ANAKAINOSIS (Renewal)
What is the Word?
Christianity is a faith predicated on the restoration of all things. With this being the case, it isn’t surprising that we should find language of renewal peppered all throughout the scriptures, but especially in the New Testament. One word that the New Testament uses regularly is the word Anakainósis.
How does the Bible use this word?
Because Paul often speaks of our unity with Christ and our participation in his life, there is an abundance of discussion on the concept of renewal. As we often see with important words in the original Greek, Anakainósis is a compound word. What we refer to as a single word in English as renewal, the Greek is a combination of the words Ana and kainō. Ana serves as an intensifier of the word kainō, which carries with it the idea of making fresh or new. When the two are used together, we are given the idea of completely starting afresh, a wiping clean of the slate, and associated to the transformative power of the Holy Sprit.
Where in the Bible?
As was previously mentioned, we see this word pop up often in Paul’s letters in reference to our being joined to Christ in faith and the transformative nature of this unity has on our hearts and minds. The renewal of our minds radically alters the outlook of Christians toward the rest of the world. Consider Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:2:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal (ἀνακαινώσει) of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The resurrection of Jesus has radically transformed us by faith. We are given a renewal of mind by the Holy Spirit, so that what we are now in the world but not of it. As such, we are able to test things spiritually in order that we might discern what is right and true and what may lead us to destruction.
Paul also uses the word in his pastoral epistles. For example, when he is writing to the young Pastor Titus, he uses the word to describe the cleansing of our hearts by the Holy Spirit:
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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 (ἀνακαινώσεως) of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (3:4-8).
Here, Paul specifically refers to the renewal power of the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and sanctify us, that we might be conformed to the image of Jesus and inherit all that is his. He also makes the point that this renewal is entirely a gift, and not based on any works and holiness in and of ourselves so that no man may boast in his righteousness.
Relaying the Message
As we enter the New Year season and the renewal of the New Year, make it a point to meditate on the incredible mercy that God has had on us. Through the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit, we have experienced true renewal. We are indeed, as Paul tells us, a new creation. Because we have renewed hearts and minds, we are able to apply these to relationships inside and outside of the Church, so that we might serve as salt and light as a witness to the world.
Written by Drew Matz