The true meaning of μετανοεῖν/μετανοῆσαι in the Greek.
Posted: June 18th, 2016, 1:29 am
On more than one occasion, I've heard that the true meaning of μετανοεῖν in the Greek is "to change one's mind". Is that a reasonable claim to make?
Can μετανοεῖν be used of becoming more wicked, or is it always in the "onward and upward" direction?
I have the impression that it is directional and that it involves something more fundamental (or more extensive) than just one's mind. The question is though, what do people understand by the English words "mind", and "change".
I tnink that the best way to translate, "to change one's mind (after considering things)" to Greek would be μεταμέλεσθαι. Mind in the sense of "opinion (about something based on what you've come to know about it and can change on the basis of considering new information)" is more γνώμη.
Is there any grounds for it being understood as like a spiritual brain transplant. I've heard people praying - presumably based on this paraphrase - "change my mind, give me a new mind". Is μετανοεῖν an action that could ever have any transitivity, that God could do it for someone?
It seems that the simplification to "change one's mind" may not be accurate and may open doors to creative interpretations.
Can μετανοεῖν be used of becoming more wicked, or is it always in the "onward and upward" direction?
I have the impression that it is directional and that it involves something more fundamental (or more extensive) than just one's mind. The question is though, what do people understand by the English words "mind", and "change".
I tnink that the best way to translate, "to change one's mind (after considering things)" to Greek would be μεταμέλεσθαι. Mind in the sense of "opinion (about something based on what you've come to know about it and can change on the basis of considering new information)" is more γνώμη.
Is there any grounds for it being understood as like a spiritual brain transplant. I've heard people praying - presumably based on this paraphrase - "change my mind, give me a new mind". Is μετανοεῖν an action that could ever have any transitivity, that God could do it for someone?
It seems that the simplification to "change one's mind" may not be accurate and may open doors to creative interpretations.