It’s an old fashioned word. It’s a biblical word. It’s a word that fits an “old time” Pentecostal preaching method. I like the word! I get visions of Billy Sunday with his flaring high kick and his finger ready to come down as he glares into someone’s soul and cries out, “REPENT!”

And I like the way the Common English Bible is handling the phrase. Again, they are working to make words more accessible. It is also a great example of where it may take a few more English words to “explain” what is being said. That is the work of translation. You want accuracy, and there are times when to accurately communicate one word from another language it may take several words in your own language.

In the letter to Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) the word “repent” comes up.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. (NIV)

Then, the CEB:

¹⁹ I correct and discipline those whom I love. So be earnest and change your hearts and lives.

While “repent” is one word, and very clean, it may not be something that is easily read and understood. I know I grew up hearing whole sermons on what “repent” actually meant. And if it takes a sermon to explain a word, it’s possible that just putting the “right” word in a spot may not be the best way to communicate what is being said.

Most of the time when I would ask what “repent” meant, I would get the answer, “It means to change your heart and life.”

More and more, I am liking how the CEB is handling this difficult work. (Though, I am still not a fan of “Human One.”) 😉