The word ‘conversion’ is a typically religious word that is hardly ever used outside of that context. In this article, I will attempt to explain what is means.
The Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek and then translated into many more languages. If we want to understand a key word from the Bible properly, it is therefore wise to look at the original version.
ἐπι-στρέφω
The word translated as ‘conversion’ / ‘to convert’ is שׁוב in Hebrew and ἐπι-στρέφω in Greek. Both literally mean: to turn around or to return.
• Imagine you are walking down the street. Suddenly you hear someone calling your name. You stop, look around, and turn toward the person who called you.
• Or imagine you are driving your car. Suddenly you realize you have driven too far. You turn around and head in a different direction.
Someone can also ‘turn around’ in a figurative sense. This refers to people who drastically change the course of their lives. This figurative meaning is often used in the Bible for people who come to faith in Jesus. Here are a few examples:
• Peter had healed someone in Jesus’ name. That miracle attracted the attention of bystanders. “And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9:35)
• In the city of Antioch, there were also believers who spread the good news about Jesus. “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21)
• Some believers went to Jerusalem to tell the Christians there about recent developments. “So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.” (Acts 15:3)
For a detailed example of how such a conversion changes a person’s life, I refer you to Acts 9:1-22. There we read about Saul, a religious fanatic who “breathed threats and murder.” He was passionately committed to putting all followers of Jesus Christ behind bars. But one day, Jesus Himself met him in a blinding light. That encounter radically changed Saul’s life. Only a few days later, Saul began to speak publicly.
“And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ And all who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?’ But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 9:20-22)
μετα-νοέω
In addition to the word ἐπι-στρέφω, the Bible also often uses the word μετα-νοέω: to repent, to change one’s mind. Both concepts are closely related. The word μετα-νοέω emphasizes a change of heart and mind, while the word ἐπι-στρέφω refers more to the change in your life that results from this change of mind. But in fact, these are two sides of the same coin. In Bible translations, you often don’t even see the difference. Here are a few verses where the word μετα-νοέω is used:
• Mark 1:15, in which Jesus says: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” The Contemporary English Version translates this phrase as follows: “Turn back to God and believe the good news!”
• Acts 2:38, in which Peter calls on people: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Contemporary English Version translates this verse as follows: “Turn to God and be baptized…”
When Saul (whose conversion we just read about) is questioned by the king, he uses both Greek words in one sentence to summarize his message.
• “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent (μετανοεῖν) and turn to God (ἐπιστρέφειν), performing deeds in keeping with their repentance (τῆς μετανοίας).” (Acts 26:19-20)
Repentance to God
Repentance / conversion always has two components: it means to turn away from particular sins or a sinful lifestyle in general, and to turn towards the Lord God.
“We bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 14:15)
“Direct your heart to the Lord and serve Him only.” (1 Samuel 7:3)
All people are naturally on the wrong path, away from God. That path leads to our destruction. But God “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God wants us to find our way back to Him, since that’s the only path to lasting joy. Therefore, the general call to repentance applies to everyone.
Everyone must repent
The Lord God attaches great importance to people repenting and finding the way to life. For that purpose, Jesus Christ came to earth and sacrificed His life. After He rose from the dead and returned to heaven, He commissioned His followers to make all people aware of the only way to find eternal life. “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations.” (Luke 24:45-48)
Once you have come to faith and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, unfortunately that does not mean that you will live a perfect life from that moment on. You will still regularly fall back into sinful behavior and sinful thoughts. The apostle John plainly states: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
When we become aware of a particular sin in our lives, the same call applies: Repent, turn back to God, and change your behavior. Again and again, you can pray the words of Psalm 139:23-24:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!”
You may now be wondering: How can I repent? How can I become a convert? We will explore that question further in a follow-up article: “How do I come to repentance?”