The Meaning of Repentance

Growing up in the church, I learned the “steps to repentance” as taught in Primary and in the “Rainbow” discussions on my mission. There are six steps (sometimes five, depending on on your source). And they need to be done sequentially, in order for the repentance to be complete. This formal process steps didn’t overtly mention the Savior. So I come away with a checklist procedure which allows me to repent, but not involve the Savior in the process? No wonder I didn’t have a good impression of repentance. 

I recently studied a talk by Elder Theodore M. Burton, former member of the Seventy, which he gave at BYU in 1985, called The Meaning of Repentance. 

As described in the talk, the Old Testament Hebrew word for repent is “shube” which means to turn or to turn from. So the basic meaning is to turn from evil and turn back to God. 

The New Testament Greek word for repent, “metaneoeo” means a change of mind or thought or thinking so powerful and so strong that it changes our very way of life.

But trouble came when Greek was translated into Latin. Only the educated people spoke Greek. When the New Testament was translated into Latin for the use of the common people who spoke that language, an unfortunate choice was made in translation. “Metaneoeo” was translated into the word “poenitere.” The root “poen” in that word is the same root found in our English words punish, penance, penitent, and repentance. So the beautiful meaning of Hebrew and Greek was changed in Latin to an ugly meaning involving hurting, punishing, whipping, cutting, mutilating, disfiguring, starving, or even torturing. Small wonder then that most people have come to fear and dread the word repentance which they were taught and now understand to mean repeated or neverending punishment. People must somehow be made to realize that the true meaning of repentance is that we do not require people to be punished or to punish themselves, but to change their lives so they can escape eternal punishment. If they have this understanding, it will relieve their anxiety and fears and become a welcome and treasured word in our religious vocabulary.

One of my favorite definitions of repentance I heard in a 12-step meeting is: “Turning from what doesn’t work to what does work and to Him who makes it work.” I don’t need to beat myself up when I make a mistake, I just need to turn and get back on the path. 

Another definition of repentance I like is: “Returning to the supper of the Lord.” So if I’ve strayed away, I can re-“turn” to the table and sit at my place there, partaking of the bread of life and the living water. 

These are much healthier ways for me to think of repentance than the old formal approach. 

To be continued . . . with Part 85