Page 527 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

REPENTANCE

that repentance is works. Saving faith also produces has nothing to do with turning from sin; they try to
works, but this is not to say that saving faith is works. prove that by referring to God’s repentance. It is clear
Repentance, in fact, is so far from a work that it is a gift from the following studies that the various Hebrew and
of God’s grace. “When they heard these things, they Greek words do not uphold these ideas.”
held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath Hebrew words for repentance: “SHUB or Shuv is
God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto translated repent in 1 Ki. 8:47. In Eze. 14:6 this word is
life” (Acts 11:18). translated ‘repent’ and ‘turn.’ NACHUM is used of man’s
I will reply to the idea that repentance is the same as repentance in Je. 31:19. See also Ex. 13:17; Ju. 21:6;
faith by asking the following questions: (1) If Je. 8:6. Nacham is translated ‘comfort’ in Ge. 5:29 and
repentance and faith are the same, why does the Bible in 58 other places and ‘ease’ in Is. 1:24. Robert B.
make such a plain distinction between them? “Testifying Girdlestone, in Synonyms of the Old Testament, says,
both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance ‘...the original meaning of this word is generally
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus understood to be ‘to draw a deep breath,’ and this is
Christ” (Acts 20:21). In reality, repentance and faith are taken as the physical mode of giving expression to deep
two different actions though they are intimately feeling, either of relief or sorrow’ (p. 87). NOCAHM, a
connected and cannot necessarily be separated in time. related word, is used in Ho. 13:14, referring to God’s
Repentance is acknowledging one’s sin and rebellion promise that He will resurrect Israel and that
against God and changing one’s mind about sinning ‘repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.’ NICHUM,
against God. Faith is trusting the finished work of Christ another related word, is used in Ho. 11:8, referring to
for forgiveness. Repentance and faith are the two God, and is translated ‘comfort’ in Is. 57:18 and Ze.
aspects of man’s response to God’s offer of salvation. (2) 1:13.
If repentance and faith are the same, why did all of the Greek words for repentance: “METANOEO. According
New Testament preachers proclaim repentance? Many to R.C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament,
arguments have been given to justify not preaching metanoeo involves four things: ‘(1) to know after, (2)
repentance, but the bottom line is that the Bible the change of mind consequent on this after-knowledge,
preachers proclaimed repentance. If repentance is (3) regret for the course pursued, resulting from the
totally wrapped up in believing, why did the Lord Jesus change of mind consequent on this after-knowledge, (4)
Christ preach “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise the change of conduct for the future, springing from all
perish” (Luke 13:3)? Why did Peter preach, “Repent ye this’ (pp. 257-258). Trench is considered by many to be
therefore, and be converted” (Acts 3:19)? Why did Paul an authority in N.T. Greek. His book on synonyms is a
preach, “God ... now commandeth all men every where classic; it was first published in 1880 in London, so it
to repent” (Acts 17:30)? Or, “[men] should repent and cannot be accused of being a part of the current debate
turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts over repentance. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the
26:20)? (3) If repentance and faith are the same, why New Testament says that metanoeo (the verb) means ‘to
did the Lord Jesus Christ say that repentance is a part of change one’s mind, i.e. to repent of one’s past sins’ (p.
the Great Commission? “And that repentance and 405). Of the noun metanoia, he adds, ‘the change of
remission of sins should be preached in his name among mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). The misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better
answer is that repentance is to be preached, and faith is course of life, so that it embraces both a recognition of
to be preached. While these doctrines are intimately sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment, the tokens
connected, they are not the same. Biblical salvation and effects of which are good deeds’ (p. 406).
involves both: “repentance toward God, and faith METAMELOMAI is used synonymously with metanoeo.
toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). That is In Mt. 21:29, 32 metamelomai refers to a change of
what the Lord’s Apostles preached, and they are our mind which results in a change of action. The son
only infallible guides. Those who claim that repentance obviously changed his action as well as his mind,
does not have to be preached or that it is the same as because he ‘repented, and went’ (v. 29). In He. 7:21
faith are denying the plain teaching of the Word of God. metamelomai tells us that the Lord will not change His
Bible Words for Repentance appointment of Christ as a priest after the order of
In Repentance Is More Than A Change of Mind, Bruce Melchizedek. The change of action is inherent and
Lackey says, “Various appeals are sometimes made to cannot be ignored” (Lackey, pp. 21-25).
the Hebrew and Greek words which are translated The Bible’s Teaching on Repentance
‘repentance’ in order to prove a definition. Some insist In the following study, we examine most of the Bible
that repentance is only a change of mind and does not passages dealing with repentance toward God. Our
include a change of action. Others insist that repentance study is an expansion of one done by Bruce Lackey. He

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