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Hodge: Systematic Theology, Vol. 3

Charles Hodge · 1871–1873

Princeton's Reformed systematic theology: soteriology (continued) and eschatology.

Edition: CCEL · www.ccel.org

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From the opening: Chapter XV

Chapter XV

Regeneration

§ 1. Usage of the Word.

The subjective change wrought in the soul by the grace of God, is variously designated in Scripture. It is called a new birth, a resurrection, a new life, a new creature, a renewing of the mind, a dying to sin and living to righteousness, a translation from darkness to light, etc. In theological language, it is called regeneration, renovation, conversion. These terms are often used interchangeably. They are also used sometimes for the whole process of spiritual renovation or restoration of the image of God, and sometimes for a particular stage of that process. Thus Calvin gives the term its widest scope: "Uno verbo poenitentiam interpretor regenerationem, cujus non alius est scopus nisi ut imago Dei, quæ per Adæ transgressionem foedata et tantum non obliterata fuerat, in nobis reformetur. . . . Atque hæc quidem instauratio non uno momento, vel die, vel anno impletur, sed per continuos, imo etiam lentos interdum profectus abolet Deus in electis suis carnis corruptelas."

With the theologians of the seventeenth century conversion and regeneration were synonymous terms. In the acts of the Synod of Dort, we find such expressions as "Status conversionis aut regenerationis," and "effecta ad conversionem sive regenerationem prævia." John Owen, in his work on the Holy Spirit, follows the same usage. The fifth chapter of the third book of that work is entitled "The nature of regeneration," and one of the heads under this is, "Conversion not wrought by moral suasion only." "If the Holy Spirit," he says, "acts no otherwise on men in regeneration or conversion," then so and so follows. Turrettin, as we have seen, distinguishes between what he calls "conversio habitualis" and "conversio actualis." "Conversio habitualia seu passiva, fit per habituum supernaturalium infusionem a Spiritu Sancto. Actualis vero seu activa per bonorum istorum exercitium. . . . Per illam homo renovatur et convertitur a Deo. Per istam homo a Deo renovatus et convertus convertit se ad Deum, et actus agit. Illa melius regeneratio dicitur, quia se habet ad modum novæ nativitatis, qua homo reformatur ad imaginem Creatoris sui. Ista vero conversio, quia includit hominis ipsius operationem." This is clear and accurate. As these two things are distinct they should be designated by different terms. Great confusion arises from this ambiguity of terms. The questions whether man is…

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Contents (61 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. Title page
  3. Contents of the Third Volume
  4. Chapter XV
  5. Chapter XV (continued)
  6. Chapter XV (continued)
  7. Chapter XVI
  8. Chapter XVI (continued)
  9. Chapter XVI (continued)
  10. Chapter XVI (continued)
  11. Chapter XVI (continued)
  12. Chapter XVII
  13. Chapter XVII (continued)
  14. Chapter XVII (continued)
  15. Chapter XVII (continued)
  16. Chapter XVII (continued)
  17. Chapter XVII (continued)
  18. Chapter XVIII
  19. Chapter XVIII (continued)
  20. Chapter XVIII (continued)
  21. Chapter XIX
  22. Chapter XIX (continued)
  23. Chapter XIX (continued)
  24. Chapter XIX (continued)
  25. Chapter XIX (continued)
  26. Chapter XIX (continued)
  27. Chapter XIX (continued)
  28. Chapter XIX (continued)
  29. Chapter XIX (continued)
  30. Chapter XIX (continued)
  31. Chapter XIX (continued)
  32. Chapter XIX (continued)
  33. Chapter XIX (continued)
  34. Chapter XX
  35. Chapter XX (continued)
  36. Chapter XX (continued)
  37. Chapter XX (continued)
  38. Chapter XX (continued)
  39. Chapter XX (continued)
  40. Chapter XX (continued)
  41. Chapter XX (continued)
  42. Chapter XX (continued)
  43. The first of these is the introductory and consecrating prayer. The object of this prayer…
  44. Article twenty-sixth, the last of the series, is directed against the adoration of the…
  45. Article twenty-sixth, the last of the series, is directed against the adoration of the… (continued)
  46. Article twenty-sixth, the last of the series, is directed against the adoration of the… (continued)
  47. Article twenty-sixth, the last of the series, is directed against the adoration of the… (continued)
  48. Article twenty-sixth, the last of the series, is directed against the adoration of the… (continued)
  49. Chapter I
  50. Chapter I (continued)
  51. Chapter I (continued)
  52. Chapter I (continued)
  53. Chapter II
  54. Chapter II (continued)
  55. Chapter II (continued)
  56. Chapter II (continued)
  57. Chapter II (continued)
  58. The Concomitants of the Second Advent
  59. The Concomitants of the Second Advent (continued)
  60. The Concomitants of the Second Advent (continued)
  61. The Concomitants of the Second Advent (continued)

How to cite it

Chicago
Charles Hodge. Hodge: Systematic Theology, Vol. 3. CCEL, 1871–1873. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/hodge/theology3
MLA
Charles Hodge. Hodge: Systematic Theology, Vol. 3. CCEL, 1871–1873. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/hodge/theology3
APA
Charles Hodge (1871–1873). Hodge: Systematic Theology, Vol. 3. CCEL. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/hodge/theology3

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