Metanoia (theology)

In Christian theology, the term 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