Titus 3:5 grammar question

[Watchman]

Titus 3:5 ...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 of the Holy Spirit...

Grammatically, do you read the above as:

1) he saved us...by the washing (of regeneration and renewal) of the Holy Spirit, or

2) he saved us...by the washing of regeneration and (the) renewal of the Holy Spirit?

Are regeneration and renewal the same things, or different things?

blessings,

Watchman

[jayne]

Speaking as a former English teacher, I read it as your option #2.

However, this might help you out better than I can.

Renewing of the Holy Spirit

by Henry Morris III, D.Min.

". . . the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5)

The Holy Spirit's eternal impacts on our lives (regeneration and renewal) are brought together in this text in a rather unique way. To begin with, the Greek words are unusual—"regeneration" being used only twice in the New Testament and "renewal" only five times in various forms. They come together only in this passage.

"Regeneration" (paliggenesia) means to "birth again." The connection to our salvation is well established and does not need much explanation here. "Renewal" (anakainosis) in its variations is a bit more difficult to describe--especially since there is the possible linguistic connection to the "washing" (bath) of regeneration. That is, the section could be translated "the Holy Spirit's bath of regeneration and renewing"--thus equating the two terms. Most translations, however, treat the terms as separate actions or conditions for which the Holy Spirit is responsible. This fits best with the rest of the biblical data.

Perhaps the most well-known passage focusing on renewal is Romans 12:1-2. In this precious reference, we are commanded to present (yield) our bodies as holy and acceptable living sacrifices, and to refuse to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed (metamorphoo = "permanent change") by the renewing of our mind. The instrument by which the transformation comes about is the new mind (intellect)--a grace-gift imputed at salvation by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 10:16). This renewal takes place in the "inward man" (2 Corinthians 4:16) which "is renewed in knowledge" (Colossians 3:10) according to the image of the Creator. Thus, the renewal comes about intellectually, through the ministrations of the Holy Spirit, as we seek, study, store, and obey the magnificent Word of God. HMM III

[Noeb]

3) he saved us...by the washing of regeneration (of the Holy Spirit) and renewal [ανακαινωσεως] (of the Holy Spirit)

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

he saved us by regenerating our spirit and renewing our mind

Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We acted one way, then we were saved, having the Spirit as proof, that we were justified by grace by regenerating and renewing of the Spirit and heirs according to hope
We were...., but after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, he saved us.

Romans 12:2's renewal [ανακαινωσει] is for us to do. Don't think like the world, but think like I've told you (I beseech you therefore brethren) in the previous 11 chapters.

Titus 3:5 - ανακαινωσεως
Romans 12:2 - ανακαινωσει

[Watchman]

Does anyone correlate the washing of regeneration with water baptism?

W

[jayne]

Does anyone correlate the washing of regeneration with water baptism?

W

I don't. Here's why - "washing" and "baptism"/"baptize" aren't the same words - not even from the same root.

"Washing of regeneration" is literally "louton" (λουτρόν) or "bathing or the act of bathing". It implies a cleansing act that only the Holy Spirit can do. It is not an ordinance that we can have a hand in. Jesus didn't command that we preach, teach, and bath/spiritually cleanse people. He commanded that we preach, teach, and baptize. This word, "washing" is only found twice in the New Testament.

"Baptism/baptize" is literally "baptisma" (βάπτισμα)/"baptizo" (βαπτίζω) and it means "to dip repeatedly by immersing or submerging or to be overwhelmed". Together, these words are found over 100 times in the New Testament. We are commanded to immerse/submerge people in water as an ordinance. We can baptize people. We cannot cleanse people from their sins.

The cleansing of regeneration or "bathing" into being reborn happens the moment when one is saved. It's the blood of Jesus that saves, not the water inside a man-made baptistery.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed...but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19).

[Jemand]

Titus 3:5 ...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 of the Holy Spirit...

Grammatically, do you read the above as:

1) he saved us...by the washing (of regeneration and renewal) of the Holy Spirit, or

2) he saved us...by the washing of regeneration and (the) renewal of the Holy Spirit?

Are regeneration and renewal the same things, or different things?

blessings,

Watchman

Titus 3:5 Not 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; (KJV)

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (NKJV)

Titus 3:5 not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, (RVS)

Titus 3:5 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 of the Holy Spirit,

Titus 35. he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water {Gk [washing]} of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (NRSV)

Titus 3:5. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (NASB, 1995)

Titus 3:5. he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (NIV, 1978, 1984, and 2011—the same in all three of these editions of the NIV )

Please notice that the comma found after the word ‘regeneration’ in the KJV is not present in the NKJV or in any of the other translations that I have quoted above. The meaning is that God our Savior, through the washing of regeneration and renewal, which was performed by the Holy Spirit, has saved us. By this “washing,” was Paul referring to water baptism? To the first century Jewish mind, water was essential for purification; therefore, the question we need to answer is how “Jewish” was Paul? Peter certainly believed that water baptism was essential for purification of the sinner. Did Paul agree with that point of view? Some additional Scriptures to consider:

John 3:5. Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

Acts 2:38. Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Rom. 6:4. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

1 Cor. 6:11. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Eph. 5:26. so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

1 Pet. 3:21. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

(All quotations from Scripture, unless otherwise noted, are from the NASB, 1995)

[Jemand]

Speaking as a former English teacher, I read it as your option #2.

I am thankful that you were not my English teacher. In order for your understanding to be correct, it would be necessary for there to be a comma after the word “regeneration” (as in the KJV), or for the definite article to be repeated immediately before the word “renewing.”

[Jemand]

I don't. Here's why - "washing" and "baptism"/"baptize" aren't the same words - not even from the same root.

"Washing of regeneration" is literally "louton" (λουτρόν) or "bathing or the act of bathing". It implies a cleansing act that only the Holy Spirit can do. It is not an ordinance that we can have a hand in. Jesus didn't command that we preach, teach, and bath/spiritually cleanse people. He commanded that we preach, teach, and baptize. This word, "washing" is only found twice in the New Testament.

"Baptism/baptize" is literally "baptisma" (βάπτισμα)/"baptizo" (βαπτίζω) and it means "to dip repeatedly by immersing or submerging or to be overwhelmed". Together, these words are found over 100 times in the New Testament. We are commanded to immerse/submerge people in water as an ordinance. We can baptize people. We cannot cleanse people from their sins.

The cleansing of regeneration or "bathing" into being reborn happens the moment when one is saved. It's the blood of Jesus that saves, not the water inside a man-made baptistery.

For a much more accurate understanding of the meaning of the Greek verb βαπτίζω in the context of Titus 3:5, please see the article by Albrecht Oepke in The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 1, pp. 529-546.

[percho]

Was something removed by this washing, if so what?

[Paccls]

Was something removed by this washing, if so what?

I believe that Peter answers your question quite clearly;

2 Peter 1:9
9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
NKJV

The NASB uses the word "purification" instead of "cleansed", and has a footnote in regard to the intended sense of its use;

Eph 5:26
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
NKJV

and,

Titus 2:14
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
NKJV

[John146]

Titus 3:5 ...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 of the Holy Spirit...

Grammatically, do you read the above as:

1) he saved us...by the washing (of regeneration and renewal) of the Holy Spirit, or

2) he saved us...by the washing of regeneration and (the) renewal of the Holy Spirit?

Are regeneration and renewal the same things, or different things?

blessings,

Watchman

I would go with option 1. I'm not sure if the regeneration and renewal are exactly the same things or closely related things (perhaps the regeneration of the spirit and renewal of the mind as someone already suggested?) but I would say the regeneration and renewal are both acts of the Holy Spirit and I don't believe this verse has anything to do with water baptism. It doesn't make sense to me that Paul would say "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness" and then proceed to say that we are saved because of a work done by us in righteousness (water baptism).

[Watchman]

I would go with option 1. I'm not sure if the regeneration and renewal are exactly the same things or closely related things (perhaps the regeneration of the spirit and renewal of the mind as someone already suggested?) but I would say the regeneration and renewal are both acts of the Holy Spirit and I don't believe this verse has anything to do with water baptism. It doesn't make sense to me that Paul would say "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness" and then proceed to say that we are saved because of a work done by us in righteousness (water baptism).

I suppose my CofC background is showing. I was taught that the washing of regeneration refers to water baptism...which it doesn't. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...that is regeneration. Renewal is, in my understanding, a process that utilizes our daily situations to give us opportunity to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Each situation requires a choice. When we obediently submit to the urging of the Spirit, then we grow in spiritual maturity. When we do not, we stay babies in that particular area.

W

[Noeb]

but does "he saved us" sound like a process? It doesn't for regeneration, I don't know how it would for renewal. When I was born again, everything about me was different. I don't know if renewal is the mind here in this passage. I don't think it's limited to anything in particular. I just mentioned the mind, because I for one sure thought differently.

[John146]

I suppose my CofC background is showing. I was taught that the washing of regeneration refers to water baptism...which it doesn't. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...that is regeneration.

I agree. Regeneration occurs when we are born of the Spirit and baptized by/with the Spirit into the body of Christ/church.

Renewal is, in my understanding, a process that utilizes our daily situations to give us opportunity to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Each situation requires a choice. When we obediently submit to the urging of the Spirit, then we grow in spiritual maturity. When we do not, we stay babies in that particular area.

Sounds good to me.

[Watchman]

but does "he saved us" sound like a process? It doesn't for regeneration, I don't know how it would for renewal. When I was born again, everything about me was different. I don't know if renewal is the mind here in this passage. I don't think it's limited to anything in particular. I just mentioned the mind, because I for one sure thought differently.

Once across the Red Sea, the Israelites were 'saved'...but it took a rather long process to get them into the promised land, yes?