G3563 νοῦς (noûs)

Mind (3563) (nous) refers to a basic meaning direct one's inner sense to an object. Nous refers to human intellectual perception and moral judgment. It is the God given faculty of perceiving and understanding and is the channel through which truth reaches the heart. Nous describes everything in the realm of the intellect, including one's will, emotions, ability to think, reason and decide. Related Resources: Mind by Phillip Towner Mind - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia New Linguistic & Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament on Nous- A comprehensive name for the thoughts existing in the conscience; understanding, the reasoning faculty, man’s power of judgment; thinking, understanding; it is the constellation of thoughts and assumptions which make up the consciousness of the person and acts as the agent of rational discernment and communication; the thinking power, reason in its moral quality and activity; reasoning capacity, especially as concerns moral action; the intellect in its judging faculty Carpenter - Old Testament writers understood the mind as the inner being of a person—much like a person’s heart. When the Gospels speak of a person’s mind, it is mostly in connection with a person’s heart as well (“in the thoughts of their heart”; see Luke 1:51). The only other significant occurrence of the word mind comes in Jesus’ statement of the great commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind (dianoia)” (Mt. 22:37; Mk 12:30; Lk 10:27). The Gospel writers are unanimous in their agreement that Jesus quoted Dt 6:5 and added “with all your mind” to the quote. In the writings of Paul, we enter the Greek world’s understanding of the mind. Paul used two words for the mind: dianoia, meaning “understanding” or “mind,” and nous, meaning “mind” or “intellect.” Paul understood the mind as distinct from the spirit and the heart of a person. The mind possesses the ability to understand and to reason (1Cor 14:14—19); it is the seat of intelligence. In other places, Paul used the Greek word for mind to refer to the entire mental and moral being of a human. A person’s actions flow from the inclinations of his or her mind; whether a person is good or evil depends on the state of that person’s mind. Paul makes it clear that a person’s condition depends upon how that person controls his or her mind. Ro 8:6-7 speaks of a person’s mind being controlled either by the flesh or by the Spirit. The person whose mind is controlled by the flesh is evil and the mind controlled by the Spirit leads to good. Other passages refer to the inclination of a person’s mind being controlled by the god of this world (2Cor 4:4). People whose minds are controlled by the god of this world will have their minds darkened and will not be able to understand the world as it really is (2Cor 3:14). It is like a veil over one’s understanding; but it is the Lord who can open peoples’ minds. When we are born again, we can experience God’s renewing of our minds (Ro 12:2; Ep 4:23). It is our responsibility to renew our minds by regularly reading God’s Word; but only the Holy Spirit can make us spiritually-minded (1Cor 2:15—16). (Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words) The nous is a very "dynamic" organ - A mind (nous) can be... depraved (Ro 1:28=adokimos, 1Ti 6:5=diaphtheiro, 2Ti 3:8=kataphtheiro), defiled (miaino) (Titus 1:15), futile (mataiotes) (Eph 4:17), fleshly (sarx) (Col 2:18), for praying, for singing, speaking (1Cor 14:14-15, 19) of Christ (1Cor 2:16), renewed (anakainosis) (Ro 12:2, Eph 4:23), opened to spiritual truth (Lk 24:45), in "synch" with others, speaking of unity among believers (1Cor 1:10), = "In essentials unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things charity. guarded by the peace of God (Php 4:7). Thayer summarized 1. the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining; hence, specifically, a. the intellective faculty, the understanding: Luke 24:45 (on which see dianoi,gw, 2); Phil 4:7; Rev 13:18; 17:9; opposed to to the spirit intensely roused and completely absorbed with divine things, but destitute of clear ideas of them, 1Cor. 14:14f,19; to be furnished with the understanding of Christ, 1Cor 2:16b. b. reason in the narrower sense, as the capacity for spiritual truth, the higher powers of the soul, the faculty of perceiving divine things, of recognizing goodness and of hating evil: Ro 1:28; 7:23; Eph. 4:17; 1Ti 6:5; 2Ti 3:8 Titus 1:15; opposed to the flesh Ro 7:25; to be so changed that the spirit which governs the mind is renewed, Eph 4:23; (cf. Ro12:2). c. the power of considering and judging soberly, calmly and impartially: 2Th 2:2. 2. a particular mode of thinking and judging: Ro 14:5; 1 Cor. 1:10; equivalent to thoughts, feelings, purposes: (from Isa. 40:13), Rom. 11:34; 1 Cor. 2:16a The mind of the men in 2Ti 3:8 has become so thoroughly corrupted that the truth of the Gospel cannot penetrate and be perceived. This state naturally leads to them being reprobate and disqualified regarding the Christian faith. Friberg - basic meaning direct one's inner sense to an object; (1) as the faculty of intelligence understanding, mind, intellect (1Cor 14.15); (2) as the faculty of moral perception (practical) reason, insight, awareness (Ro 7.25); (3) as the total inner orientation or moral attitude way of thinking, mind (set), disposition (Ro 1.28); (4) as the result of mental activity thought, judgment, resolve, opinion (Ro 14.5) Vine- "mind," denotes, speaking generally, the seat of reflective consciousness, comprising the faculties of perception and understanding, and those of feeling, judging and determining. Its use in the NT may be analyzed as follows: it denotes (a) the faculty of knowing, the seat of the understanding, Luke 24:45 ; Romans 1:28 ; 14:5 ; 1 Corinthians 14:15,19 ; Ephesians 4:17 ; Philippians 4:7 ; Colossians 2:18 ; 1 Timothy 6:5 ; 2 Timothy 3:8 ; Titus 1:15 ; Revelation 13:18 ; 17:9 ; (b) counsels, purpose, Romans 11:34 (of the "mind" of God); 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:10 ; 2:16 , twice (1) of the thoughts and counsels of God, (2) of Christ, a testimony to His Godhood; Ephesians 4:23 ; (c) the new nature, which belongs to the believer by reason of the new birth, Romans 7:23,25 , where it is contrasted with "the flesh," the principle of evil which dominates fallen man. Under (b) may come 2 Thessalonians 2:2 , where it stands for the determination to be steadfast amidst afflictions, through the confident expectation of the day of rest and recompense mentioned in the first chapter. (Mind - Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words) Wayne Detzler - Nous describes "the ability to think, the understanding, the moral capabilities of human beings. Early Greek writers were lavish in their praise of human reason. Plato called it the most excellent part of a human being, because it gave him the edge over lesser beings. Aristotle described reason as the power of thought. The Stoics believed that the whole world was ruled by a divine mind, a cosmic reason. The other word for “mind” in the New Testament is phronesis. It comes from the verb phroneo, which means to “think,” “judge,” “set one’s mind on something,” or “have insight.” This word is used to describe the activities of the nous. One sees it in such a phrase as “being tough-minded.” The ancient Greek writers often wrote about this word. Both Plato and Aristotle used it to describe discernment, insight, and judicious reasoning. In the Septuagint Greek Old Testament it was used to describe wisdom and intellectual cunning. In short, the nous seems to be the ability to reason and think, while the phronesis appears to be the process of reasoning or thinking....Nous is seen to be the disposition of man, or his moral attitude. This is found in unsaved as well as saved people. When people do not accept God’s enlightenment, their minds become depraved and darkened (Ro. 1:28). This is also called the understanding of man (Eph 4:18) or a “fleshly mind” (Col. 2:18). Paul warned Timothy against people with depraved minds (1Ti 6:5). Such minds are darkened by sin and need God’s enlightening. When one is converted his mind is worked on by the Holy Spirit. It responds to the truth of God’s Word and longs to obey Him (Ro 7:22—23, 25). In a born-again person this mind becomes an instrument for understanding God’s Word (Lk 24:45; Rev. 13:18; 17:9). Because of the presence of the Lord in our lives, our minds are kept at peace (Phil 4:7). Thus, nous refers to the ability to think, understand, or comprehend. Nous - 24x in 22v - Usage: composure(1), comprehension(1), mind(20), minds(1), understanding(1). Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, Romans 1:28-note And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, Wuest - Virtually, they pronounced the true God adokimos (disapproved), and would have none of Him, and He in turn gave them up to a nous adokimos (a disapproved mind), a mind which is no mind and cannot discharge the functions of one, a mind in which the divine distinctions of right and wrong are confused and lost, so that God’s condemnation cannot but fall on it at last. Nous is not only reason, but conscience; when this is perverted, as in the people of whom Paul speaks, or in the Canaanites, who did their abominations unto their gods, the last deep of evil has been reached.” Romans 7:23-note but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 11:34-note For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Romans 12:2-note And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 14:5-note One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 2:16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 1 Corinthians 14:19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. Ephesians 4:17-note So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, Wuest - “Mind” is nous, not merely the intellectual faculty or understanding, but also the faculty for recognizing moral good and spiritual truth. Expositors says: “It is a description of the walk of the heathen world generally—a walk moving within the limits of intellectual and moral resultlessness, given over to things devoid of worth or reality.” Ephesians 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Philippians 4:7-note And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:18-note Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 2 Thessalonians 2:2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 1 Timothy 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 2 Timothy 3:8-note Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. Titus 1:15-note To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. Revelation 17:9 "Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits Nous -12v in Non-apocryphal Septuagint - Ex 7:23; Josh 14:7; Job 7:17, 20; 33:16; 36:19; Pr 29:7; 31:3; Isa 10:7, 12; 40:13; 41:22; REJECTED AS REGARDS THE FAITH: adokimoi peri ten pistin: (2Co13:5-note) disqualified (NET, ESV) reprobate and counterfeit and to be rejected (Amp) their faith spurious (NJB) of no real worth (Weymouth) put to the test but disapproved (Wuest) failures in the faith (TEV) who cannot pass the test (Jewish NT) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_timothy_36-11.htm#m