# Regeneration ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Regeneration* ([[titus-03#^titus-03-5|Tit 3:5]]) - *Palingenesia* (Gk.): refers to a \"rebirth\", \"restoration\", or \"renewal\". The term is used only twice in the Bible, here and in [[matthew-19#^matthew-19-28|Mt 19:28]], though it appears several times in non-biblical writings. Stoic philosophers, for instance, believed that a renewed world order would emerge after a fiery purgation of the cosmos. The Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria spoke in a similar way about the rebirth of the world after the flood in Noah\'s day (*Life of Moses* 2, 65). The Jewish historian Josephus employs the term for the restoration of Israel after the tragedy of exile (*Antiquities* 11, 66). In Titus, Paul links the idea of regeneration with a baptismal washing that cleanses us of sin and gives us a new birth into the family of God (cf. [[john-03#^john-03-5|Jn 3:5]]; [[ephesians-05#^ephesians-05-26|Eph 5:26]]). He is saying that the washing of the body is an efficacious sign of the invisible work of the Spirit, whose action in the sacrament renews and renovates our souls with divine grace ([[acts-of-the-apostles-02#^acts-of-the-apostles-02-38|Acts 2:38]]; [[1-peter-03#^1-peter-03-21|1 Pet 3:21]]) (CCC 1215, 1265). New birth through water of baptism and the Spirit: [[john-03#^john-03-3|Jn 3:3, 5]] Washing of regeneration: [[titus-03#^titus-03-5|Tit 3:5]] *See also* [[baptism]] ### Sources [[17-titus-commentary#^dmcufm|Regeneration — word study]] [[index-of-doctrines|Index of Doctrines]]