Theological Meaning of One New Man
The Greek phrase "one new man" (εἷς καινὸς ἄνθρωπος, heis kainos anthrōpos) appears in Ephesians 2:15, describing the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. The term "new man" is used in several New Testament passages to denote the regenerated believer [3, 4].
The adjective "new" (καινός, kainos) in "new man" signifies something recently created or renewed, distinct from the old [2]. In Ephesians 4:24, the "new man" is described as "created according to God in righteousness and true holiness". This new creation is a work of God, renewing the believer in knowledge and righteousness after the image of the Creator [3, 8].
The concept of the "new man" is closely tied to regeneration and the believer's union with Christ. According to Charles Hodge, regeneration is described in the Bible as a new birth, a new creation, and a renewal of the image of God in the believer [6]. John Gill notes that the "new man" is a principle of grace in the soul, renewed daily by the Spirit of God, and growing in holiness and righteousness [4].
The "one new man" in Ephesians 2:15 specifically refers to the unity of believers across ethnic and cultural divides. The early Church Fathers, such as Augustine, understood this unity as a key aspect of the Church's identity [7]. In the Reformed tradition, this unity is seen as a fruit of the believer's union with Christ, who has broken down the dividing walls between Jews and Gentiles [1, 9].
The Lutheran tradition, as represented by Luther's Small Catechism, understands the "new man" as a daily reality, arising from the mortification of the old Adam and the renewal of the believer in righteousness and purity [5]. The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as seen in John Chrysostom's homilies, emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in renewing the believer's mind and enabling them to live a new life [10].
The "one new man" is thus a rich theological concept, encompassing the ideas of regeneration, unity, and renewal in Christ. It highlights the transformative power of the gospel, creating a new humanity that transcends former divisions [8].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 5:17 — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- STEPBible TBESG “[G3501] G3501 = (G3501) — <b>νέος</b>, -α, -ον <BR /> [in LXX for נַעַר (<ref='Gen.37.2'>Gen.37:2</ref>, Exo_33:11, al.), חָדָשׁ (<ref='Lev.23.16'>Lev.23:16</ref>, <ref='Num.28.26'>Num.28:26</ref>, al.), etc.; compar. -ώτερος for קָטָן, צָעִיר, etc. ;] <BR />__1. <b>young, youthful</b>: <ref='Tit.2.4.'>Tit.2:4.</ref> <BR /> __2. <b>new </b>(prop., in respect of time; see: καινός): οἶνος (cf. οἶ. καινός, <ref='Mat.26.20'>Mat.26:20</ref>), <ref='Mat.9.17'>Mat.9:17</ref>, <ref='Mrk.2.22'>Mrk.2:22</ref>, <ref='Luk.5.37-39'>Luk.5:37-39</ref>; φύραμα (figuratively), <ref='1Co.5.7'>1Co.5:7;</ref> δια”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 4:24 (LITV) — and to put on the new man, which according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness.”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 3:10: And have put on the new man,.... Concerning which, and the putting it on; see Gill on Eph 4:24, which is renewed in knowledge; this man, or principle of grace in the soul, is a new one, which never was there before; and there is a daily renovation of it in the spirit of the mind, by the Spirit of God; for as the outward man decays, the inward man, which is the same with this new man, is renewed day by day, increases in holiness and righteousness, grows in grace, and particularly in "knowledge"; light and knowledge of a man's self, of his lost state and condition”
- Luther's Small Catechism (Lutheran) “Luther's Small Catechism (Lutheran, 1529), –Answer: 6bIt signifies: –Answer: 6bIt signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 6: acknowledged, they should be) devoted to securing them for ourselves and others. This is one of the forms in which the Bible sets forth the doctrine of regeneration. It is raising the soul dead in sin to spiritual 35 life. And this spiritual life unfolds or manifests itself just as any other form of life, in all the exercises appropriate to its nature. It is a New Birth. The same doctrine on this subject is taught in other words when regeneration is declared to be a new birth. At birth the child enters upon a new state of existence. Birth ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER VII, 19-24. (part 6): to the truth, ye will condemn neither Moses nor me; and when ye know the truth ye will know me, because I am the Truth. 7. It requires great labor in this world, brethren to get clear of the vice which the Lord has noted in this place, so as not to judge by appearance, but to keep right judgment. The Lord, indeed, admonished the Jews, but He warned us also; them He convicted, us He instructed; them He reproved, us He encouraged. Let us not imagine that this was not said to us, simply because we were not there at that tim”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 3:10: the new man--(See on Eph 4:23). Here (neon) the Greek, means "the recently-put-on nature"; that lately received at regeneration (see on Eph 4:23-24). which is renewed--Greek, "which is being renewed" (anakainottmenou); namely, its development into a perfectly renewed nature is continually progressing to completion. in knowledge--rather as the Greek, "unto perfect knowledge" (see on Col 1:6; Col 1:9-10). Perfect knowledge of God excludes all sin (Joh 17:3). after the image of him that created him--namely, of God that created the new man (Eph 2”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 5:16: Therefore if any man be in Christ,.... There's a secret being in Christ from everlasting; so all that are loved by him, espoused unto him, chosen and preserved in him, to whom he was a covenant head, surety, and representative, are in him, united to him, and one with him; not in such sense as the Father is in him, and the human nature is in him, but as husband and wife, and head and members are one: and there is an open being in Christ at conversion, when a man believes in Christ, and gives up himself to him; faith does not put a man into Christ, but makes him ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: your mind,” saith he. Whosoever therefore has the Spirit, will perform no old deed, for the Spirit will not endure old deeds. “In the spirit,” saith he, “of your mind,” that is, in the spirit which is in your mind. 328 328 [Meyer takes a different view, and says: The Holy Spirit is never, in the New Test., designated in such a way that man appears as the subject of the Spirit (thus never: τὸ πνεῦμα ὑμῶν, and the like, or as here: τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ νοὸς ὑμῶν). In the second place, the Apostle is here putting forward the moral self-act”