Metanoia (theology)

In Christian theology, metanoia (from the Greek μετάνοια, metanoia, changing one's mind) is often translated as "conversion" or "repentance," though most scholars agree that this second translation does a disservice to the original Greek meaning of metanoia.

In Christianity, the Greek philosophical concept of metanoia has become linked with Christian prayer, in which a prostration is called a metanoia, with "the spiritual condition of one's soul being expressed through the physical movement of falling facedown before the Lord" as seen in the biblical passages of Matthew 2:11, Luke 5:12, and Luke 17:15–16.[1] In this context, the term suggests repudiation, change of mind, repentance, and atonement.[2]

The theological concept of repentance is linked with metanoia, which is a prostration before God, both spiritually and physically.
  1. ^ West of Jesus. Anthony of the Desert. September 2012. p. 149.
  2. ^ Pope Benedict XVI. "Faith as Conversion -Metanoia", Principles of Catholic Theology, Ignatius Press, 1987 ISBN 9780898701333