The Meaning of Metanoeo:
The Greek Word for
Repentance
From: Theological Dictionary
of the New Testament, 4:976-977
Metanoeo is a combination
of two words:
Noeo
- Literally, "to direct
one's
mind to a subject"
- In classical Greek it
meant
"to perceive" or "to notice"
Meta
- In compounds means
"after,"
"with," "around," etc.
Metanoeo literally
means
"after directing one's mind to a subject." But what did it mean to the
Greeks?
Metanoeo . . .
- can first mean "to
note after,
later";
- it can then mean "to
change
one's mind" or "adopt another view" or "to change one's feelings";
- if the change of mind
derives
from recognition that the earlier view was foolish, improper or evil,
there
arises the sense "to regret," "to feel remorse," "to rue."
From: Theological
Lexicon
of the New Testament, 2:472
Metanoeo
is literally "know after." To repent is first of all . . .
- change of mind
- a change of feelings
- a change intentions
- a change plans
- to reflect (which
implies a
time later than the first knowledge)
- to reconsider a first
opinion
- is a new form of
thought or
feeling after coming under the influence of Deception (apate),
whence
derive ignorance and error
What
characterizes this
evolution
is that it is accompanied by regret, sorrow, or shame at the former
opnion
or attitude.