) and continues as a process of mental and moral renewal (Romans 12:2). Understanding this Greek term highlights that Christian salvation involves not just forgiveness but a fundamental re-creation of the person's inner life, enabling a new way of thinking and living in accordance with God's will.
In the Greco-Roman world, concepts of renewal or restoration were often philosophical or cyclical. Paul's use of ἀνακαίνωσις, tied to the Holy Spirit and a qualitatively new life in Christ, presented a distinctively Christian, transformative, and linear understanding of personal change, moving from an old existence to a new creation.
παλιγγενεσία (palingenesia, G382) — emphasizes rebirth or regeneration, a new beginning; μεταμόρφωσις (metamorphōsis, G3339) — emphasizes transformation or change of form, often outwardly visible.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
Full methodology & sources →