Though it is most often associated with sin, sin is not always its object. In fact, in the King James Version of the Old Testament the word repent is usually used in reference to God repenting, showing that it does not automatically refer to sorrow or turning from sin.
The formation of the word
We should not assume that two root words which are joined to form a third word always give it its precise and final definition. For example, the Greek ekklhsia is from ek (out of) and klhsis (called, from kalew = to call), thus it literally means called out ones, but we commonly translate it assembly or church.
However, the root words can give us valuable insight into the final word’s development and meaning. Tracing the root meanings is very helpful towards, but not determinative of, final meaning. Still, a word’s origin is not arbitrary, but informative. Thus we can not ignore the formation of metanoia which gives us the basic definition a change of mind.
The translation of the word
Our understanding of metanoia is also helped by how the Hebrew word shub (= to turn [from something], used over 1000 times in the Old Testament) is translated.
In the Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint, it is regularly translated by the Greek word strephw and its various forms. It is never translated by metanoia. If metanoia meant to turn from sin, then we would expect it to translate the Hebrew word for turn (shub) at least occasionally.
In the late second century, church father Tertullian argued that the meaning of “change of mind” is the best translation of metanoia. In the same vein, English-speaking scholars have long complained that there is not a good single-word translation for metanoia. Greek expert A. T. Robertson remarked,
“It is a linguistic and theological tragedy that we have to go on using ‘repentance’ for metanoia.”
The English word repentance has its roots in the Latin word penitentia which denotes penitence as sorrow, or worse, the Catholic doctrine of penance, in which a person’s sins are absolved by a priest’s prescribed acts of punishment. Repentance should not be defined in terms of outward action or sorrowful emotion. In light of how metanoia is formed and used, it seems a good translation today would be a change of mind.
But there may be a better one. When we examine what is meant biblically by mind (nous) we find that it is sometimes used for the inner orientation and moral attitude. (cf. Rom. 1:28; 7:23, 25; Eph. 4:17, 23; Col. 2:18). Thus the mind, biblically speaking, is not always the pure intellect. So the best translation of metanoia would be a change of heart. It refers to a person’s inner change of attitude and moral direction. The Bible does not psychologically dissect the inner person, but leaves it at that.
Linguistically, a change of heart does not demand a change in conduct, though that is what is normally expected from an inner change. The Bible distinguishes between the inner change of repentance and the outer conduct it motivates. This is clear in the logical progression from inner repentance to outer conduct mentioned in Matthew 3:8/Luke 3:8 and Acts 26:20, and in the unlikely scenario of one changing his behavior seven times in a day in Luke 17:3-4.
The implications of the word
In relation to eternal salvation, repentance is not a second step or condition. Salvation is always through faith alone in Christ alone. But sometimes there appears to be an overlap between faith and repentance (cf. Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 24:47; Acts 11:18; 17:30, 34; 2 Peter 3:9). Since faith is being persuaded that something is true, when one is persuaded (believes), there is a change of mind and heart. Repentance is the more general concept, for a person can change his or her heart about something, even God or sin, but not be saved. When one believes the gospel, he is convinced of something he was not formerly convinced of, thus he has had a change of mind or heart about who Jesus is and what He has promised about eternal life, and his own condition relative to that (cf. Acts 20:21). Faith involves repentance, but repentance does not always involve faith.
Conclusion
In general, a good translation of metanoia is to have a change of heart. But since this is awkward, we are probably left with the word repentance. Then it becomes our responsibility to explain, clarify, and apply it correctly. Its exact meaning must be clarified by the context. In any case, as an inner change, repentance is in no way a work that merits salvation. Inner repentance can always be distinguished from its outward acts, though one is the cause of the other. In preaching the gospel, believe is certainly the more normative, predominate, and specific word to use.
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