Lexical Summary epinoia: Thought, intention, purpose Original Word: ἐπίνοια Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thought, intentionFrom epi and nous; attention of the mind, i.e. (by implication) purpose -- thought. see GREEK epi see GREEK nous HELPS Word-studies 1963 epínoia (from 1909 /epí, "on, fitting" and 3563 /noús, "mind") – properly, intent, i.e. what is on the mind and where this leads to (note the epi, "builds on"). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epi and nous Definition a thought, design NASB Translation intention (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1963: ἐπίνοιαἐπίνοια, ἐπινοίας, ἡ (ἐπινοέω to think on, devise), thought, purpose: Acts 8:22. (Jeremiah 20:10; Wis. 6:17, etc.; often in Greek writings from Sophocles and Thucydides down.) Topical Lexicon Biblical SettingActs 8 recounts the gospel’s advance into Samaria through Philip. When apostles Peter and John arrive, they lay hands on the new believers, and they receive the Holy Spirit. Simon, formerly practicing sorcery, offers money to gain this ability. Peter responds, “Repent, therefore, of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart” (Acts 8:22). The word rendered “intent” captures the inner design or purposeful plotting that lay beneath Simon’s request. The apostle thus exposes not merely a wrong action but a heart-level motive seeking spiritual power for personal gain. Divine Concern for Heart Intent Scripture consistently affirms that the Lord evaluates human motives, not merely outward deeds. From the antediluvian world—“every intent of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5)—to David’s charge to Solomon—“the Lord searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9)—the biblical narrative underscores God’s penetrating gaze upon inward purposes. Acts 8:22 reprises this theme in the New Covenant community, demonstrating that conversion and baptism do not exempt a person from divine scrutiny of hidden motives. Epinoia and Repentance Peter’s command couples repentance with prayer, showing that corrupt intentions require conscious turning and humble supplication. Repentance addresses the deed (“your wickedness”) and the motive (“the intent of your heart”), calling for transformation at both levels. The possibility expressed—“Perhaps He will forgive”—does not cast doubt on God’s mercy but highlights the seriousness of cherishing sinful designs. Genuine repentance must include renouncing self-serving purposes and seeking alignment with God’s will. Link with Spiritual Gifts and Stewardship Simon’s request attempted to commercialize the Holy Spirit, illustrating a perennial danger: treating spiritual gifts as commodities for prestige, influence, or profit. The solitary occurrence of this term in the New Testament thus anchors an apostolic warning that ministry gifts are received by grace and exercised for edification, never for personal advancement. Church history repeatedly confirms the necessity of guarding the heart’s intentions when handling sacred trust—whether wealth, position, or spiritual authority. Old Testament Foundations Old Covenant passages anticipate the principle highlighted in Acts: • Genesis 6:5 demonstrates that corrupt intentions precipitated divine judgment in Noah’s day. These texts provide theological soil from which the apostolic confrontation with Simon grows, revealing continuity between Testaments in God’s moral expectations. Apostolic Teaching on Motives Later apostolic writings reinforce the call to examine inner purposes: • “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Just as Peter appealed to Simon, these passages summon all believers to submit their mental designs to Christ’s lordship. Pastoral and Practical Ministry Insights 1. Self-examination: Leaders and laity alike must invite the Spirit to search motivational structures, especially where ministry influence or financial gain intertwine. Eschatological Perspective Because God “will judge men’s secrets,” the purity of intention carries eternal consequence. Acts 8:22 foreshadows the final evaluation when motives either sustain rewards or invite loss (1 Corinthians 3:13–15). Present repentance provides assurance against future shame. Summary The single New Testament appearance of this term in Acts 8:22 spotlights a central biblical truth: God weighs the heart’s designs. Simon’s episode warns that unredeemed intentions can lurk beneath outward association with the church. Scripture therefore calls believers to continual repentance, prayer, and submission of motives to Christ, confident that purified intentions lead to fruitful participation in the Spirit’s work and unfading approval at the judgment seat of Christ. Forms and Transliterations επινοια επίνοια ἐπίνοια επίνοιαν επινυστάξης επιξενωθήσεται epinoia epínoiaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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