Hodge's analysis of the Biblical doctrine of Regeneration, being born again.

The following was written by one of my students at New Geneva Seminary, as a summary of his 

reading in Hodge.  This is well written.   If Wesley had read Calvin on 1John 3:9, he might not have 

preached that awful sermon on perfectionism that has wreaked so much havoc on the church.   

[lightly edited]

Hodge Systematic Theology Vol. III Part III

Regeneration

I. Usage of the Word

The word “regeneration” has many designators 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.” The term as used by many of the theologians during the 

reformation period, both orthodox and not, had a wide range of use that was more general in its 

definition than precise.

II. Nature of Regeneration

Current use of the word “regeneration” has an almost unanimous meaning of “instantaneous change 

from spiritual death to spiritual life.” The false definitions of “regeneration” that Hodge treats of are 

as follows; (1) Regeneration is not a change in the Substance of the Soul, (2)Regeneration does not 

consist in an Act of the Soul, (3) Regeneration is not the same as conversion or sanctification, (4) 

Regeneration is not brought about by Finney’s definition of freewill (i.e. man is a total free agent able 

to choose God), (5) Regeneration is not the natural desire for happiness terminated by man’s choice 

of God.

Hodge continues to explain that many of the definitions of “regeneration” that place a primary cause 

of the action on man are merely philosophical theories and have no basis in proper theology. God, as 

creator, must be the primary cause of all things to which there are many secondary causes.

Regeneration is concerned with the Scriptural definition of the heart which consists in man’s entire 

faculties. Many errors are propagated with the idea that a change of heart merely relatesto feelings. 

Additionally, regeneration is not merely illumination, but a change of the will.

III. The Evangelical Doctrine

In understanding the evangelical meaning of “regeneration” one must first grasp the meaning of total 

depravity and the state of man, who being completely unable to choose God because of sin is 

effectively moved from having a heart of stone to having a heart of flesh whereby man is then 

converted. This is done of grace and not by the merit of man. The points of definition that Hodge uses 

are as follows:

1. Regeneration is an Act of God - God is not merely the giver but also the author of faith2. 

Regeneration is an Act of God’s Power - Because of God’s omnipotence, nothing can resist an 

efficacious call to regeneration. Regeneration is also said to be immediate because of God’s power 

and not mediate. The example given was of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Christ. 3. 

Regeneration in the subjective sense is not an act.  4. Regeneration is not a change in substance of the 

soul - “it is not good acts which make the man good; the goodness of the man determines the 

character of his acts.”5. Regeneration is a new life - Those who are spiritually dead are not dead in all 

senses of the word (socially, morally) but are dead in their views toward God, Christ, sin, etc… To 

those who have been given new life they are made alive in their views toward all the truths that are 

necessary to salvation whereby they testify to the truth.6. Regeneration is a new birth - As with a 

child, birth is not the act of the child but it is what itis… spiritually we are born anew and it is not a 

cause of our own but of the one whom gives life.7. Regeneration is a new heart - The heart in 

Scripture is the part of us that thinks, feels, wills and acts. When a new heart is given, God is giving a 

hole new character and nature; one that is not mired in sin and opposed to him but one that loves God 

and begins to act accordingly.

Other notes:

* The soul is recognized as a unit in Scripture and should not be separated in the analyzation 

[analysis?] of regeneration.

Prayer and Meditation on Psalm 34:9-14

“9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 ¶ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that
desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” (Ps 34:9-15 AV)

Precious Father, we confess that we cannot learn Your fear from the precept of men. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh and we must be taught by Your Spirit if we are to learn spiritual things.

Yet, how rich is the heritage of those who have learned Your fear. Even the wild beasts hunger and
thirst and many of them die for want of meat and drink, yet those who fear You will lack nothing
necessary for this life during the time that You have appointed for us on this earth.

Every good and perfect things comes down from You, O Father, for there is none good but You. You
have told us what Your fear is, that we “desire life, and love many days to enjoy the good that You give
us. To keep our tongues from evil and our lips from hypocrisy is the fear of God, for the Gospel tells us
that love is to be without hypocrisy, abhorring evil and cleaving to that which is good. We are
commanded to seek peace and chase after it.

For You, O precious Father, are not blind and deaf. You see the needs of Your children even before we
know them, and You hear our prayers even before we pray.

Therefore, O Lord Jesus, we will come to You, as You have commanded, as You have called us with
great power and glory. We will listen to Your voice and pursue the fear of the Lord, and You will teach
us Your ways, for you are faithful and true.

With great power You have called, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heaven laden and I will
give you rest.” We fear You, because You have taught us, for Your grace teaches us to live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present world. We are not drunken as those who riot in the night but we
have put on the soberness of Your fear, being taught of You.