Contents

  1. All English Translations Say “Repent!” And Not “Change Your Mind!”
  2. Conclusion
  3. Sources & Cites

Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ. †



All English Translations Say “Repent!” And Not “Change Your Mind!”

There is yet another significant argument against the common [80s sect] definition of repentance as a mere “change of mind”: the definition “change of mind” differs from all widely known English Bible translations.

Take, for example, the first instance of metanoeō in the New Testament, which reports John the Baptist preaching and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). This verb is translated as “repent” in the following Bible versions: KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, NIV, NET, HCSB, NLT, RSV, and NRSV. I know of no Bible translation that translates this verse as, “Change your minds, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And for good reason; the English word repent does not mean merely “change your mind” but has the following meanings:

  1. To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite.
  2. To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one’s mind regarding it: repented of intemperate behavior.
  3. To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one’s sins. 38

38 American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006), s.v. “repent.”

Those are three related but slightly distinct meanings for repent. Of those three senses, the meaning that would most naturally come to mind for English-speaking readers of the New Testament would be the one connected to “sins,” or meaning (3), or perhaps a combined sense of (2) and (3), including making a change for the better, or resolving to make a change for the better, “as a result of remorse or contrition for one’s sins.” That is the sense that is best suited to the New Testament contexts where English translators have used this word, and that is naturally the sense in which they expected it to be understood. 39 This is significant. It means that all the verses in the New Testament that use the word repent in English are also arguments against the [80s movement position], that repent means “to change one’s mind.” For example:

Repent [not: Change your mind], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 3:2)

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent [not: Change your mind], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(Matt. 4:17) and that repentance [not: a change of mind) and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)

And Peter said to them, “Repent [not: Change your mind] and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ

39 Even meaning (2) by itself, “To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one’s mind regarding it: repented of intemperate behavior,” implies not merely a change of opinion but a change in thinking so that one is resolved no longer to continue that pat- tern of behavior.

for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Repent [not: Change your mind] therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts 3:19)

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent [not: change their minds]. (Acts 17:30)

[Paul says that he]… declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent [not: change their minds] and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. (Acts 26:20)

These verses and others like them with the English word repent give further evidence that no committee of English Bible translators has agreed with Bing’s definition, “change of mind.” p. 64. †



Conclusion

The world’s most authoritative Greek lexicons show that the true meaning of metanoéō falls under the second meaning of “feel remorse, repent, be converted in a (religio-)ethical sense.” metánoia also falls under the second meaning of “repentance, turning about, conversion” as taught by Christ & The Apostles (Ac 3:19,26; 26:20; Mt 3:8 NLT; Rev 2:5).

It’s important to understand the difference between biblical language scholars, who are educated in the meanings of Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew words, and theologians who are not.

The academic community is made up of thousands of scholars who created all the English Bible translations, lexicons, dictionaries, and interlinears. When a theologian who doesn’t understand Greek tells you that repentance is only a “change of mind” they are teaching error and on a subject they are not educated on.

Every Bible version is testament to the fact that repentance is a contrition (2Cor 7:10), a hatred for sin (Jude 23 NLT), and a turning from sin (Acts 3:26; Act 3:19). Each of these versions have hundreds of biblical language scholars that translated metanoeō and metánoia correctly according to BDAG, the worlds most authoritative Greek lexicon.

  1. 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) © 1994
  2. American Standard Version (ASV) Public Domain
  3. Amplified Bible (AMP) © 2015
  4. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987
  5. BRG Bible (BRG) Blue Red and Gold Letter Edition™ Copyright © 2012
  6. Christian Standard Bible (CSB) © 2017
  7. Common English Bible (CEB) © 2011
  8. Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) © 1998
  9. Contemporary English Version (CEV) © 1995
  10. Darby Translation (DARBY) Public Domain
  11. Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) © 2011
  12. Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) Public Domain
  13. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) © 2006
  14. Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) © 2019
  15. English Standard Version (ESV) 2016 © 2001
  16. English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK) © 2001
  17. Expanded Bible (EXB) © 2011
  18. 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
  19. GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020
  20. Good News Translation (GNT) © 1992
  21. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009
  22. International Children’s Bible (ICB) © 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015
  23. International Standard Version (ISV) © 1995-2014
  24. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) © 1960, 1972
  25. Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) © 2013, 2020
  26. King James Version (KJV) Public Domain
  27. Authorized King James Version (AKJV)
  28. Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) © 2021
  29. Lexham English Bible (LEB) © 2012
  30. Living Bible (TLB) © 1971
  31. The Message (MSG) © 1993, 2002, 2018
  32. Modern English Version (MEV) © 2014
  33. Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE) © 2011
  34. Names of God Bible (NOG) © 2011
  35. New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE) © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970
  36. New American Standard Bible (NASB) © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020
  37. New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995
  38. New Catholic Bible (NCB) © 2019
  39. New Century Version (NCV) © 2005
  40. New English Translation (NET) © 1996-2017
  41. New International Reader’s Version (NIRV) © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014
  42. New International Version (NIV) © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
  43. New International Version UK (NIVUK) © 1979, 1984, 2011
  44. New King James Version (NKJV) © 1982
  45. New Life Version (NLV) © 1969, 2003
  46. New Living Translation (NLT) © 1996, 2004, 2015
  47. New Matthew Bible (NMB) © 2016
  48. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA) © 1989, 1995
  49. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE) © 1989, 1993, 1995
  50. New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) © 1989, 1993
  51. New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) © 2021
  52. New Testament for Everyone (NTE) © 2011
  53. Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011
  54. Revised Geneva Translation (RGT) © 2019
  55. Revised Standard Version (RSV) © 1946, 1952, and 1971
  56. Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) © 1965, 1966
  57. Tree of Life Version (TLV) © 2015
  58. The Voice (VOICE) © 2012
  59. World English Bible (WEB) Public Domain
  60. Worldwide English (WE) © 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998
  61. Wycliffe Bible (WYC) © 2001
  62. Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) Public Domain



Sources & Cites

The ESV Study Bible has over 200+ biblical scholars (100+ ESV; 95 Study); 9 countries, 20 denominations, 50 seminaries, colleges, and universities, including Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, London, Japan, California, MIT, Duke, Westminister, Dallas, etc. 20,000 study notes, 80,000 cross-references, 200+ charts, 50+ articles, 240 full-color maps and illustrations. Textual Basis: Masoretic Text BHS ‘83, DSS, LXX, SP, S, Vg; UBS5, NA28.

Redemption
The best-known verse in the Bible summarizes the required response to this good news: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). To “believe in” Jesus includes both a wholehearted trust in him for forgiveness of sins and a decision to forsake one’s sin or to “repent”: All who truly “repent [or turn from their sins] and believe [in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins]” will be redeemed (Mark 1:15) and restored to a right relationship with God. To “believe in” Jesus also requires relating to, and putting trust in, Jesus as he truly is—not just a man in ancient history but also a living Savior today who knows our hearts and hears our prayers. — God’s Plan of Salvation, Redemption.

Response
So if God has done this in Christ, what are we to do to be saved? We must turn to God in Christ, which entails turning back from sin. If we repent of (decide to forsake and turn from) our sin (as best we understand it) and trust in Christ as a living person, we will be saved from God’s righteous wrath against our sins. …

Turn to God. In the OT, God commands people to turn or return to him, and so be saved (e.g., Isa. 6:10; Jer. 18:8). In the NT, Christ preached that people should turn to God, and Paul summarized his account of his preaching with that phrase: “that they [everyone] should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance” (Acts 26:20; cf. Acts 26:18). Thus, as Paul said earlier, he preached “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). To repent means to turn. And the turning that we are called to do in order to be saved is fundamentally a turning to God. James could refer to the Gentiles who “turn to God” (Acts 15:19). To “turn to,” in this sense in the Bible, is to orient your life toward someone. As God’s people—those who are being saved—we are to play the part of the Prodigal Son who, though conscious of sin, guilt, and folly, flees to the Father (Luke 15:20). Paul at Lystra calls the people to turn to the living God (Acts 14:15). Paul refers to the Galatian Christians as those who had come to “know God” (Gal. 4:9); this is what we do in repentance: we repent to, we turn to God, and henceforth know him as the God who forgives our sins and accepts us for Christ’s sake.

Turn away from sin. Turning to God necessarily implies our turning away from sin. The whole Bible—OT and NT—clearly teaches that to repent is to “acknowledge [God’s] name and turn from [our] sins” (1 Kings 8:35; cf. 2 Chron. 7:14; Jer. 36:3; Ezek. 14:6; 18:30; Acts 3:19; 8:22; 26:18; Rev. 2:21–22; 9:20–21; 16:11). We cannot start to pursue God and sin at the same time. First John makes it clear that our basic way of life will either be oriented toward God and his light, or toward the darkness of sin. Christians in this life still sin, but against our deepest desires and better judgment; our lives are not guided and directed by sin as before. We are no longer enslaved to sin. Though we still struggle with it (Gal. 5:17), God has given us the gift of repentance (Acts 11:18), and we have been freed from sin’s dominating power.

Believe and trust. Put another way, our response is to believe and trust God’s promises in Christ, and to commit ourselves to Christ, the living Lord, as his disciples. Among Jesus’ first words in Mark’s Gospel are “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). The obedience that typifies God’s people, beginning with repentance, is to result from the faith and trust we have in him and his word (e.g., Josh. 22:16; Acts 27:25). Thus sins are sometimes called “breaking faith with God” (e.g., Ezra 10:2, 10). Having faith in Christ, which seals our union with him through the Holy Spirit, is the means by which God accounts Christ’s righteousness as our own (Rom. 3:21–26; 5:17–21; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8–9; Phil. 3:9). Paul could refer to “salvation through faith in Christ” (2 Tim. 3:15).

REPENT
despise myself, and r in dust and ashes.” • Jb 42:6
“R, for the kingdom of heaven is at • Mt 3:2
unless you r, you will all likewise perish. • Lk 13:3
Peter said to them, “R and be baptized • Acts 2:38
R therefore, and turn back, that • Acts 3:19
r, and do the works you did at first. • Rv 2:5
They did not r and give him glory. • Rv 16:9

REPENTANCE
Bear fruit in keeping with r. • Mt 3:8
“I baptize you with water for r, but he • Mt 3:11
a baptism of r for the forgiveness • Mk 1:4
to call the righteous but sinners to r.” • Lk 5:32
and that r and forgiveness of sins • Lk 24:47
to give r to Israel and forgiveness • Acts 5:31
kindness is meant to lead you to r? • Rom 2:4
godly grief produces a r that leads to • 2 Cor 7:10
of r from dead works and of faith • Heb 6:1

The NET Bible: Full Notes Edition is a completely new, non-sectarian and “inter-denominational,” translation of the Bible with 60,932 translators’ notes, completed by more than 25+ of the world’s foremost biblical scholars from Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Sheffield, Columbia, Dallas, etc. This is the largest set of translators’ notes ever created. Textual Basis: Masoretic Text BHS [B19A(L)], DSS; NA28, UBS4.

8 Therefore produce fruit[a] that proves your[b] repentance,

— a. Matthew 3:8 NET sn Fruit that proves your repentance refers to the deeds that indicate a change of attitude (heart) on the part of John’s hearers.

6 Therefore we must progress beyond[a] the elementary[b] instructions about Christ[c] and move on[d] to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works[e] and faith in God,

— e. Hebrews 6:1 NET sn It is clear from the context that the phrase “dead works” are works that need to be repented from and thus are sins. The same phrase occurs in Heb 9:14 in which the author of Hebrews states that our consciences need to be purified from them. As Bruce states, they are works “that belong to the way of death and not the way of life” (F. F. Bruce, Hebrews [NICNT], 138).

The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible, 165 scholars (100+ NIV; 65 Study); Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, California, London, Belfast, Claremont, Denver, Westminister, & Dallas.

Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, — Acts 3:19 NET

3:19 Repent . . . and turn to God. Repentance is turning away from sin. Faith is turning to God for salvation. See 2:38 and note. times of refreshing. The blessings and glories of the Messianic age, synonymous with “the time . . . for God to restore everything” (v. 21). Though the kingdom of God has been inaugurated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, it is yet to be consummated in the future.

— The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible, 165 scholars (100+ NIV; 65 Study); Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, California, London, Belfast, Claremont, Denver, Westminister, & Dallas.

The NLT Filament Study Bible has over 90+ Scholars in translation from Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, Columbia, Westminster, Dallas, etc. The study brings even more to the table. In addition to the NLT being the most readable Bible version on earth according to quantitative linguistic comparison of Bible translations using computerized statistical analysis, many distinguished scholars are worth noting.

Mt 3:8 Prove… that you have… turned to God (literally make fruit that accords with repentance): John calls for action and true ethical change; mere lip service will not do (see Luke 3:10-14; cp. Matt 5:19-20, 46; 7:21; 23:3).

The Expanded Bible (EXB) builds on the NCV which has 53 scholars, and expands inline, extraordinarily accurate and concise comments and literal renderings from the following scholars:

  • Tremper Longman III (Ph.D., Yale), Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College.
  • Mark L. Strauss (Ph.D., Aberdeen), Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary San Diego.

  • Daniel Taylor (Ph.D., Emory)

  • Verb: μετανοέω (metanoéō)

    2 John said, “·Change your hearts and lives [Repent] because the kingdom of heaven ·is near [has drawn near; is at hand].” — Matthew 3:2

    3 No, I tell you. But unless you ·change your hearts and lives [repent], you will [L all] be destroyed as they were! — Luke 13:3

    19 So you must ·change your hearts and lives [repent]! ·Come back [Return; Turn back] to God, and he will ·forgive [wipe out; erase] your sins. Then the ·time [L times; seasons] of ·rest [refreshment; comfort; C the messianic age] will come from [L the presence of] the Lord. — Acts 3:19

    5 So ·remember [consider] ·where you were before you fell [L how far you have fallen]. ·Change your hearts [Repent] and do ·what [L the works] you did at first. If you do not ·change [repent], I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place. — Revelation 2:5

    9 They were ·burned [scorched] by the great heat, and they ·cursed [blasphemed] the name of God, who had ·control [authority; power] over these ·disasters [plagues]. But the people ·refused to change their hearts and lives [L did not repent] and give ·glory [honor] to God. — Revelation 16:9

  • Noun: μετάνοια (metánoia)

    8 ·Do the things [L Produce the fruit] ·that show you really have changed your hearts and lives [that prove your repentance; L of repentance]. — Matthew 3:8

    10 [L For] The kind of sorrow God wants makes people ·change their hearts and lives [repent], leading to salvation, and ·you cannot be sorry for that [or there can be no regret for that kind of sorrow; L without regret]. But the kind of sorrow the world has ·brings [leads to; results in] death. — 2 Corinthians 7:10

    10 ·So [Therefore] let us ·go on to grown-up teaching [L move forward to maturity/completeness]. Let us ·not go back over [L leave behind] the ·beginning [rudimentary; elementary] ·lessons [teaching; L word] we learned about ·Christ [or the Messiah; 5:5]. We should not again ·start teaching [L lay a foundation] about ·turning away [repentance] from ·those acts that lead to death [or useless works; L dead works] and about faith in God. — Hebrews 6:1

The Faithlife Study Bible is a state-of-the-art study created for Logos Bible Software—the world’s most advanced biblical software—and is translation independent.

Matt. 3:8 fruit worthy of repentance Refers to deeds that show true contrition.

Heb. 6:1 foundation This image refers to the basic teachings of Christian faith. The metaphor suggests that Christians should not replace this foundation, but instead build upon it.

repentance from dead works Denotes leaving behind sin—turning back toward God and His will (9:14).

Repentance (James D. Smith III)

The need for repentance is highlighted in Jesus’ earliest preaching: “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:15). Repentance is rooted in the human consciousness of sin, an awareness of falling short of a standard, relational brokenness and alienation, and fear of judgment. Whether motivated by inner guilt or shameful loss of face, repentance involves attitudes and acts that aim at setting things right. Coupled with confession, repentance is involved in the process of receiving forgiveness from God through Jesus Christ, and provides a model for person-to-person reconciliation as well.

From its beginning, the biblical narrative speaks of our need for repentance. Made in the image of God, and meant for fellowship with the Creator, Adam and Eve use their freedom to disobey a divine command (Gen 3). In estrangement they hide; when discovered, they attempt excuses in their fearfulness. At the origins of the human family, sin is present (hence the term “original sin”), which becomes part of the spiritual reality of all humanity. The result: “the person, the one sinning, will die” (Ezek 18:20). The sacrificial system of the Old Testament is established (in part) to address the necessity of atonement (Lev 17:11; Heb 9:22): “apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Jewish tradition shows a lifelong struggle between the yetzer ha tov (good impulse) and the yetzer ha ra (evil impulse; compare Gen 4:7; Rom 7:22–23). The life of David dramatically demonstrates this. A man after God’s own heart, David nonetheless falls deeply into evil, committing adultery and murder (2 Sam 11). When David faces God’s justice and the consequences of sin, Psalm 51 presents his public response: a contrite heart, personal confession, and repentance (Psa 51:16–17). Later, Solomon received the promise that when God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from sin, God hears from heaven, forgives them, and heals their land (2 Chr 7:14).

The New Testament suggests several forms of turning to repentance and confession. First John 1:9 suggests personal confession of sin directly to God. Other passages invite the ministry of a friend, counselor, or minister to hear one’s confession (Matt 16:19; John 20:23; Jas 5:16). In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the son’s repentant return is embraced by the parent’s unconditional love, bringing reconciliation (Luke 15:11–32). Jesus Himself teaches His disciples to pray “forgive us”—and this underlies general confession in corporate worship (Matt 6:12). The kyrie prayer, “Lord have mercy,” transcends cultural boundaries (Luke 18:13).

In the early church, initial repentance and forgiveness were closely identified with conversion and baptism (Acts 2:28). In addition to the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, other exhortations about sin were emerging (Exod 20; Matt 5–7; compare 1 John 2:16; 3:4, Rom 14:23, Jas 4:17), which were accompanied by reflections on especially “deadly” sins (Mark 3:29; Acts 15:29; 1 John 5:16).

Hebrews emphasizes the ministry of Jesus as once-for-all sacrifice and abiding high priest (Heb 7:26–28; 9:11–15). The letter includes a fervent exhortation against backsliding from life in Christ (Heb 6:4–8; 10:26–31). Similarly, the book of Revelation proclaims the need for repentance for individual believers and entire church fellowships (Rev 1:4–3:22). Paul even speaks of “godly sorrow” that brings restoration, whereas “worldly sorrow”—guilt with no healthy remedy through grace—proves deadly (2 Cor 7:8–13).

The NKJV Thomas Nelson Study Bible translation has 177 Scholars, and the study includes many others.

New Oxford Annotated Bible, Fifth (NRSV) the study Bible from Oxford University. Over 50 years of students, and professors, relying on The New Oxford Annotated Bible as an unparalleled authority. Contains Secular, Jewish, & Ecumenical Scholarship.

8: Repentance, a turning away from evil and the forging of a new relationship with God. Mt 3:8 NRSV. p. 1388.

The Jewish Annotated New Testament

C.S. Lewis (Oxford & Cambridge) “A towering intellect and profoundly gifted writer. He was a scholar at both Oxford and Cambridge. He taught at Magdalen College, Oxford, for nearly three decades before becoming the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University in 1954.”

… Now what was the sort of “hole” man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realising that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor—that is the only way out of a “hole.” This process of surrender—this movement full speed astern—is what Christians call repentance. Now repentance is no fun at all.

It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means killing part of yourself, undergoing a kind of death. In fact, it needs a good man to repent. And here comes the catch. Only a bad person needs to repent: only a good person can repent perfectly. The worse you are the more you need it and the less you can do it. The only person who could do it perfectly would be a perfect person—and he would not need it.

Remember, this repentance, this willing submission to humiliation and a kind of death, is not something God demands of you before He will take you back and which He could let you off if He chose: it is simply a description of what going back to Him is like. If you ask God to take you back without it, you are really asking Him to let you go back without going back. It cannot happen. Very well, then, we must go through with it. But the same badness which makes us need it, makes us unable to do it. Can we do it if God helps us? Yes, but what do we mean when we talk of God helping us? We mean God putting into us a bit of Himself, so to speak. He lends us a little of His reasoning powers and that is how we think: He puts a little of His love into us and that is how we love one another. When you teach a child writing, you hold its hand while it forms the letters: that is, it forms the letters because you are forming them. We love and reason because God loves and reasons and holds our hand while we do it.

— An excerpt from “The Perfect Penitent” in Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (University of Oxford)



† Dr. Wayne Grudem (Ph.D., University of Cambridge; D.D., Westminster Theological Seminary) “a distinguished Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies. He graduated Harvard, Westminister Seminary, and Cambridge. Member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible, the general editor of the ESV Study Bible, and the author of over twenty-five books.”

Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ. — Dr. Wayne Grudem (PhD, Cambridge; DD, Westminster)

I believe saving faith will result in obedience… We must guard jealously the fact that faith alone is what saves us, not faith plus obedience. … No historic Protestant confession says that saving faith includes obedience. — Historic Protestant Position

Many understand repentance to mean simply a “change of mind.” The weakness of this position is that, for the New Testament, this meaning finds no support in any authoritative Greek lexicon or in any modern English translation, none of which translate metanoéō and metánoia as “change of mind” for New Testament passages. It is a definition unique to Free Grace supporters, without scholarly support from the academic community or any standard Greek reference works. It also lacks support from any English translation of the Bible.

— Dr. Wayne Grudem (Ph.D., University of Cambridge; D.D., Westminster), “Free Grace” Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel. p. 70. Endorsed by 9 leading Biblical scholars.



Dr. Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) has served as an evangelist on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, a hospital chaplain, a pastor, and a college professor of Greek and Bible. He is the founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society (GES).

Some Free Grace people hold to the change of mind view of repentance, which I advocated in my doctoral dissertation at DTS in 1985. (I repented of that view in 1998. — Dr. Bob Wilikin, C. S. Lewis Said Repentance Is a Condition for Everlasting Life

As one who has held both views, I now see that the idea that the change-of-mind view is easy to explain is not quite right. It is hard to convince someone that repentance is a change of mind about Christ when so many (actually all) NT passages clearly contradict that definition. Actually the view of repentance advocated here is much easier to explain and is much simpler. — Dr. Bob Wilikin, Does Your Mind Need Changing? Repentance Reconsidered.

I have received a number of letters and calls from people who are upset that I have abandoned the change-of-mind view. To all such people I wish to say that I personally understand their angst. I held the change-of-mind view for years, even writing a doctoral dissertation defending it. When confronted with the view that I now advocate, I was skeptical. However, I have always considered Acts 17:11 to be a vitally important attitude to have: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” After following that admonition, I changed my thinking about repentance — Dr. Bob Wilikin, Does Your Mind Need Changing? Repentance Reconsidered.



You can say that you are sorry for what you have done but if you continue to do it, that is not true repentance. Real repentance is being so sorry, so contrite, that you do not do it again. You turn away from it and cease doing it. If a person declares that they have repented of a certain action or sin, and they continue in that same action, there is good reason to doubt the genuineness of the repentance. It is not a true repentance when you continue in that sin. Repentance is the first step to salvation. — Chuck Smith



The message that “There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.” should be preached to the entire world in the name of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31).

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. — Matthew 18:3 NLT

  • Not justifying (Rom 3:28; Eph 2:8-10).
  • Imperfect (1Jn 1:8–10; 2:1-2).
  • Taught alongside faith by Christ Himself (Mark 1:14-15).
  • One of the reasons Jesus came (Lk 5:32).
  • Taught as an inward resolve to turn from sin (Ac 3:19,26; 26:20; Mt 3:8 NLT; Rev 2:5).
  • An immediate fruit of genuine saving faith resulting in good works and righteous behavior (Mt 3:8 NLT; Ac 26:20; Rev 2:5).
  • Will happen in genuine believers (1Jn 3:6-10). logically (Ac 17:30; 1Jn 2:4).
  • Commanded by God (Ac 17:30; Mt 4:17).
  • Granted by God (Ac 11:18; 2Tim. 2:25).
  • Growth given by God (1Cor 3:6-7; Ga 5:22-23 NLT; Jn 15:4-5).
  • Preached for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31).
  • Produced from Godly sorrow (2Cor. 7:10; Matt. 11:21-22; Job 42:6).
  • Leading to salvation and eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10; Acts 11:18).
  • Described as needed and necessary (Lk 15:7).
  • Repent or Perish (Lk 13:3; Mt 3:10).
  • Unrepentant sin not tolerated by the Apostles and not a one time event (Lk 17:3-4; 1 Cor. 5:11-13).

The world’s most authoritative Greek lexicons show that the true meaning of metanoéō falls under the second meaning of “feel remorse, repent, be converted in a (religio-)ethical sense.” metánoia also falls under the second meaning of “repentance, turning about, conversion” as taught by Christ & The Apostles (Ac 3:19,26; 26:20; Mt 3:8 NLT; Rev 2:5).