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Of Repentance by Tertullian

Explore the meaning of repentance that deepens your understanding and love for God

INTRODUCTION

This section will cover a variety of topics useful for the everyday Christian. 

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Section 1: Of Heathen Repentance
Section 2: True Repentance a Thing Divine
Section 3: Sins May be Divided into Corporeal and Spiritual. Both Equally Subject, If Not to Human, Yet to Divine Investigation and Punishment.
Section 4: Repentance Applicable to All the Kinds of Sin. To Be Practised Not Only, Nor Chiefly, for the Good It Brings, But Because God Commands It.

Section 5: Sin Never to Be Returned to After Repentance.

Repentance is a God-given path to salvation that requires a sincere change of heart, rejection of sin, and a lifelong commitment to obey God rather than repeatedly returning to sinful ways.

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Please remember this information is based on The Complete Works of Tertullian (c. 155 - c. 240AD).

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OF  Heathen Repentance

Unbelievers are unable to understand the true depth of repentance because they are not filled with the fruit of the Spirit. They see repentance as feeling sorry or regretting actions, but do not fully understand true reason beyond this. Everything good that the unbeliever does is incomplete.

 

True repentance can only be achieved in knowing Christ because reason comes from God. Order and reason are an extension of God's wisdom, which is needed to understand repentance. People without God will misuse repentance by regretting acts of goodness instead of turning away from sin.​ Repentance becomes an excuse to stop doing good while continuing to sin more easily. Tertullian compares them to sailors without a rudder, unable to avoid the coming judgement. 

Personal Reflections: ​

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Where in your life have you expected love to be returned and regretted doing good?

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​What area in your life have you found it easy to sin?

  • Unbelievers have an incomplete understanding of repentance.​

  • Reason comes from God.​

  • Without God, people are spiritually directionless.

  • ​People often misuse repentance.​

  • This is irrational.​

True Repentance a Thing Divine, Originated by God, and Subject to His Laws

  • Repentance requires the fear of God.

    • Those who know God understand the seriousness of repentance.

    • Without reverence for God, there is no true change of life, making repentance empty and ineffective.

  • God established repentance after humanity's fall.

    • After Adam's sin brought death into the world, God responded with mercy instead of leaving humanity under judgment.

    • He offered repentance as the path to forgiveness and restoration.

  • Throughout history, God called people to repent.

    • He repeatedly urged Israel to repent through the prophets.

    • God later prepared the world for salvation through the ministry of John the Baptist, whose baptism of repentance prepared hearts for Christ.

  • Repentance cleanses the heart.

    • It removes the corruption caused by sin and ignorance.

    • This prepares a person to receive the Holy Spirit and God's blessings.

    • The ultimate goal of repentance is salvation through the forgiveness of sins.

  • Repentance should never be applied to good deeds.

    • God approves and rewards acts of goodness.

    • People should not regret showing kindness, mercy, or love simply because others are ungrateful.

    • God, not other people, is the true rewarder of every good work.

  • Repent only of sin.

    • Repentance belongs exclusively to wrongdoing.

    • Since doing good is not sinful, it should never become the object of repentance.

    • Misusing repentance on good deeds causes people to neglect true repentance for their actual sins.

Sins May Be Divided into Corporeal and Spiritual. Both Equally Subject, If Not to Human, Yet to Divine Investigation and Punishment.

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Tertullian explains that all sin—whether committed outwardly or inwardly—requires repentance because God judges both actions and intentions.

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  • Sin is whatever God forbids.

    • Once a person knows God and His commands, they recognize that anything God prohibits is sin because God is perfectly good.

  • There are two kinds of sin.

    • Corporeal (carnal) sins are outward actions committed by the body.

    • Spiritual sins are inward sins of the mind, heart, and will, such as evil thoughts and desires.

  • Both kinds of sin are equally serious before God.

    • Although body and spirit are different, both belong to God.

    • Therefore, sins committed by the body and sins committed by the mind equally offend Him.

    • Both require repentance and will be judged by God.

  • God judges thoughts as well as actions.

    • Human courts may only judge visible actions.

    • God sees the hidden motives, desires, and intentions of the heart.

  • The will is the source of sinful actions.

    • Sin begins with a person's will or intention before it becomes an outward act.

    • Even if an evil act is never completed, willingly desiring or intending to commit it still brings guilt before God.

  • Jesus expanded the understanding of sin.

    • Tertullian points to Christ's teaching that lustful thoughts are equivalent to adultery in the heart.

    • This shows that inward sins are just as important as outward ones.

  • A guilty conscience condemns itself.

    • Saying, "I wanted to do it but didn't," is not an excuse.

    • If a person truly desired good, they would pursue it; if they desired evil, they are already guilty in intention.

Repentance Applicable to All the Kinds of Sin. 

Tertullian teaches that repentance is available for every kind of sin and should be practiced because God commands it and promises forgiveness to those who repent.

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  • Repentance is for all sins.

    • Whether sins are committed in the body or the mind, by actions or intentions, God offers forgiveness through repentance.

  • God prefers repentance over judgment.

    • Tertullian quotes God's promise: "Repent thee, and I will save thee" and "I will have repentance rather than death."

    • Repentance is described as the path to life, while refusing it leads to death.

  • Repentance brings salvation.

    • Tertullian compares repentance to a plank that rescues a shipwrecked person from drowning.

    • It saves sinners from destruction and brings them safely into God's mercy.

  • Repentance requires turning away from sin.

    • Christians should reject what God hates and embrace His truth.

    • True obedience means aligning one's desires with God's will.

  • Repent because God commands it.

    • The primary reason to repent is not merely because it benefits us, but because God has commanded it.

    • God's authority alone is sufficient reason for obedience.

  • God encourages repentance with the promise of salvation.

    • God not only commands repentance but also invites people to it by promising forgiveness and eternal life.

    • Tertullian emphasizes that God even swears by Himself to assure people that His promise is trustworthy.

  • Believers should take repentance seriously.

    • Since God has promised grace and salvation to those who repent, Christians should faithfully continue in repentance and enjoy its lasting benefits.

Sin Never to Be Returned to After Repentance.

  • Repentance should not be undone by returning to sin.

    • Once a person has repented and received God's grace, they should not continue in the same sinful lifestyle.

    • Repeatedly returning to sin cancels the purpose of genuine repentance.

  • Ignorance is no longer an excuse.

    • After coming to know God and His commands, a person is fully responsible for their actions.

    • Deliberate sin after knowing the truth is an act of stubborn rebellion.

  • Returning to sin shows a lack of fear of God.

    • If repentance began because of reverence for God, then choosing sin again demonstrates that this fear has been abandoned.

  • Returning to sin is ingratitude toward God.

    • God has given the gift of repentance and forgiveness.

    • To reject that gift by embracing sin again dishonors both the Giver and His grace.

  • Returning to sin is like returning to the devil.

    • Through repentance, a believer renounces Satan and submits to God.

    • Choosing sin again is portrayed as going back to serve God's enemy, giving the devil cause for celebration.

  • Faith cannot excuse sinful living.

    • Tertullian rejects the idea that inward faith is enough while outward actions remain sinful.

    • He argues that claiming to love God while deliberately continuing in sin is hypocrisy.

  • Hypocrisy destroys genuine repentance.

    • Those who excuse ongoing sin while claiming to fear God deceive themselves.

    • True repentance is faithful and is demonstrated by a changed life.

how to explain the doctrine to someone else.

Tertullian teaches that repentance is much more than feeling guilty. It's God's gift that allows sinners to return to Him. True repentance means recognizing all sin—including sinful thoughts—turning away from it because God commands us to, accepting His forgiveness, and then continuing to live a changed life instead of returning to our old sins.

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1: Understand the Doctrine.

2: Articulate the Doctrine in one sentence.

3: Avoid incomplete thinking.

Understand the doctrine

What is repentance?

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Repentance is God's gift that enables sinners to turn back to Him. It involves recognizing and confessing all sin—including sinful thoughts and desires—turning away from it, receiving God's forgiveness, and living a changed life.

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What should repentance actually be directed toward?

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Can someone fully understand repentance without knowing God's will?

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What's the difference between: regretting consequences, and repenting of sin?

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After Adam's fall, what could God have done instead of offering repentance?

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What was repentance preparing people for?

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Articulate the doctrine in one sentence

​​Repentance is a God-given turning away from sin and toward God, resulting in forgiveness and a transformed life.

Avoid incomplete thinking

Instead of approaching conversations with:

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Common misunderstandings Tertullian warns against:

  • ❌ Repentance is only feeling guilty.

  • ❌ Repentance is only saying "I'm sorry."

  • ❌ Only outward actions matter—thoughts don't.

  • ❌ You can knowingly continue in sin after repenting without consequence.

  • ❌ You should regret doing good when others are ungrateful.

The Complete Works of Tertullian (c. 155 - c. 240AD).

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