Repentance in Christianity

Close up of a 17th-century depiction of the 28 articles of the Augsburg Confession by Wenceslas Hollar

Repentance is a theological term that describes a stage in Christian salvation where the believer turns away from sin. As a distinct stage in the ordo salutis its position is disputed, with some theological traditions arguing it occurs prior to faith and the Reformed theological tradition arguing it occurs after faith.^[1] In Roman Catholic theology repentance is part of the larger theological concept of penance.^[2] Generally in the Old Testament the term repentance comes from the Hebrew word group that means "turn away from."^[3]^: 1007 Sometimes this word group is employed to request a turning from sinful activity (Jeremiah 8:6). In the New Testament the μετανοέω/metanoeo word group can mean remorse but is generally translated as a turning away from sin (Matthew 3:2).^[3]^: 1007 Theologically 'repentance', the turning away from sin is linked to a corresponding turn to faith in God.^[3]^: 1008

References

^ Bruce Demarest, The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997): 38-39.
^ Demarest, The Cross and Salvation, 37.
^ ^a ^b ^c T.C. Mitchell, 'Repentance' New Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996): 1007–8.

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[1] Bruce Demarest, The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997): 38-39.

[2] Demarest, The Cross and Salvation, 37.

[Mitchell-3] T.C. Mitchell, 'Repentance' New Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996): 1007–8.

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