# G3563 - nous **Strong's:** [G3563](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3563/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** nooce **Part of speech:** masculine noun **NT occurrences:** 24 ## Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG) 1. **Mind, intellect, faculty of understanding** 2. **Reason, the rational faculty** specifically 3. **Manner of thinking / mind-set / disposition**, the orientation of one's understanding 4. **Particular thoughts / opinions** in some contexts ## Theological force The *nous* is the **rational understanding**, the faculty by which one perceives, judges, deliberates, decides. In Greek philosophy *nous* is the highest faculty (Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Plotinus); it is the part of the human that participates in divine reason. NT *nous* uses follow this background but situate it within Christian anthropology: ### The fallen mind - **[Romans 1:28](/codex/romans-1-28/)**, "they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a *adokimon noun* (depraved mind)" - **[Ephesians 4:17](/codex/ephesians-4-17/)**, "Gentiles walk in the futility of their *noos*" - **[Colossians 2:18](/codex/colossians-2-18/)**, "inflated without cause by his fleshly *noos*" - **[1 Timothy 6:5](/codex/1-timothy-6-5/); [2 Timothy 3:8](/codex/2-timothy-3-8/); [Titus 1:15](/codex/titus-1-15/)**, those of corrupted / depraved *nous* The pattern: sin affects the *nous*, corrupting reason, darkening understanding, producing futility. ### The renewed mind - **[Romans 12:2](/codex/romans-12-2/)**, *anakainōsei tou noos*, "be transformed by the renewing of your *noos*" - **[Ephesians 4:23](/codex/ephesians-4-23/)**, "renewed in the spirit of your *noos*" - **[Colossians 3:10](/codex/colossians-3-10/)**, "renewed to a true knowledge" The Christian's sanctification involves the *renewal of the nous*, the mind being progressively conformed to truth, reality, God's Word. ### The mind of Christ - **[1 Corinthians 2:16](/codex/1-corinthians-2-16/)**, "but we have the *noun* of Christ", citing [Isaiah 40:13](/codex/isaiah-40-13/) (LXX *nous* of YHWH) - **[Philippians 2:5](/codex/philippians-2-5/)**, *touto phroneite* (have this mind / disposition), "have this mind among yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" The Christian receives Christ's mind / Christ-formed disposition through union with Him and the Spirit's indwelling. ### The mind in worship and decision - **[1 Corinthians 14:14-15](/codex/1-corinthians-14-14-15/), [19](/codex/1-corinthians-14-19/)**, Paul: "if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my *nous* is unfruitful… I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the *noi* also" - **[Romans 7:23](/codex/romans-7-23/), [25](/codex/romans-7-25/)**, "the law of my *noos*… serving the law of God with my *noi*" (vs the law of sin in members) - **[Romans 14:5](/codex/romans-14-5/)**, "let each one be fully convinced in his own *noi*" The pattern: the *nous* engages in deliberate-rational thought / decision / judgment / worship. ## *Nous* and Greek-philosophical heritage NT *nous* uses the Greek-philosophical vocabulary but reorients it: - **Greek philosophy:** *nous* is the *highest faculty*, often divine-participating; pure intellect contemplating truth - **NT:** *nous* is *one faculty* of the human person, fallen in Adam, renewed in Christ, integrated with [G2588 - kardia](/codex/g2588-kardia/) (heart) and [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/) (soul) The NT does not idolize the *nous* (against Greek-rationalist exaltation) but does affirm its real importance. Reason is *fallen but redeemable*; mind matters; thinking-rightly is part of sanctification. ## *Nous* and Christian apologetics The Christian apologetic vocation requires: 1. **Loving God with the *nous*** ([Mt 22:37](/codex/matthew-22-37/), "with all your mind") 2. **Renewing the *nous*** ([Romans 12:2](/codex/romans-12-2/)) 3. **Capturing every thought to the obedience of Christ** ([2 Cor 10:5](/codex/2-corinthians-10-5/)) 4. **Engaging unbelief with reason** ([Acts 17:2-3](/codex/acts-17-2-3/), [17](/codex/acts-17-17/); 18:4) 5. **Refusing to despise the *nous*** while not idolizing it Modern engagement: J. P. Moreland (*Love Your God with All Your Mind*, 1997 / 2nd ed. 2012); David Wells (*No Place for Truth*, 1993); Os Guinness (*Fit Bodies, Fat Minds*, 1994); Mark Noll (*The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind*, 1994). ## *Nous* in patristic theological development Patristic engagement: - **Origen**, *nous* as the highest part of the soul; capable of knowing God - **Cappadocian Fathers**, Trinitarian *nous*-language (the Son as the *Logos* / *nous* of the Father) - **Augustine**, *De Trinitate* X-XV: the soul's faculties (*memoria*, *intelligentia*, *voluntas*) reflect the Trinity in the human - **Maximus the Confessor**, *nous* in mystical-theological development ## Notable verses - **[Romans 1:28](/codex/romans-1-28/)**, depraved *nous* - **[Romans 7:23](/codex/romans-7-23/), [25](/codex/romans-7-25/)**, *nous* serving God's law - **[Romans 12:2](/codex/romans-12-2/)**, *anakainōsei tou noos* - **[Romans 14:5](/codex/romans-14-5/)**, convinced in own *noi* - **[1 Corinthians 1:10](/codex/1-corinthians-1-10/)**, same *noi* - **[1 Corinthians 2:16](/codex/1-corinthians-2-16/)**, *noun* of Christ - **[1 Corinthians 14:14-19](/codex/1-corinthians-14-14-19/)**, pray with the *noi* - **[Ephesians 4:17](/codex/ephesians-4-17/), [23](/codex/ephesians-4-23/)**, futility / renewal of *nous* - **[Philippians 4:7](/codex/philippians-4-7/)**, peace beyond all *noun* - **[Colossians 2:18](/codex/colossians-2-18/)**, fleshly *noos* - **[2 Thessalonians 2:2](/codex/2-thessalonians-2-2/)**, disturbed in *noos* - **[2 Timothy 3:8](/codex/2-timothy-3-8/)**, corrupted *nous* - **[Titus 1:15](/codex/titus-1-15/)**, defiled *nous* - **[Hebrews 8:10](/codex/hebrews-8-10/); 10:16**, laws written on the *noos* ([New Covenant](/codex/jeremiah-31-33/)) - **[Revelation 13:18](/codex/revelation-13-18/); 17:9**, *nous* / wisdom needed to interpret ## Patristic / scholarly note The interaction of *nous* with Greek philosophy is a major theme in Christian intellectual history. Modern: Etienne Gilson; Frederick Copleston; Edward Feser (*Aristotle's Revenge*, 2019). ## See also - [G2588 - kardia](/codex/g2588-kardia/), heart (integrated inner self) - [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/), soul - [G4151 - pneuma](/codex/g4151-pneuma/), spirit - [G4893 - syneidesis](/codex/g4893-syneidesis/), conscience - [G3056 - logos](/codex/g3056-logos/), Word / Reason - [G0225 - aletheia](/codex/g0225-aletheia/), truth - [Argument from Reason](/codex/argument-from-reason/), apologetic syllogism ## Notes _Lexical workspace for nous._