# G3340 - metanoeo **Strong's:** [G3340](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3340/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** met-an-o-eh'-o **Part of speech:** verb (active) **Root:** *meta-* (after / change) + *noeō* (to perceive, understand, think), literally "to think after" / "think differently afterward." **NT occurrences:** 34 (the cognate noun *metanoia*, see [G3341 - metanoia](/codex/g3341-metanoia/), adds 22 more) **LXX equivalent:** sometimes renders Hebrew *nicham* (to be sorry / repent, H5162) or *shuv* (to turn / return, H7725); the Hebrew *shuv*, *turning*, is often the more theologically loaded equivalent. ## Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG / LSJ) 1. **To change one's mind**, basic etymology: think differently, reconsider 2. **To change one's mind for the better**, a moral / spiritual reorientation 3. **To repent**, feel sorrow for past wrongdoing combined with new direction 4. **To turn** (in conjunction with *epistrephō*), concrete redirection of life The verb's force is **transformative**, not merely emotional. *Metanoeō* is not "feel-bad-about-X" but "think-differently-about-X-and-redirect-accordingly." ## Two etymological streams, *metamellomai* vs *metanoeō* Greek has two repentance-verbs which the NT carefully distinguishes: - ***metamellomai*** (G3338), "to feel regret / sorry afterward", emotional-sorrow focus. Used of Judas in [Matthew 27:3](/codex/matthew-27-3/) ("Judas… *metamelētheis*, feeling remorse"). Judas felt sorrow but did not turn; he hung himself. - ***metanoeō*** (G3340), "to change one's mind / direction", volitional-transformative focus. The biblical-theological repentance term. The distinction is theologically load-bearing. Paul's classic statement at [2 Corinthians 7:10](/codex/2-corinthians-7-10/), "the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance (*metanoian*) without regret (*ametamelēton*)." Godly grief produces *metanoia* (genuine turning); worldly grief produces only *metamellomai* (regret without change). Judas / Peter contrast: both betrayed Christ; Peter's tears led to *metanoia*; Judas's regret led to suicide. ## Theological force, the gospel call *Metanoeō* is the **gospel imperative**. Three thresholds: 1. **John the Baptist's preaching**, [Matthew 3:2](/codex/matthew-3-2/) / [Mark 1:4](/codex/mark-1-4/), *Metanoeite, ēngiken gar hē basileia tōn ouranōn*, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." John's call: change your mind in light of the imminent kingdom; turn from sin; bear fruit-in-keeping-with-repentance ([Matt 3:8](/codex/matthew-3-8/)). 2. **Jesus's first preaching**, [Matthew 4:17](/codex/matthew-4-17/) / [Mark 1:15](/codex/mark-1-15/), Jesus inherits John's formula: *Metanoeite kai pisteuete en tō euangeliō*, "Repent and believe in the gospel" ([Mark 1:15](/codex/mark-1-15/)). Repentance and faith are the two-fold response to the gospel. 3. **Apostolic preaching**, [Acts 2:38](/codex/acts-2-38/) (Peter at Pentecost), *Metanoēsate kai baptisthētō hekastos hymōn*, "Repent and let each of you be baptized." [Acts 3:19](/codex/acts-3-19/), [17](/codex/acts-3-17/):30, 26:20. The apostolic pattern: *metanoia* + *pistis* + *baptisma*, repentance, faith, and baptism as the gospel response. ## Repentance as turning, the OT *shuv* trajectory The NT *metanoeō* preserves the OT *shuv* trajectory. *Shuv*, "to turn", is the OT prophets' core call ([Isaiah 55:7](/codex/isaiah-55-7/); [Jeremiah 18:8](/codex/jeremiah-18-8/); [Ezekiel 18:30-32](/codex/ezekiel-18-30-32/); [Hosea 14:1-2](/codex/hosea-14-1-2/); [Joel 2:12-13](/codex/joel-2-12-13/)). The image: directional reorientation. You were walking *that way*; now turn and walk *this way*. Turn *from* sin and *to* God. The two-fold structure (*from*-something and *to*-something) is preserved in NT *metanoia*: [1 Thessalonians 1:9](/codex/1-thessalonians-1-9/), "you turned to God *from* idols to serve a living and true God." [Acts 26:20](/codex/acts-26-20/), "to repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance." ## What repentance is *not* The Reformation, particularly Luther's 1517 *95 Theses*, engaged the Roman Catholic mistranslation of *metanoeite* as *poenitentiam agite*, "do penance" (the Vulgate's rendering). Thesis 1: "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent (*Poenitentiam agite*),' he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." Luther argued that Jesus called for *interior repentance* (mind / heart change), *not* the sacramental penance system that had grown up around the Latin term. The Reformation recovery of *metanoia* was a major exegetical victory. Repentance is **not**: - Mere emotional sorrow (that is *metamellomai*) - Doing penance / making satisfaction (the medieval-Catholic distortion) - A pre-condition for grace by which one earns favor (anti-Pelagian point) - Limited to the moment of conversion (Luther: "the entire life of believers") Repentance **is**: - A change of mind / direction - Sorrow for sin combined with turning from sin - A continuous orientation, not a one-time act - Granted by God's grace ([Acts 5:31](/codex/acts-5-31/), [11](/codex/acts-5-11/):18; [2 Timothy 2:25](/codex/2-timothy-2-25/)) ## *Metanoia* as gift A consistent NT pattern: repentance is *granted by God*, not autonomously generated: - **[Acts 5:31](/codex/acts-5-31/)**, God exalted Christ "to grant (*dounai*) repentance to Israel" - **[Acts 11:18](/codex/acts-11-18/)**, "God has granted (*edōken*) to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life" - **[2 Timothy 2:25](/codex/2-timothy-2-25/)**, "if perhaps God may grant (*dōē*) them repentance" - **[Romans 2:4](/codex/romans-2-4/)**, "the kindness of God leads (*agei*) you to repentance" This grounds the Reformed / Augustinian doctrine that repentance is a fruit of regeneration, not its precondition. The sinner doesn't generate repentance; God grants the inclination, the sinner exercises it. ## Patristic / scholarly note The patristic tradition uniformly read *metanoia* as inner / spiritual turning. Tertullian (*De Paenitentia*, c. AD 203) is the foundational treatment, defending *metanoia* as both the *initial* turning and the *post-baptismal* lifelong turning. Chrysostom (*On Repentance*, multiple homilies) develops the grace-grounded character of repentance. Augustine extensively in his anti-Pelagian writings (*De Spiritu et Littera*, *De Gratia Christi*, *De Correptione et Gratia*) anchors the doctrine that *metanoia* is grace-given. The Reformation: Luther *95 Theses* (1517); Calvin *Institutes* III.3, "Of Repentance", develops the Reformed doctrine: repentance flows from faith, not the other way around. The Westminster Confession 15 ("Of Repentance unto Life") canonicalizes the Reformed position. Modern conservative: Sinclair Ferguson (*The Whole Christ*, 2016) on the Marrow Controversy and the priority of grace over preparatory-repentance; J. I. Packer (*Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God*, 1961); D. A. Carson (*The Gagging of God*, 1996). ## Notable verses ### Gospel preaching - **[Matthew 3:2](/codex/matthew-3-2/); 4:17**, John / Jesus inaugural preaching - **[Mark 1:15](/codex/mark-1-15/)**, *metanoeite kai pisteuete* - **[Acts 2:38](/codex/acts-2-38/); 3:19; 17:30**, apostolic preaching ### Repentance as God's gift - **[Acts 5:31](/codex/acts-5-31/); 11:18**, repentance granted - **[2 Timothy 2:25](/codex/2-timothy-2-25/)**, God may grant repentance - **[Romans 2:4](/codex/romans-2-4/)**, kindness leads to repentance ### True vs false repentance - **[2 Corinthians 7:8-11](/codex/2-corinthians-7-8-11/)**, godly vs worldly sorrow - **[Matthew 27:3](/codex/matthew-27-3/)**, Judas's *metamelētheis* - **[Luke 22:62](/codex/luke-22-62/)**, Peter's tears (the contrast) ### The continuous life of repentance - **[Revelation 2:5](/codex/revelation-2-5/), [16](/codex/revelation-2-16/); 3:3, 19**, Christ to the seven churches: *metanoēson* - **[2 Peter 3:9](/codex/2-peter-3-9/)**, God patient, "wishing for all to come to repentance" ## See also - [G3341 - metanoia](/codex/g3341-metanoia/), the cognate noun - *G3338 - metamellomai*, emotional-sorrow regret (contrast) - [G4100 - pisteuo](/codex/g4100-pisteuo/), faith; the second half of the gospel response - [H7725 - shuv](/codex/h7725-shuv/), OT "to turn" - [Romans 5.8](/codex/romans-5-8/), the gospel call ## Notes _Lexical workspace for metanoeō._