Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:Repentance is a fundamental concept in Christian theology, referring to the act of turning away from sin and returning to God. The term is derived from the Greek word "metanoia," which means a change of mind or a transformative change of heart. In the Hebrew Bible, the concept is often expressed by the word "shuv," meaning to return or turn back.
Biblical Basis:Repentance is a central theme throughout the Bible, emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments. It is portrayed as a necessary step for receiving God's forgiveness and entering into a right relationship with Him.
Old Testament:In the Old Testament, repentance is frequently associated with the prophetic call to return to God. The prophets urged Israel to abandon their idolatrous practices and return to the covenantal relationship with Yahweh. For instance, in the book of Joel, the prophet calls the people to repentance: "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning" (
Joel 2:12).
New Testament:The New Testament continues the call to repentance, beginning with John the Baptist, who preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (
Mark 1:4). Jesus Himself began His ministry with a call to repentance: "The time is fulfilled," He said, "and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel" (
Mark 1:15).
The apostles also emphasized repentance as essential for salvation. On the day of Pentecost, Peter exhorted the crowd, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (
Acts 2:38). Paul, in his ministry, declared that God "commands all people everywhere to repent" (
Acts 17:30).
Theological Significance:Repentance is not merely an emotional response or feeling of remorse but involves a decisive turning away from sin and a commitment to follow Christ. It is an acknowledgment of one's sinfulness and a recognition of the need for God's grace and mercy. True repentance results in a transformed life, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit and a renewed desire to live according to God's will.
Repentance and Faith:In Christian theology, repentance and faith are often linked as two sides of the same coin. Repentance involves turning away from sin, while faith involves turning toward God and trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation. Together, they constitute the response to the gospel message.
Repentance in the Life of a Believer:For believers, repentance is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. It is a continual turning away from sin and turning toward God, marked by confession, humility, and a desire for holiness. The apostle John writes, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1
John 1:9).
Conclusion:Repentance is a vital aspect of the Christian faith, integral to the message of the gospel and the believer's walk with God. It is both a gift from God and a responsibility of the believer, leading to spiritual renewal and deeper fellowship with the Lord.
ATS Bible Dictionary
RepentanceA change of mind, accompanied with regret and sorrow for something done, and an earnest wish that it was undone. Such was the repentance of Juda,Matthew 27:3; and so it is said that Esau found "no place of repentance" in his father Isaac, although he sought it with tears,Hebrews 12:17; that is, Isaac would not change what he had done, and revoke the blessing given to Jacob,Genesis 27:1-46. God is sometimes said to "repent" of something he had done,Genesis 6:6Jonah 3:9,10; not that he could wish it undone, but that in his providence such a change of course took place as among men would be ascribed to a change of mind. But the true gospel repentance, or "repentance unto life," is sorrow for sin, grief for having committed it, and a turning away from it with abhorrence, accompanied with sincere endeavors, in reliance on God's grace and the influences of the Holy Spirit, to live in humble and holy obedience to the commands and will of God. This is that repentance which always accompanies true faith, and to which is promised the free forgiveness of sin through the merits of Jesus Christ,Matthew 4:17Acts 3:19 11:18 20:12.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance.
(1.) The verb metamelomai is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matthew 27:3).
(2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3) the cognate noun metanoia, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised.
Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin (Psalm 119:128;Job 42:5, 6;2 Corinthians 7:10) and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavour after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments.
The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Psalm 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11;109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Psalm 51:1;130:4).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The act of turning around an improper behavior; sorrow for what one has done; especially, contrition for sin.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
REPENTANCEre-pen'-tans:
I. OLD TESTAMENT TERMS
1. To Repent-"to Pant," "to Sigh"
2. To Repent-"to Turn" or "Return"
II. NEW TESTAMENT TERMS
1. Repent-"to Care," "Be Concerned"
2. Repent-"to Change the Mind"
3. Repent-"to Turn Over," "to Turn Upon," "to Turn Unto"
III. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS
1. The Intellectual Element
2. The Emotional Element
3. The Volitional Element
LITERATURE
To get an accurate idea of the precise New Testament meaning of this highly important word it is necessary to consider its approximate synonyms in the original Hebrew and Greek The psychological elements of repentance should be considered in the light of the general teaching of Scripture.
I. Old Testament Terms.
1. To Repent-"to Pant," "to Sigh":
The Hebrew word naham, is an onomatopoetic term which implies difficulty in breathing, hence, "to pant," "to sigh," "to groan." Naturally it came to signify "to lament" or "to grieve," and when the emotion was produced by the desire of good for others, it merged into compassion and sympathy, and when incited by a consideration of one's own character and deeds it means "to rue," "to repent." To adapt language to our understanding, God is represented as repenting when delayed penalties are at last to be inflicted, or when threatened evils have been averted by genuine reformation (Genesis 6:6Jonah 3:10). This word is translated "repent" about 40 times in the Old Testament, and in nearly all cases it refers to God. The principal idea is not personal relation to sin, either in its experience of grief or in turning from an evil course. Yet the results of sin are manifest in its use. God's heart is grieved at man's iniquity, and in love He bestows His grace, or in justice He terminates His mercy. It indicates the aroused emotions of God which prompt Him to a different course of dealing with the people. Similarly when used with reference to man, only in this case the consciousness of personal transgression is evident. This distinction in the application of the word is intended by such declarations as God "is not a man, that he should repent" (1 Samuel 15:29Job 42:6Jeremiah 8:6).
2. To Repent-"to Turn" or "Return":
The term shubh, is most generally employed to express the Scriptural idea of genuine repentance. It is used extensively by the prophets, and makes prominent the idea of a radical change in one's attitude toward sin and God. It implies a conscious, moral separation, and a personal decision to forsake sin and to enter into fellowship with God. It is employed extensively with reference to man's turning away from sin to righteousness (Deuteronomy 4:30Nehemiah 1:9Psalm 7:12Jeremiah 3:14). It quite often refers to God in His relation to man (Exodus 32:12Joshua 7:26). It is employed to indicate the thorough spiritual change which God alone can effect (Psalm 85:4). When the term is translated by "return" it has reference either to man, to God, or to God and man (1 Samuel 7:3Psalm 90:13 (both terms, nacham and shubh;Isaiah 21:12;Isaiah 55:7). Both terms are also sometimes employed when the twofold idea of grief and altered relation is expressed, and are translated by "repent" and "return" (Ezekiel 14:6Hosea 12:6Jonah 3:8).
II. New Testament Terms.
1. Repent-"to Care," "Be Concerned":
The term metamelomai, literally signifies to have a feeling or care, concern or regret; like nacham, it expresses the emotional aspect of repentance. The feeling indicated by the word may issue in genuine repentance, or it may degenerate into mere remorse (Matthew 21:29, 32;Matthew 27:3). Judas repented only in the sense of regret, remorse, and not in the sense of the abandonment of sin. The word is used with reference to Paul's feeling concerning a certain course of conduct, and with reference to God in His attitude toward His purposes of grace (2 Corinthians 7:8 the King James Version;Hebrews 7:21).
2. Repent-"to Change the Mind":
The word metanoeo, expresses the true New Testament idea of the spiritual change implied in a sinner's return to God. The term signifies "to have another mind," to change the opinion or purpose with regard to sin. It is equivalent to the Old Testament word "turn." Thus, it is employed by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles (Matthew 3:2Mark 1:15Acts 2:38). The idea expressed by the word is intimately associated with different aspects of spiritual transformation and of Christian life, with the process in which the agency of man is prominent, as faith (Acts 20:21), and as conversion (Acts 3:19); also with those experiences and blessings of which God alone is the author, as remission and forgiveness of sin (Luke 24:47Acts 5:31). It is sometimes conjoined with baptism, which as an overt public act proclaims a changed relation to sin and God (Mark 1:4Luke 3:3Acts 13:24;Acts 19:4). As a vital experience, repentance is to manifest its reality by producing good fruits appropriate to the new spiritual life (Matthew 3:8).
3. Repent-"to Turn Over," "to Turn Upon," "to Turn Unto":
The word epistrepho, is used to bring out more clearly the distinct change wrought in repentance. It is employed quite frequently in Acts to express the positive side of a change involved in New Testament repentance, or to indicate the return to God of which the turning from sin is the negative aspect. The two conceptions are inseparable and complementary. The word is used to express the spiritual transition from sin to God (Acts 9:351 Thessalonians 1:9); to strengthen the idea of faith (Acts 11:21); and to complete and emphasize the change required by New Testament repentance (Acts 26:20).
There is great difficulty in expressing the true idea of a change of thought with reference to sin when we translate the New Testament "repentance" into other languages. The Latin version renders it "exercise penitence" (poenitentiam agere). But "penitence" etymologically signifies pain, grief, distress, rather than a change of thought and purpose. Thus Latin Christianity has been corrupted by the pernicious error of presenting grief over sin rather than abandonment of sin as the primary idea of New Testament repentance. It was easy to make the transition from penitence to penance, consequently the Romanists represent Jesus and the apostles as urging people to do penance (poenitentiam agite). The English word "repent" is derived from the Latin repoenitere, and inherits the fault of the Latin, making grief the principal idea and keeping it in the background, if not altogether out of sight, the fundamental New Testament conception of a change of mind with reference to sin. But the exhortations of the ancient prophets, of Jesus, and of the apostles show that the change of mind is the dominant idea of the words employed, while the accompanying grief and consequent reformation enter into one's experience from the very nature of the case.
III. The Psychological Elements.
1. The Intellectual Element:
Repentance is that change of a sinner's mind which leads him to turn from his evil ways and live. The change wrought in repentance is so deep and radical as to affect the whole spiritual nature and to involve the entire personality. The intellect must function, the emotions must be aroused, and the will must act. Psychology shows repentance to be profound, personal and all-pervasive. The intellectual element is manifest from the nature of man as an intelligent being, and from the demands of God who desires only rational service. Man must apprehend sin as unutterably heinous, the divine law as perfect and inexorable, and himself as coming short or falling below the requirements of a holy God (Job 42:5, 6Psalm 51:3Romans 3:20).
2. The Emotional Element:
There may be a knowledge of sin without turning from it as an awful thing which dishonors God and ruins man. The change of view may lead only to a dread of punishment and not to the hatred and abandonment of sin (Exodus 9:27Numbers 22:34Joshua 7:201 Samuel 15:24Matthew 27:4). An emotional element is necessarily involved in repentance. While feeling is not the equivalent of repentance, it nevertheless may be a powerful impulse to a genuine turning from sin. A penitent cannot from the nature of the case be stolid and indifferent. The emotional attitude must be altered if New Testament repentance be experienced. There is a type of grief that issues in repentance and another which plunges into remorse. There is a godly sorrow and also a sorrow of the world. The former brings life; the latter, death (Matthew 27:3Luke 18:232 Corinthians 7:9, 10). There must be a consciousness of sin in its effect on man and in its relation to God before there can be a hearty turning away from unrighteousness. The feeling naturally accompanying repentance implies a conviction of personal sin and sinfulness and an earnest appeal to God to forgive according to His mercy (Psalm 51:1, 2, 10-14).
3. The Volitional Element:
The most prominent element in the psychology of repentance is the voluntary, or volitional. This aspect of the penitent's experience is expressed in the Old Testament by "turn", or "return," and in the New Testament by "repent" or "turn." The words employed in the Hebrew and Greek place chief emphasis on the will, the change of mind, or of purpose, because a complete and sincere turning to God involves both the apprehension of the nature of sin and the consciousness of personal guilt (Jeremiah 25:5Mark 1:15Acts 2:382 Corinthians 7:9, 10). The demand for repentance implies free will and individual responsibility. That men are called upon to repent there can be no doubt, and that God is represented as taking the initiative in repentance is equally clear. The solution of the problem belongs to the spiritual sphere. The psychical phenomena have their origin in the mysterious relations of the human and the divine personalities. There can be no external substitute for the internal change. Sackcloth for the body and remorse for the soul are not to be confused with a determined abandonment of sin and return to God. Not material sacrifice, but a spiritual change, is the inexorable demand of God in both dispensations (Psalm 51:17Isaiah 1:11Jeremiah 6:20Hosea 6:6).
Repentance is only a condition of salvation and not its meritorious ground. The motives for repentance are chiefly found in the goodness of God, in divine love, in the pleading desire to have sinners saved, in the inevitable consequences of sin, in the universal demands of the gospel, and in the hope of spiritual life and membership in the kingdom of heaven (Ezekiel 33:11Mark 1:15Luke 13:1-5John 3:16Acts 17:30Romans 2:41 Timothy 2:4). The first four beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-6) form a heavenly ladder by which penitent souls pass from the dominion of Satan into the Kingdom of God. A consciousness of spiritual poverty dethroning pride, a sense of personal unworthiness producing grief, a willingness to surrender to God in genuine humility, and a strong spiritual desire developing into hunger and thirst, enter into the experience of one who wholly abandons sin and heartily turns to Him who grants repentance unto life.
LITERATURE.
Various theological works and commentaries Note especially Strong, Systematic Theology, III, 832-36; Broadus onMatthew 3:2, American Comm.; article "Busse" (Penance). Hauck-Herzog, Realencyklopadie fur protestantische Theologie und Kirche.
Byron H. Dement
Greek
3341. metanoia -- change of mind,repentance... change of mind,
repentance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: metanoia
Phonetic Spelling: (met-an'-oy-ah) Short Definition:
repentance, a change
...278. ametameletos -- not repented of
... without regret. From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of
metamellomai; irrevocable -- withoutrepentance, not to be repented of. see GREEK...
908. baptisma -- (the result of) a dipping or sinking
... of baptism. Cognate: 908 -- (note the - suffix, emphasizing it is a , ie
of sincererepentance.) 908 () indicates (, ). Word Origin...
Strong's Hebrew
5164. nocham -- sorrow,repentance... 5163, 5164. nocham. 5165 . sorrow,
repentance. Transliteration: nocham Phonetic
Spelling: (no'-kham) Short Definition: compassion.
...repentance.
...7729. shubah -- retirement, withdrawal
... 7728, 7729. shubah. 7730 . retirement, withdrawal. Transliteration: shubah
Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-baw') Short Definition:repentance....
Library
OnRepentance
OnRepentance. <. OnRepentance Tertullian. Translated by Rev. S. Thelwall
Table of Contents. Title Page. Chapter I.--Of HeathenRepentance....
Repentance
... 4. THE WAY OF SALVATION 4.2Repentance. Then has God also to the Gentiles
grantedrepentance unto life.' Acts 11:18.Repentance seems...
Repentance,
... CHAPTER I.REPENTANCE,.... People generally are all at sea oh this subject, as though
insisting thatrepentance were an arbitrary arrangement on the part of God....
ThreefoldRepentance
... JONAH THREEFOLDREPENTANCE. 'And the word... ver.10). We might almost call these
three therepentance of Jonah, of Nineveh, and of God. The...
Repentance and victory
... THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUELREPENTANCE AND VICTORY. 'And... 12). I. We have first
the preparation for victory inrepentance and return....
John the Preacher ofRepentance
... VOLUME I: ST. LUKE Chaps. I to XII JOHN THE PREACHER OFREPENTANCE. 'Now, in
the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius...
On Admonition andRepentance.
... On Admonition andRepentance. 1. Not of compulsion is the doctrine; of
free-will is the word of life. Whoso is willing to hear the...
OfRepentance.
... Article XII: OfRepentance. OfRepentance they teach that for those who have
fallen after Baptism there is remission of sins whenever...
OfRepentance.
... Theophilus to Autolycus: Book III. Chapter XI."OfRepentance. And when
the people transgressed the law which had been given to...
OnRepentance
... DISPUTATION 17 ONREPENTANCE. RESPONDENT: HENRY NIELLUIS As in succeeding
Disputations are discussed Faith, and Justification through...
Thesaurus
Repentance (28 Occurrences)... There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote
repentance.
... This
word is used with reference to the
repentance of Judas (Matthew 27:3).
...Leads (64 Occurrences)
... They extolled the goodness of God, and said, "So, then, to the Gentiles also
God has given therepentance which leads to Life." (WEY NAS)....
Remission (18 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT). Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and
preach the baptism ofrepentance for the remission of sins....
Righteous (407 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:13 But you go and learn what this means:'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'
for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners torepentance....
Goodness (83 Occurrences)
... goodness" (Romans 2:4; Romans 11:22, thrice); of chrestos ("useful," "benign,"
"kind," in Luke 6:35); "The goodness of God leadeth thee torepentance" (Romans...
Baptize (19 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you in water forrepentance, but he who comes after
me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry....
Contrition (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) The state of being contrite; deep sorrow andrepentance for sin, because
sin is displeasing to God; humble penitence; throughrepentance. Int....
Sinners (132 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:13 But you go and learn what this means:'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'
for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners torepentance....
Worthy (92 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Worthy (92 Occurrences). Matthew 3:8 Therefore
bring forth fruit worthy ofrepentance! (WEB ASV DBY YLT)....
Preached (75 Occurrences)
... NIV). Mark 1:4 John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the
baptism ofrepentance unto remission of sins. (ASV). Mark...
Resources
What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about repentance? What does it mean to repent? | GotQuestions.orgIs repentance a change of mind or a turning from sin? | GotQuestions.orgRepentance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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