Three different words are translated as “repent” or “repentance” in the Bible. They are: μετάνοια (metanoia), μετανοέω (metanoeo), and μεταμέλομαι (metamelomai). The Greek preposition, μετά is found in each of these words, and carries the meaning of “with” or “after”. But what about the main part of these words? What do they mean?
According to the BDAG lexicon, μεταμέλομαι (metamelomai) is a compound word made up of μετα and μέλομαι (melomai). The Greek word μέλομαι is from the root verb of μέλει (melei) which means “to have care/concern, to be a source of concern. The BDAG further gives the range of meanings for μεταμέλομαι as “to have regrets and wish to have something undone; to regret, or to have second thoughts about something.” So, with μεταμέλομαι, it’s an internal thought, a change of mind, that is taking place.
Regarding the Greek word, μετανοέω (metanoeo), it’s made up of the compound μετα and νοέω (noeo) and carries a range of meanings such as to “change one’s mind; to feel remorse, repent, or to be converted.” Again, in the syntax and semantic range, this word also carries an emphasis on the thought or understanding of the mind.
The word μετάνοια (metanoia) is a noun and comes from the root verb μετανοέω (metanoeo), which we covered above. And within the semantic range μετάνοια, it also means “a change of mind”.
Seen above, none of the Greek words translated as “repent” or “repentance” in the Bible have anything to do with a visible change of direction, a turning from sins, nor any sense of outward reaction to sins. Instead, each of these Greek words carries with it an understanding of the mind, a change of thought, with no regard of actions taken.
What’s fascinating is that if we believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture, and if God requires someone to turn from their sins in order to have everlasting life, then it would make most sense that God would’ve used the Greek word ἀποστρέφω (apostrepho). According to the same BDAG, this Greek word clearly means to “turn away from something; to cause a change of belief or behavior; to turn away by rejecting or repudiating”. Does that not sound like the Calvinist and Lordship gospel?
Therefore, if the Calvinist and Lordship gospel was accurate, then why wouldn’t God make it abundantly clear by using ἀποστρέφω rather than μετανοέω, or one of its variants? Why would God be unclear in the most important thing to understand...how to receive everlasting life? I contend that God wasn’t unclear, but rather He is abundantly clear. The Gospel isn’t about turning from sins to obtain everlasting life, instead it’s about changing our mind on our need for a Savior and placing our faith in Him alone. This is evident, seeing as God chose μετανοέω (with the mind) rather than ἀποστρέφω (to turn away).
If the waters of the Gospel message are unclear, it's because of mud thrown into the waters by the philosophy of Calvinist and Lordship theology.
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