Monthly Archives: June 2023

Renewal, Regeneration, and Born Again

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This word study began in a “last to first” post in Matthew 9:28. That inquiry also generated a study for some other great words. Translators and dictionary makers have a demanding job, especially if they are keeping politics out of the final product. The words and phrases that caught my attention are very close in usage in our modern vernacular, I wonder what they were in the first century.

Strong: G3824 palingenesia a new birth; regeneration, renovation, Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5.

Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (KJV)

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)

Strong: G342 anakainōsis renovation, renewal – Romans 12:2; Titus 3:5 

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

Titus contains both of the first two words, which I found interesting. Paul is very careful with his words; I don’t think this was a mistake. More study on my part is required. This led me to the idea in John 3:3 and how it compares with the first two words.

Strong: G1080 and G509 gennaō anōthen birth from above or born-again John 3:3

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (KJV)

Mounce did a doctorial paper on the topic of new birth. I could only access the introduction. There seem to be other writers who have pondered this. For me, it is amazing that these few words occupy so much of our theology.

The verse in Matthew made me reflect on exactly what happened when Jesus came out of the tomb. Christianly has used many words to describe Jesus’ new state of being. For all practical purposes, He was born anew, with a glorified body and several new titles and responsibilities.

Sources were Mounce Interlinear and Strong’s Concordance.

Sling to Head or KE to PE

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Sling to Head was launched from a comment in “The Bible and Science” series. I think the person who commented needed more than my metaphorical look at Newton’s First Law. I agree that I could add a little more science to the post.  This contribution still has a fair amount of metaphor in it because that is what I want to write.

1 Samuel 17:49 is the bullseye for my example of converting kinetic energy to potential energy. To make a solid hit, I will talk mainly about the stone once it is released from its sling by David. Like many motion problems, there is more than one thing that could be looked at.  

What gave the stone its kinetic energy? David rapidly rotated his sling, a strap with an area that held the stone. Long, long ago I did see a video of someone who constructed an experiment to test this feat. I remember the conclusion as positive; you could be that accurate and the stone could hit with enough force to break a bone.

The rotational speed of the sling was given to the stone at the moment of release. That is all of the kinetic energy it would have. Since it was probably a short distance to Goliath’s head speed lost to friction would be minimal. When it impacted the skull, its momentum allowed for the KE to be transferred until it came to rest and achieved potential energy. You may debate friction transfer and heat loss all you want.

Did David have help? Yes. Did an angel guide the stone? That I cannot answer, but it may have happened. It is also possible that Goliath’s head was held until the stone hit. Okay, the help I see is the anointing that David received from Samuel (16:13). He had the Spirit given to him and He stayed with David for his whole life. My take on 1 Samuel 16 is different from the popular version that has been circulated.

A fearful Samuel created panic in a troubled Jesse. David was out in the field, who knows where and Samuel was in a hurry. David should have been young, under fifteen and very likely twelve. He was just learning to read the Torah (sorry no bar mitzvah). It also makes sense that there were several years between 16:13 and 16:14. I believe that after the Oil was applied, he went from just a kid to the future king. His talents were magnified, and his abilities soared; he was better at slinging stones, music, leadership, and annoying his brothers.

A little metaphor – You are the stone in the hands of the King. With every spin in His sling, you gain speed with a direction (velocity) until He releases you at your giant. When the job is finished and the giant is brought down, He will give you rest until you are needed again.

Last to First with Some Great Words

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Matthew 19:28 to 20:16 is a formal lesson on last/first. Matthew recorded four great words Jesus used in this teaching. I have used Strong’s Concordance for many years, recently I found Mounce’s Greek Interlinear to help in my studies, like this one. Which for me is great because the New Testament can be Greek in my mind at times. Tools like these can expand your study, but they are just two of many helpful resources. Go outside your box every now and then and let the Spirit expand your knowledge.

The four words that caught my attention have limited use in the New Testament, are important to the tone of the lesson, and/or I thought they were funny.

Palingenesia – Strong: G3824 is used by Jesus, in verse 28, to introduce and set the tone for His answer to Peter and to give a timeframe for His teaching. Regeneration is maybe the best translation for this word, but you may see new birth, renewal, or renovation in some translations. It is used twice in the New Testament; the other time is in Titus 3:5. Jesus includes the disciples and gives it a heavenly tone, but contrasts this against the thought that part of the receiving will be done here on earth.

Hama – Strong: G260. In 29:1 it is “early in the morning”. Hama is used 10x in the New Testament, in most of the other verses it is “at the same time”. Since the landowner is hiring workers at various times that is okay. If you reflect on the second usage, I believe it can change how view the Father’s desire and consistent practice of getting laborers into His field. 

Misthoō – Strong: G3409. It means to hire out. This word is used only twice in the New Testament- Matthew 20:1, 7. These refer to the first and the last workers to be hired, the third, sixth, and ninth-hour workers are offered payment and told to go. The first ones the owner went to hire and the last men no one had hired.

Ouchi – Strong: G3780. It appears in Matthew 20:13 and means “not or no”, the no is emphasized. The first hired are complaining and the owner says he is not unfair on the wages. Ouchi is used many times in the New Testament.

I believe these four great words, that Jesus uses, demonstrate how important the first to last and last to first concept is in the Kingdom.

Last and First – Matthew 17 to 21

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Matthew 17 to 21 is what I call the Forth Block of Kingdom Teaching, and we will focus on the “first to last, leaders to servants, greatest to the humble” teachings Jesus gave His disciples. These chapters start with the Transfiguration and go to Jesus delivering His first sermon from the Two Mounts. I have used mentions of John the Baptist to frame the blocks of teachings about the Kingdom. Yes, there are other thoughts and teachings in this period. Three standout examples are: Jesus was questioned twice on divorce, He uses children several times in His teachings, and foretells His death twice. If I extend the block into His Sermons on the Two Mounts (the fifth block), He tells two parables about weddings. Jesus’ changes in physical locations are also worth noting.

This Last to First series of studies has already challenged some long-held paradigms. That is never comfortable; it is necessary but not pleasant. There are many first/last ideas in these chapters. After playing the tour guide of Jesus’ travels I will focus on three related kingdom thoughts.

His Final Pilgrimage – I will not go into great detail here, as I have done some of that in other studies. Even His movements have a “least to great” lesson in them.

  • He is on the mount where He is transfigured and meets with Moses and Elijah. (John the Baptist is mentioned here.)
  • Capernaum, for the last time.  
  • Jesus leaves the land of Naphtali and Zebulun (Galilee). He “goes over” the Jordan and to the area across from Jericho.
  • If you check with the other Gospels, He does several trips to the west bank.
  • He begins His final trip to Jerusalem by crossing the Jordan and going to Jericho. He is busy here and possibly was there for several days.
  • He travels to the Mount of Olives where He sends for a donkey.
  • Jesus does a “victory ride” into Jerusalem and inspects the Temple. (John the Baptist is mentioned in His first of two sermons on Tuesday of Holy Week.)

I know that I have a tendency to single out a story or thought. It seems that the Holy Spirit has grouped several separate lessons together to highlight a theme. In this block, the timespan is probably several weeks and completely different locations. The audience however is the Twelve Disciples and the others in His camp.

Children – Chapter 18 opens with the disciples wanting to know who was going to be the greatest (megas) in the kingdom of heaven. There is no doubt, in my mind, that they were asking about an earthy kingdom. I believe that Jesus planted the seed for this question when He asked about the Temple tax. The Master Teacher did a show and tell by using a little (mikros) child to focus on being humble (tapeinoō). The test for this teaching unit came in 19:13-15. The disciples did not make an “A” so Jesus did a quick reteach.

The Father then supplied an object lesson of a rich young ruler who did not want to become humble. This “righteous” child of Abraham, this megas, knew something was missing. Jesus quizzed him on Commandments 5-9, and he was good. I always find it interesting that Commandments 1- 4 were not mentioned. (Exodus 20) You may form your own opinion on that. His title and money had not brought him peace and he doubted his salvation. The young man did not like Jesus’ answer, he wanted a spiritual answer and was told to do away with his earthy hinderance. (I have not forgotten the l. Earthy = dust.)

Put a Selah in-between 19:22 and 23. Ignore the French printer’s chapter break and look at 19:23 to 20:16 as one whole, new lesson.

Last/First – The Spirit and Matthew changed terms in this new teaching, but the thought stays true. The “camp of disciples” saw the megas’ first (prōtos) position, and they knew he had salvation, because! Jesus segways from the earthy kingdom and moves to the Heavenly one in 19:28. The word/phrase is “palingenesia” Strong G3824. (All of the Greek is from Mounce.) It means renewal, new birth, or regeneration.

Your heart and vision will determine how you view first (prōtos) and last (eschatos). Your starting position is important. There is an interesting switch in last/first from 19:30 to 20:16, see my first post in this series.

John’s Eema – I have no doubt that John and James’ mother was in the camp that left Capernaum. There is no reason not to think that she had heard all of the teachings and witnessed the miracles that were done by Jericho. Like the young ruler, she asks a kingdom question. Was she talking about the earthy one or the Heavenly one? Jesus’ answer is about the Heavenly one. It is not settled in my mind if the disciples realized that Jesus was talking about a different kingdom than what they thought was coming. In verse 25, He meets them where they are and talks about leaders (megas) and servants (diakonos). See Paul and Slaves. Mom’s question makes you think about the disciples’ question in Chapter 18.

Jesus has told His disciples several times that He is going to Jerusalem to die. Did that sink in before the Garden? The questions and indignant feelings make me want to say no. But they heard and eventually lived the teaching, may we be able to say that also.   

Recap –

Before the Rich Man – In this series of teachings Jesus answers how to be the greatest or first in the kingdom. The lessons had a “least” action: finding lost sheep, forgiving someone, and helping little children come to Jesus. The last or least path is the way to go.

The Kingdom Teaching – Matthew 19:28 and 20:1 give this idea a heavenly setting. In between those verses, it is very heavenly. The parable in chapter 20 lends itself to the Earth. This really does need more study.

After the Teaching – John’s eema is an example of what not to be. Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem is an interesting lesson about the topic. Jesus rode into the city as a “great or first” and carried a cross out of the city as a “servant or last”. Then because of the shame-ridden cross, He became Lord and Master of all.

Bible 911-Daniel

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Daniel 9:11 is part of a prayer of repentance by Daniel for the people of Israel. The timing of this prayer is during the first year of Darius the Mede and at the end of the seventy years prophesied by Jeremiah (9:1).

Daniel’s Kings

Daniel served several kings. Four are named in the Bible, some are not. The named kings (in order) are:

  1. Nebuchadnezzar – Chapters 1-4
  2. Belshazzar – Chapters 7 (first year),8 (third year), 5 This was the last thing he did as the city fell that night, verse 5:30
  3. Darius – Chapters 9 (first year), 6 is early in his rule but some time had passed; 10:21 and 11:1 refer to his first year, which includes the angel Michael and the job he does.
  4. Cyrus – Chapters 10 (third year), 11 +12 are part of this last vision. He is first mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah and is the king who sent Ezra to Jerusalem.

Daniel 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. (KJV)

To appreciate what Daniel was repenting of we should start in 9:2. He had STUDIED Scripture, especially Deuteronomy 27: 14 to 26 and 28: 15 to 68, and had accepted the words of the Prophet Jeremiah. So, he prayed and petitioned by fasting and by humbling himself (vs. 3). I view this as huge when you remember that Daniel had been ripped away from his family, forced from his country, and made a eunuch because Israel had done these things. I will add the two death threats (okay maybe three) that had happened by this time in his life.     

Jeremiah’s seventy years of desolation were due to Israel not giving the land its sabbath rest. They did not believe that God would supply for the off years or thought they would make more profit. Daniel 9:20 is where God introduces a new seventy. In the process, He announces the coming “Anointed One” or Jesus’ birth. Gabriel brings this message and is sent again in Luke to Zechariah and Mary. (I have never studied this seventy. There are plenty of thoughts about how it is to be accomplished.)

The Prophets Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were alive and ministering during the “eleventh hour” of Jerusalem and Judah. Ezekiel and Daniel had experiences of angelic visions and interactions that pointed to current assistance and future events. Gabriel is the angel who delivers the messages from God. Michael is introduced as the one who fights and defends God’s people. This is also the picture we get of him in Jude and Revelations. In Daniel 10:21 and 11:1 we get a glimpse of the conflicts in the spirit world, Michael is supporting Gabriel against the prince of Persia. This must be a “spiritual prince” because Darius is Persian, and he was an ally of Daniel.