[B-Greek] Heb. 6:6 - P. ANAKAIN. EIS MET. = 2nd baptism?
Eric Weiss
papaweiss1 at yahoo.com
Sun Jan 16 16:37:36 EST 2005
St. John Chrysostom, in commenting on Hebrews 6:4-6
("... PALIN ANAKAINIZEIN EIS METANOIAN; crucifying to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and putting Him to
an open shame."), writes: "He then that baptizeth a
second time, crucifies Him again. But what is
'crucifying afresh'? It is crucifying over again. For
as Christ died on the cross, so do we in baptism, not
as to the flesh, but as to sin. Behold, two deaths. He
died as to the flesh; in our case the old man was
buried, and the new man arose, made conformable to the
likeness of His death. If therefore it is necessary to
be baptized again, it is necessary that this same
Christ should die again. For baptism is nothing else
than the putting to death of the baptized, and his
rising again." (Homily IX on Hebrews)
The notes to the Orthodox Study Bible say: 6:4 The
basic sacraments are crucial to salvation: One is ONCE
ENLIGHTENED (hAPAX FWTISQENTAS) in baptism, which is
unrepeatable and called the sacrament of illumination
(see Eph. 5:14). TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT (GEUSAMENOUS
TE THS DWREAS THS EPOURANIOU) (see 1 Pet. 2:3) may
refer to the grace of baptism (Chrysostom says
especially of the forgiveness experienced there), but
it most certainly refers to the Eucharist as well.
BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (METACOUS
GENHQENTAS PNEUMATOS hAGIOU) refers to chrismation.
Thus, the Orthodox Church interprets the first three
participles in Hebrews 6:4ff with reference to the
main sacraments of the Christian faith and life -
baptism, eucharist, and chrismation - and in this
context, Chrysostom relates the term "PALIN
ANAKAINIZEIN EIS METANOIAN" to being baptized a second
time. I.e., ANAKAINIZEIN EIS METANOIAN = baptism.
BDAG says that ANAKAINIZW means "renew, restore" and
says nothing about baptism with respect to Hebrews
6:4, but then quotes Barnabus 6:11 and says:
"ANAKAINISAS hHMAS EN THi AFESEI TWN hAMARTIWN since
he made us new by forgiveness of sins (in baptism)" -
in other words, BDAG relates the use of ANAKAINIZW in
Barnabas 6:11 to baptism, even though neither this
verse in Barnabas, nor any of Barnabas chapter 6,
makes any mention of baptism or even of water or of
illumination.
The Evangelical Theological Society meeting in
November had several sessions on Hebrews 6:6, yet I
did not hear in any of the sessions I attended "PALIN
ANAKAINIZEIN EIS METANOIAN" being equated with being
baptized (a second time). However, BDAG's reference to
Barnabus seems to allow such an interpretation, and
Orthodox theology (whose sacramental understanding of
Hebrews 6:4 seems to make good sense) apparently
supports this.
With the above as background, My Question: Is there a
basis for regarding ANAKAINIZW (or A. EIS METANOIAN)
as sometimes being a t.t. (technical term) for
BAPTIZW? If so, is it proper to consider that to be
the meaning in Hebrews 6:6? Also if so, is ANAKAINWSIS
sometimes a t.t. for BAPTISMA? (Titus 3:5 seems to
possbly suggest this: ESWSEN hHMAS DIA LOUTROU
PALIGGENESIAS KAI ANAKAINWSEWS PNEUMATOS hAGIOU.)
=====
Eric S. Weiss
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free!
http://my.yahoo.com
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list