Lexical Summary dianoia: Mind, understanding, thought, intention Original Word: διάνοια Strong's Exhaustive Concordance imagination, mind, understanding. From dia and nous; deep thought, properly, the faculty (mind or its disposition), by implication, its exercise -- imagination, mind, understanding. see GREEK dia see GREEK nous HELPS Word-studies 1271 diánoia (from 1223 /diá, "thoroughly, from side-to-side," which intensifies 3539 /noiéō, "to use the mind," from 3563 /noús, "mind") – properly, movement from one side (of an issue) to the other to reach balanced-conclusions; full-orbed reasoning (= critical thinking), i.e. dialectical thinking that literally reaches "across to the other side" (of a matter). 1271 /diánoia ("critical thinking"), literally "thorough reasoning," incorporates both sides of a matter to reach a meaningful (personal) conclusion. Such "full-breadth reasoning" is essential to loving (25 /agapáō) the Lord and our neighbor (see Mk 12:30). It is also the instrument of self-destruction when exercised without God's light and power (Lk 1:51; Eph 2:3, 4:18; Col 1:21). [1271 /diánoia (dianoia) is also used of "reasoning and speech between characters in ancient dramas" (LS; cf. Aristotle, Rh 1, 404). But 1271 (diánoia) works to a person's own undoing when it operates apart from the light of God's word (Eph 4:18).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dia and noeó Definition the mind, disposition, thought NASB Translation mind (7), minds (2), thoughts (1), understanding (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1271: διάνοιαδιάνοια, διανοίας, ἡ (διά and νως), the Sept. for לֵב and לֵבָב; very frequent in Greek writings from (Aeschylus) Herodotus down; 1. the mind as the faculty qf understanding, feeling, desiring: Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30 (Tr marginal reading brackets); Luke 10:27; Ephesians 1:18 Rec.; 2. understanding: 1 John 5:20. 3. mind, i. e. spirit (Latinanimus), way of thinking and feeling: Colossians 1:21; Luke 1:51; 2 Peter 3:1. 4. thought; plural contextually in a bad sense, evil thoughts: Ephesians 2:3, as in Numbers 15:39 μνησθήσεσθε πασῶν τῶν ἐντολῶν κυρίου ... καί οὐ διαστραφήσεσθε ὀπίσω τῶν διανοιῶν ὑμῶν. Strong’s 1271 (διάνοια) embraces the inner faculty of perception, reflection and moral judgment. It may be rendered “mind,” “understanding,” “thought,” or “disposition,” but always with an emphasis on deliberate, reasoned activity rather than fleeting impressions. In Scripture this faculty can be directed either toward God in love and obedience or toward darkness and hostility, revealing the decisive role of the mind in the covenant relationship. The Great Commandment and the Shema In Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27 the Lord Jesus cites Deuteronomy 6:5 (LXX: διάνοια) to declare that wholehearted love for God must include the mind. Far from reducing faith to emotion or ritual, these texts place intellectual devotion at the heart of covenant fidelity. Love for God calls for rigorous, conscious allegiance—thinking God’s thoughts after Him, valuing what He values and rejecting every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God. Human Pride and Darkened Understanding Luke 1:51 portrays God scattering “those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts,” exposing the mind’s capacity for arrogant self-exaltation. Paul develops the theme: unbelieving Gentiles are “darkened in their understanding” (Ephesians 4:18) and believers once were “hostile in mind” (Colossians 1:21; cf. Ephesians 2:3). Intellectual rebellion is therefore not morally neutral; it is a fruit of spiritual death that manifests in idolatry, sensuality and social alienation. Renewal under the New Covenant Quoting Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10 and Hebrews 10:16 promise that God “will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts.” Regeneration includes a decisive reorientation of διάνοια: God’s moral will becomes internally known and loved. Peter echoes this in 2 Peter 3:1, aiming to “stir” believers to “wholesome thinking.” The apostolic letters assume that sanctification progresses as the renewed mind is continually instructed by the Word and empowered by the Spirit. Practical Exhortations for Discipleship • 1 Peter 1:13 summons believers to decisive mental readiness: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you.” Christ, the Giver of Understanding 1 John 5:20 grounds confidence in the Incarnation: “The Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true.” Saving knowledge is not achieved by unaided reason; it is a gracious gift mediated through Christ’s revelation and applied by the Spirit (John 16:13). Eschatological Orientation The renewed mind looks forward. Peter’s appeal to “wholesome thinking” functions eschatologically, keeping hope vivid in the face of scoffers (2 Peter 3:3–13). Believers cultivate a thought-life shaped by promised realities—the new heavens and new earth—rather than by present impressions. Historical and Ministerial Significance Early Christian apologists (e.g., Justin Martyr, Athenagoras) drew on διάνοια to argue that the gospel fulfills the deepest demands of reason. Throughout church history, orthodox theology has insisted that faith seeks understanding, embracing rigorous study as an act of love for God. Pastors and educators therefore labor to form minds captive to Christ, confident that intellectual discipleship is integral to spiritual maturity. Summary διάνοια threads through Scripture as the seat of conscious allegiance. Fallen humanity misuses this faculty, but in the new covenant God renews it, writes His law upon it and summons believers to employ it in wholehearted love, vigilant holiness and confident hope. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 22:37 N-DFSGRK: ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου NAS: YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' KJV: all thy mind. INT: all the mind of you Mark 12:30 N-GFS Luke 1:51 N-DFS Luke 10:27 N-DFS Ephesians 2:3 N-GFP Ephesians 4:18 N-DFS Colossians 1:21 N-DFS Hebrews 8:10 N-AFS Hebrews 10:16 N-AFS 1 Peter 1:13 N-GFS 2 Peter 3:1 N-AFS 1 John 5:20 N-AFS Strong's Greek 1271 |
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