Expert: Dean Gade - 6/9/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi There

I wonder if you can help me with a question that is really bothering me. I have read a few views on what happened to Judas, and whether he repented to God about betraying Jesus or whether he just repented without turning to God.( Matt 27:3 ) I have cut and pasted the text that is bothering me, I will also post the link incase you are having trouble reading this.  From what I understand it all comes down to the greek words “metanoeo “ and  “metamelomai” It is all very confusing and what worries me is that if Judas did repent in a God way than surely he should have been forgiven – instead of “going to a place on his own”. I can only assume that Judas did not repent and turn to God “metanoeo “ but just repented himself ““metamelomai “ but in which case why is the word “metamelomai “ used in other verses such as;


“>In 2 Cor. 7:8 Paul uses Metamelomai to mean both regret and turning from.
>Notice: He did not repent (turn from) but did repent (regret). The
>distinction is not nearly as clear in Greek as some would like to have it
>be.”

I wonder, if you have time if you could read the following, which I have cut and paste from this site;

http://biblestudy.churches.net/base/JUDAS.TXT

it is the thoughts of Floyd Chappelear that make this all very confusing. Such as the use of "metamelomai" in Matthew 12:29. Would I best just to assume that if Judas had repented in a God sense then the Bible would have used the word “metanoeo” ? Im hoping so. Finally I have tried to do what has been done here but with a Hebrew Lexicon to see what that says about Judas type of repentance and other types of repentance but am struggling, would anyone know if there are any differences in a Hebrew or Aramic translation of the different types of repentance?

Thanks for any time you can give me on this. If you are unable to answer would you be able to direct me to a website that can?

God Bless

David





Tina Meade wrote:
>I keep hearing preachers say that Judas didn't repent.  But the Bible says
>he repented.  He even confessed his sin and gave back the money.  
>
>I know he killed himself and that that was wrong.  But why do people say he
>didn't repent of betraying Jesus?

         Hello Tina.  Tom Edwards here.  I think the answer to
      this is that though Judas "repented himself," it really meant
      nothing more than he "felt remorse," as translated in the NASB.

         As we learn in the Scriptures, even godly sorrow in itself
      is not repentance--but it can lead to it (2 Cor. 8:10).  

         In true Bible repentance, one not only turns from the sin,
      but also turns to God through faith and obedience.  Judas did
      not turn to God--he turned away by taking his own life.

         There are actually two Greek words in the New Testament
      that are both translated as "repent" in the KJV: "metamelomai"
      and "metaneo."  

         This first word means a feeling of care, concern, or
      regret.  It expresses the emotional aspect, and it is the
      word used in Matthew 27:3-5 for saying that Judas "repented
      himself" (KJV) or "felt remorse" (NASB).  To feel "remorse"
      denotes a deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; compunction.

        The second Greek word translated as "repent" is used in
      such verses as Matthew 3:2, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
      is at hand"; and also Acts 2:38 and Luke 13:5.  This word means
      more than just regretting or feeling sorry for wrong.  It means
      to change or turn, to go in a new direction, to make "an about-
      face."  It is a word of action.

         So even though Judas felt sorry for his actions and could not
      keep the betrayal money, he did not fully repent in the Bible sense
      of the term because he did not turn back to God.

         Remember, repentance is not merely feeling sorry for sin, nor
      is it merely feeling sorry for sin and turning from that sin; Bible
      repentance also involves a turning to the Lord, and this can only be
      done by obedience to the Gospel.

         Illustration: Luke 15:11-24 (the prodigal son realized the mess
       he was in, wanted out of it, turned from it, and returned to his
       father).

         Consider these verses:

         Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way,
         and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him
         return to the Lord, and He will have compassion
         on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly
         pardon."

         1 Thes. 1:9, "For they themselves report
         about us what kind of reception we had with you,
         and how you turned to God from idols to serve a
         living and true God,"


         -- Tom
        ___________________________________________________________
   
         Tom Edwards        
         713.5 13th Street        
         Ashland, KY  41101
         (606) 325-9742          
         mailto:tedwards@wwd.net
        ____________________________________________________________

From tedwards@wwd.net Wed Jun 12 16:04:02 1996
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 10:04:20 -0500
From: Tom Edwards <tedwards@wwd.net>
Reply-To: markslist@erc.jscc.cc.tn.us
To: Multiple recipients of list <markslist@erc.jscc.cc.tn.us>
Subject: Re: Re: Did Judas Repent?

Floyd Chappelear wrote:
>I don't know where you got your distinctions in meaning with respect to two
>of the words translated repent, but they won't hold up.  Both terms mean to
>have regret, etc., with a turning.

   Hello Floyd.  Tom Edwards here.  

       I appreciate your comments and will do some more studying on
   these terms; but for now, here's why I lean in the direction I
   do:
   
       I often use Bullinger's Critical Lexicon and Concordance
   to the English and Greek New Testament (Zondervan pub.)  Here's
   what he has to say on p. 638 about these words:

      metanoeo: "to perceive afterwards...hence, to change one's
    mind and purpose.  This change is always for the better, and
    denotes a change of moral thought and reflection; not merely
    to repent of, nor to forsake sin, but to change one's mind and
    apprehensions regarding it; hence, to repent in a moral and
    religious sense, with the feeling of remorse and sorrow....
    (It) denotes to reform, to have a genuine change of heart
    and life from worse to better.

      "(a) Followed by ek, showing a complete change, out of a
     former mode of life, to a new and different life."

       Verses where metanoeo is used: Matt. 3:2; Luke 13:5; Acts
    2:38; 3:19; 17:30 (to name a few).

       metamelomai: "to rue, regret; to have dissatisfaction with
     one's self for what one has done, to change or alter one's
     purpose, have anxiety consequent on a past transaction; to
     have pain of mind, rather than change of mind; and change of
     purpose, rather than change of heart."

       Verses where metamelomai is used: Matt. 21:29,32; 2 Cor. 7:8;
     Heb. 7:21     
   
> Please note Matthew
>21:29 which we would use to prove what repentance truly involves. The Greek
>word there is metamelomai. Vine, a Calvinist I think, tries to make a
>distinction but does so weakly. Other Greek scholars tend not to go out on
>the limb you are on.

         Though verse 29 in the KJV speaks of "repented," it is in
       verse 30 of the NASB.  (It has inverted the order of who would
       and who wouldn't in the parable.)

         In verse 29 of the KJV, we see that not only did he repent,
       but he also "went" to the vineyard--thus, obeying his father's
       order.  

         The NASB (in v. 30) uses the phrase "regretted it" instead of
       "repented."  I believe, therefore, it took this coupling of
       regretting his disobedience and then--doing an about-face--
       and obeying his father's order, to illustrate what Bible
       repentance is.  

         Similarly, it was not just the realization and regret of
       the prodigal son that depicts for us Bible repentance.  It was
       this coupled with his returning to his father that does (Lk. 15).

         You're right that it is "metamelomai" used in Mat. 21:29. The
        five different ways it is translated in the NASB are: "change
        mind (1)," "feel remorse (1)," "felt remorse (1)," "regret (2),"
        and "regretted (1)."          

>Whatever "repented" means in Matthew 21:29, it is the same word in Matt.
>27:3. Strongs says that "the distinction often given between these...does
>not seem to be sustained by usage."

         True, it is the same word--and translated as "felt remorse" in
      the NASB.

         Terms such as "felt remorse" and "regretted" seem to fall short
      of what true Bible repentance is all about--unless they are
      connected with a response to God's will.   And as we know, true
      godly sorrow can lead to this; but many people today might
      feel sorry (metamelomai) for wrongs they have done without having
      turned to the Lord through obedience (e.g., Judas, Matt. 27:3-5).

>In 2 Cor. 7:8 Paul uses Metamelomai to mean both regret and turning from.
>Notice: He did not repent (turn from) but did repent (regret). The
>distinction is not nearly as clear in Greek as some would like to have it
>be.

         In the NASB, this is rendered, "...I do not regret it; though
      I did regret it."  I had taken this to mean that Paul initially
      did regret having to send them such a letter of rebuke; but in
      realizing the good it could do, he did not regret it--for it
      produced in them a godly sorrow that led them to repentance
      ("metanoeo" in vv. 9,10):

         "...you were made sorrowful to the point
         of repentance."

         "For the sorrow that is according to the will
         of God produces a repentance without regret...."
         (Incidentally, " without regret" here is from
         "ametameletos.")
         
>I thought you gave a good response to what your convictions are regarding
>Judas in spite of your flaws with respect to the word metamalomai.
>
>God bless,
>
>Floyd

         Thank you, Floyd.  I hope you don't mind me making your
      private response to me public.  I am not a perfect man, and I
      thought it would be good for others to consider your points.

         I am certainly no Greek scholar, so I am not dogmatic
      in my response--and I'll have to study more on "metamelomai"
      and "metanoeo"--but for now, the above is what I've come up
      with.

         Please feel free to point out any flaws in my above
      reasoning.  I am trying to learn.

         Perhaps there are also others on Mark's List who could shed
      some more light on these Greek words to see if or if not there
      should be a distinction in them as presented by some (including
      me).

         Come on Greek scholars--let's hear it!

         -- Tom


ANSWER: I believe that you have the correct answer from Tom. There is little that I can add to his good explanation.

Metamellomai is different from metanoeo.

The common usage of a word in the Bible often helps us to understand the definition.  The following passages all use metamellomai:

Matt 21:28-29
He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

29 "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
(from New International Version)


Matt 21:32
32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
(from New International Version)


2 Cor 7:8-9

8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it-I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.
(from New International Version)

IN THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES V.8 IS THE "REGRET" OF JUDAS WHILE V.9 IS THE "TURNING BACK TO GOD".
 
2 Cor 7:8-9

8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it-I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.
(from New International Version)


Heb 7:21
21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
'You are a priest forever.'"   
(from New International Version)

All other passages having  the word repent/repentance  use metanoeo.

No matter what we find these words to mean, we still don’t know the spiritual state of Judas at his death and now.
Only God can truly judge the heart while we can only go by outward observations.   There is no indication from the scripture that Judas sought forgiveness from God, trusted in His grace or the salvation which came from the one he betrayed.  His actions could have been just a continued attempt to live in the flesh  and earn merit by his work of returning the money.  His suicide indicates that he did NOT find forgiveness in himself and did not have faith in God’s great love.  


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thankyou so much for you quick response - it means a lot. Can i just ask one more thing, with regards to 2 Cor 7:8-9
looking the word repentance it gives another word which is Metanoia - what does this word mean?

Answer
2 Cor 7:8-10

8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it-I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.
(from New International Version)

The word translated "regret, repent or take care afterwards) in verse 8 is the Greek word, metamellomia.   

Whereas the word for "repentance" in verse 9 is metanoia. This word comes from two common Greek words:   1. Meta is a preposition with varioius meanings most to do with "after" and often denoting "change"...and 2. Noios which has to do with the "mind" or "thinking process".

When the Bible speaks of our "repentance" there is much more than a regret for what we have done but is a part of the growth which we call sanctification;  becoming more holy/set apart for God.

Rom 12:1-2
12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(from New International Version)


Eph 1:4
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
(from New International Version)


1 Peter 1:13-16
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."   
(from New International Version)

This holiness comes about from repentance: leaving behind the acts and even the thought processes which cause us to love the world and the things of the world over love and the obedience of faith for God.  The one working this in us is the HOLY Spirit who alone has the power to change us.  The power does not come from the Law; that is, from our knowledge of the Law and our human desire to avoid God's wrath or earn His rewards.