OFF WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

 This title saying is a minor variation on the common expression “Out with the old; in with the new” used at New Year to indicate some sort of fresh start, but is based on the metaphorical image of changing or donning clothing. This same metaphor, it turns out, is pervasive throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testament. So below is a quick overview of just some of the places in which it is utilized to convey a wide variety of concepts.

Alden says, “Of the many roots that designate clothing in BH [i.e. the Hebrew Bible], lbs is by far the most common with over 150 occurrences...The vb. often carries metaphorical uses in the Poetical books.” Thus, he cites passages such as Psalm 93:1; Ps. 104; and Job 40:10 in which God Himself is said to be clothed in majesty, splendor and light. Psalms 59:17 speaks of God putting on a warrior's uniform in words which are actually echoed later for believers themselves in the NT (See I Thessalonians 5:8). And even in the OT, the righteous are said to be clothed with God's blessings (Isaiah 61:10).

Alden adds that in Judges 6:34; I Chronicles 12:18; and II Chronicles 24:20 certain chosen people were clothed with the Spirit's power. As the footnote in the NRSV states, the last of the above references reads in the Hebrew “Then the spirit of God clothed itself with [i.e., 'took possession of'] Zechariah...”

“The imagery of garments and clothing is of the major importance in the Bible. Its significance can be physical, economic, social, moral or spiritual. The imagery of investing and divesting a person of clothing is usually symbolic of larger issues. The function of clothing, moreover, is multiple: clothing can protect, conceal, display or represent a person's current state and can be symbolic of moral or spiritual qualities. (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery)

And another anonymous article in DBI similarly states: “The actions of putting clothing on and putting it off constitutes another major motif [in the Bible]. The specific meaning of investing a person with a garment depends on what kind of clothing is in view...By an easy progression, the literal investing and divesting of garments becomes overtly metaphorical of spiritual states.” Examples cited include Job 29:14; Isaiah 52:1, 59:17; Romans 13:12; I Corinthians 15:53; Ephesians 4:22; and Colossians 3:9-10. 

Keener states, “The language of 'putting on' or 'clothing oneself'' (I Peter 5:5) contrasts with what is 'put off' in 2:1 and reflects an ancient idiom. One person playing the role of another could be said, figuratively, to don the other; likewise one could put off the soldier and put on (i.e., act as) the sophist. Scripture had already long offered a figurative use of this image (Isa. 52:1; 61:10; Zech. 3:3-4); 'clothing oneself' with a quality was a Semitic idiom. (The idiom might be especially familiar from being clothed with the divine Spirit in the Septuagint) [i.e. Judges 6:34; I Chronicles 12:18; II Chronicles 24:20].”

As to the basic meaning of the original words employed in the Bible for this process, Alden says, “The word beged is...a metaphor for the fullness and joy of God's salvation. The phrase 'garments (beged) of salvation' speaks of the fullness of God's deliverance and blessing (Isa 61:10). The phrase 'garments (beged) of splendor' amplifies the royal and holy status of God's people (52:1).”

In the Greek Septuagint version of the OT, “endyo [or enduo] for the Heb. labas is used...fig[uratively] in Job 29:14 (righteousness), Isa. 52:1 (strength), Ps. 132:16 (salvation), 1 Mac. 14:9 (glory), Job 8:22 (shame), Ezek. 7:27 (despair).” (Weigelt)

The most common Greek verb in the NT for “clothe” is enduo (in passages such as Romans 13:12,14; I Corinthians 15:15-54; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:21, 6:11,14; Colossians 3:10,12; and I Thessalonians 5:8. However, other synonyms such as periballo (John 19:2), and apekduo (Colossians 3:9) are also employed.

Some of the OT expressions using the verb “clothe” include:

    “I put on righteousness”(Job 29:14)

    “Put on (thy) strength” (Isaiah 51:9; 52:1)

    “Put on righteousness and vengeance” (Isaiah 59:17)

And in the NT, we read the following words addressed to believers:

    “Put on the armor of light and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:12-14)

    “The corruptible will put on the incorruptible.” (I Corinthians 15:53-54)

    “Put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)

    “Put on the new (man).” (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10)

    “Put on the whole armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:11)

Weigelt states: “The expression 'put on Christ' appears in Galatians 3:27 and Romans 13:14 where it is accomplished by both baptism and faith. Paul is concerned with a new relationship of the personality with Christ. For him putting on Christ means the beginning of sharing Christ's nature. He writes also of the putting on of the new man (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). For Paul the new man is identical with Christ.”

Esser also comments on Ephesians 4:24 by saying: “It is the nature of this new man to see himself totally and unconditionally in the light of God's act of creation in Christ, as his workmanship (Eph. 2:10). The new man can be 'put on' as a new self, who no longer has anything to do with the old. Where the old man was characterized by acts which destroy fellowship with God and with other men, the new is marked by a new knowledge, emanating from the will of God.”

The RSV of II Corinthians 5:1-4a reads: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”

Knox comments on this passage: “This building is the 'spiritual body' of I Cor. 15:44-50. Paul hopes that the Lord will come and that he will receive his new body before he has had to put off the old one.”

Weigelt weighs three possible ways to understand Paul's words here. His conclusion is that “Paul was combating a Gnostic group in Corinth. The Gnostics longed to be freed of the covering of the body. This interpretation is supported by the fact that Paul is not stressing being unclothed, but being further clothed. So Paul is contrasting the ideal of the Gnostics of not being clothed with the being further clothed with the new body.”

“I Pet 5:5 contains the metaphor of putting on clothing: 'Clothe yourself, all of you, with humility...' (cf. Jn. 13:4).” (Esser)

“The woman of Rev. 12 (probably to be identified with the Zion of Isa. 66:7ff), who gives birth to the child destined to rule all nations, is portrayed as 'clothed with the sun' (Rev. 12:1).” (Hagner)

The above merely scratches the surface of all the metaphorical references to being clothed that are found in the Bible.