Greek
μετάνοια
metanoia
Repentance, change of mind/heart/direction
The Greek word for repentance — literally 'change of mind' but biblically meaning a profound turning of the whole person from sin to God. The first word of John the Baptist's and Jesus' preaching: 'Repent ye [metanoeite].'
Metanoia (μετάνοια) is the Greek noun for repentance, from 'meta' (after, change) + 'nous' (mind). Literally 'change of mind' — but in biblical use much richer. The accompanying verb 'metanoeō' means to repent, change one's mind, turn. While the Greek root suggests intellectual change, biblical repentance involves the whole person: mind (changed thinking about sin), heart (sorrow for sin), and will (turning away from sin to God). The Hebrew equivalent 'shuv' (return, turn) is the OT counterpart. NT metanoia draws on both: a turning that involves the whole self.
Metanoia and its verb appear over 50 times in the NT. (1) John the Baptist's message. Matthew 3:2 — 'Repent ye [metanoeite]: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (2) Jesus' first message. Mark 1:15 — 'Repent ye [metanoeite], and believe the gospel.' Repentance is the front door of the kingdom. (3) Peter at Pentecost. Acts 2:38 — 'Repent [metanoēsate], and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.' (4) Paul's gospel. Acts 17:30 — 'God... now commandeth all men every where to repent [metanoein].' Acts 20:21 — Paul preached 'repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.' (5) Repentance distinguished from regret. 2 Corinthians 7:10 — 'godly sorrow worketh repentance [metanoian] to salvation not to be repented of [ametamelēton]: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.' Two different responses to sin: metanoia (turning to God) and ametameletos (mere regret without change). (6) Repentance bears fruit. Matthew 3:8 — 'Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance [metanoias].' Genuine repentance shows in changed behavior. (7) Repentance is ongoing. Christians don't repent once and stop. Revelation 2:5, 16; 3:3, 19 — Christ calls the churches to ongoing repentance. (8) Repentance is a gift. 2 Timothy 2:25 — 'God peradventure will give them repentance [metanoian] to the acknowledging of the truth.' Acts 11:18 — God 'granted repentance' to the Gentiles. Repentance and faith. They are inseparable. Acts 20:21 — Paul preached both together. Faith without repentance is presumption; repentance without faith is despair. Together they form the saving response to the gospel.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
“The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons.”
Repent now (Mark 1:15). Make repentance daily, not just at conversion (Luther: 'the entire life of believers should be one of repentance'). Confess specific sins. Receive Christ's forgiveness. Bear fruit of changed life. Don't confuse mere regret with true metanoia — Judas had regret; Peter had repentance.
Metanoia (μετάνοια) is Greek for repentance — literally 'change of mind,' but biblically meaning a profound turning of the whole person (mind, heart, will) from sin to God. It includes acknowledging sin, godly sorrow, confessing, turning from sin, and bearing fruit in changed behavior. It is the front door of Christian conversion (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38).
2 Corinthians 7:10 distinguishes 'godly sorrow' (which produces metanoia) from 'sorrow of the world' (mere regret that produces death). Regret feels bad about consequences; metanoia turns to God for forgiveness. Judas had regret (Matthew 27:3) and hanged himself; Peter had metanoia (Luke 22:62) and was restored. Same emotion; different direction.
No — feelings are involved (godly sorrow), but metanoia is fundamentally a turning. It involves the mind (new thinking about sin), heart (godly sorrow), and will (actual change of direction). Mere feeling without turning is not biblical repentance. Bearing fruit (Matthew 3:8) shows real repentance.
Daily — or whenever the Spirit convicts of sin. Luther: 'The entire life of believers should be one of repentance' (95 Theses #1). Christians never outgrow the need to repent. Each new awareness of sin is occasion for fresh metanoia. The mature Christian is the most repentant Christian.