Lexicon

G3563 - nous

Strong's: G3563 · BLB lookup Pronunciation: nooce Part of speech: masculine noun NT occurrences: 24

Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG)

Mind, intellect, faculty of understanding
Reason, the rational faculty specifically
Manner of thinking / mind-set / disposition, the orientation of one's understanding
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, "they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a adokimon noun (depraved mind)"
Ephesians 4:17, "Gentiles walk in the futility of their noos"
Colossians 2:18, "inflated without cause by his fleshly noos"
1 Timothy 6:5; 2 Timothy 3:8; 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, anakainōsei tou noos, "be transformed by the renewing of your noos"
Ephesians 4:23, "renewed in the spirit of your noos"
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, "but we have the noun of Christ", citing Isaiah 40:13 (LXX nous of YHWH)
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, 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, 25, "the law of my noos… serving the law of God with my noi" (vs the law of sin in members)
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 (heart) and 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:

Loving God with the nous (Mt 22:37, "with all your mind")
Renewing the nous (Romans 12:2)
Capturing every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5)
Engaging unbelief with reason (Acts 17:2-3, 17; 18:4)
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, depraved nous
Romans 7:23, 25, nous serving God's law
Romans 12:2, anakainōsei tou noos
Romans 14:5, convinced in own noi
1 Corinthians 1:10, same noi
1 Corinthians 2:16, noun of Christ
1 Corinthians 14:14-19, pray with the noi
Ephesians 4:17, 23, futility / renewal of nous
Philippians 4:7, peace beyond all noun
Colossians 2:18, fleshly noos
2 Thessalonians 2:2, disturbed in noos
2 Timothy 3:8, corrupted nous
Titus 1:15, defiled nous
Hebrews 8:10; 10:16, laws written on the noos (New Covenant)
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).

Notes

Lexical workspace for nous.