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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Matthew 19:28 - 19:28
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28. ἐν τῇ παλινγενεσίᾳ. These words qualify καθίσεσθε, and are themselves defined by ὅταν καθίσῃ κ.τ.λ.
παλινγενεσία, ‘a return to life,’ a new birth. Late and rarely used. It expressed a Stoic thought, ἡ περιοδικὴ παλινγενεσία τῶν ὅλων, ‘the periodic restitution of all things’ (M. Antoninus XI. 1, quoted by Wetstein). Cicero speaks of his return from exile as a παλινγενεσία, ad Attic. VI. 6. Similarly Josephus writes: τὴν ἀνάκτησιν καὶ παλινγενεσίαν τῆς πατρίδος ἑορτάζοντες, Ant. XI. 3. 9. Both of these thoughts find a place in the N.T. meaning of the word. It is the renewed and higher life of the world regenerated by Christ, succeeding the birth-pangs (ὠδῖνες) which the present generation must suffer. Again, it is the spiritual return of Israel from the bondage of the law, which the Apostle calls ζωὴ ἐκ νεκρῶν, Rom 11:15.
Other meanings have been assigned to παλινγενεσία in this passage: (1) The Saviour’s return to glory in His Father’s kingdom. (2) The glorified life of the Apostles after death.
In Tit 3:5 παλινγενεσία is used of the new life the entrance to which is baptism: ἔσωσεν ἡμᾶς διὰ λουτροῦ παλινγενεσίας καὶ ἀνακαινώσεως πνεύματος ἁγίου κ.τ.λ.
καθίσεσθε καὶ αὐτοὶ κ.τ.λ. One aspect of the παλινγενεσία was the new birth of thought which spiritualised every conception. Israel became no longer Israel according to the flesh, to reign was to reign spiritually with Christ. In this spiritual Israel the Apostles have actually sat on thrones. They are the kings and judges of the Church of God.
τὰς δώδεκα φυλάς. Incidentally this expression confirms the connection between the number of the Apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel.