Matthew 22:37; Luke 1:51; Ephesians 4:18.

'thought' Acts 8:22.

'surmising' 1 Timothy 6:4.

In all these variants the idea of the mind is never lost sight of, and

it should not be forgotten when repentance or repent are the translation of

metanoia or metanoeo.

While the corruption of the body, its sickness and its mortality can be

seen by all men whether they be spiritually minded or not, the fact of the

corruption of the mind is not so easy to diagnose or to arrive at by unaided

wisdom.  The Scriptures speak of the 'carnal mind', 'corrupt mind', 'fleshly

mind', 'reprobate mind', minds that can be 'blinded', minds that can be

'defiled', minds that can be at 'enmity' against God (Rom. 8:7; 2 Tim. 3:8;

Col. 2:18; Rom. 1:28; 2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4; and Titus 1:15).  This condition does

not lend itself to repair, or to improvement; those whose minds are such 'are

not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be' (Rom. 8:7).  Nothing

less than a 'renewing' that is based upon the redemption wrought by Christ is

of any avail.  This renewing is 'in the spirit of your mind' (Eph. 4:23), and

is nothing less than an act of creation (Eph. 4:24); the 'darkened

understanding' bringing about 'alienation from the life of God' (Eph. 4:18).

Israel were in this terrible condition; they had hearts that had waxed gross,

ears that were dull of hearing, eyes that were closed, thus rendering it

impossible that they should understand (Matt. 13:15).

'Their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil

untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament (covenant)'.

'The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe

not' (2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4).

'Blindness in part is happened to Israel' (Rom. 11:25).

We can therefore readily appreciate the fact that the original word

translated 'repent' is primarily concerned with the 'mind'.  Metanoia, is a

compound, and meta is a preposition translated many times by the word 'with'.

It does not indicate so close and intimate a fellowship as sun, its real

meaning comes to the surface in those passages where it is translated

'after'.  The relationship expressed by meta is that of association, as one

house may be considered 'with' another house in the same street, but it is

never so intimate as sun which would have to be used to express the

relationship of the husband and wife who lived in any one house in the same

In a number of compounds meta signifies a change, as in:

Hebrews 7:12 'a change of the law'.

Romans 1:25,26 'who changed the truth of God

into a lie'.

Philippians 3:21 'Who shall change our vile

Acts 28:6 'They changed their minds'.

2 Corinthians 3:18 'We ... are changed into the

same image'.

Metanoia, repentance therefore is 'a change of mind', 'an after mind'

which, as a natural consequence, brings with it sorrow for evil realized, but