Repentance from what?

Repentance can be from diverse subjects

Repentance can mean a change of understanding (with the heart) from one subject toward another.

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What can "repentance" mean?:

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Repentance can be from a multitude of subjects, both evil and good. For example:

"REPENT [metanoeо́ 3340 in Greek] FROM this BADNESS (of) yours" (Acts 8:22).

"I will REPENT [metanoeо́ 3340 in Greek] concerning the EVIL (things) which I considered to do to them" (Jeremiah 18:8).

"I will REPENT [metanoeо́ 3340 in Greek] concerning the GOOD (things) which I spoke to do to them" (Jeremiah 18:10).

Repentance can be from sins

For example, it is written: 

"she-is not willing TO-REPENT FROM her SEXUAL-IMMORALITY" (Revelation 2:21). 

"they-did not REPENT FROM their MURDERS, nor FROM their SORCERER'S-POTIONS, nor FROM their SEXUAL-IMMORALITY, nor FROM their THEFTS" (Revelation 9:21).

For more information on why these can be considered sins:

Examples of sins in the new covenant:
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In a more implied manner, it is written: 

"I-should-mourn many (of) the (ones) HAVING-PREVIOUSLY-SINNED and not HAVING-REPENTED over the IMPURITY and SEXUAL-IMMORALITY and SENSUALITY which they-practiced" (2 Corinthians 12:21).

"If your brother MAY-SIN, rebuke him. And if HE-MAY-REPENT, forgive him" (Luke 17:3).

Repentance from sins can be expected from people in the church

Repentance from sins would have been expected by Paul for people in the church of God. 

"Paul" (2 Corinthians 1:1) wrote "(TO) THE CHURCH (OF) GOD being in Corinth, together-with all the holy (ones) being in all Achaia" (2 Corinthians 1:1), to them Paul wrote: "I-am-fearing that having-come, I-may somehow find YOU (to be) not such-as I-want" (2 Corinthians 12:20) "that I having-come again, my God should-humble me before YOU, and I-should-mourn many (of) the (ones) HAVING-PREVIOUSLY-SINNED and not HAVING-REPENTED over the IMPURITY and SEXUAL-IMMORALITY and SENSUALITY which they-practiced" (2 Corinthians 12:20-21). 

Paul also added 2 verses later: "I-have-said-before and I-am-saying-beforehand, as being-present the second (time) and being-absent now, (TO) THE (ONES) HAVING-PREVIOUSLY-SINNED AND (TO) all THE REST — that if I-come again I-will not spare (YOU), since YOU-are-seeking (a) proof (of) Christ speaking in me, Who is not weak toward YOU" (2 Corinthians 13:3).

Repentance from sins to respond to the good news? 

John the Baptist: 

John the Baptist proclaimed to REPENT, as it is written: "John the Baptist comes, proclaiming in the wilderness (of) Judea and saying, “REPENT, for the kingdom (of) the heavens has-drawn-near”." (Matthew 3:1-2). 

John the baptist specifically was "proclaiming (a) baptism (of) REPENTANCE for (the) forgiveness (of) SINS" (Mark 1:4). 

As a response the people came to him to be baptized "(while) confessing-out their SINS" (Mark 1:6, Matthew 3:6). 

It could be implied here that they needed to REPENT from their "SINS" (Mark 1:6, Matthew 3:6). 

John the Baptist told the people to also "produce FRUIT worthy (of) REPENTANCE" (Matthew 3:8) which would be GOOD fruit (instead of EVIL fruit), as he added: "Therefore every tree not producing GOOD FRUIT is-cut-down and thrown into (the) fire" (Matthew 3:10). 

Jesus: 

When proclaiming the good news, "Jesus began to-proclaim and say, “REPENT, for the kingdom (of) the heavens has-drawn-near”." (Matthew 4:17). 1 chapter earlier, John the Baptist proclaimed the same message, as it is written: "John the Baptist comes, proclaiming [...] and saying, “REPENT, for the kingdom (of) the heavens has-drawn-near”." (Matthew 3:1-2).

Jesus proclaimed: "Every tree not producing GOOD FRUIT is-cut-down and thrown into (the) fire" (Matthew 7:19). Several chapters earlier, John the Baptist proclaimed the same message, saying: "Therefore every tree not producing GOOD FRUIT is-cut-down and thrown into (the) fire" (Matthew 3:10). 

Jesus said: "I-have not come to-call righteous (ones) to REPENTANCE, but SINNING (ONES)" (Luke 5:32). Here those who are called to REPENTANCE are specifically the SINNING (ONES), which may imply that it was call of REPENTANCE from SINS specifically.

Jesus mentioned how the Ninevites repented at the proclamation of Jonah in contrast to people hearing His proclamation who would not have repented, saying: "Ninevite men will-rise-up at the judgment with this generation, and they-will-condemn it. Because THEY-REPENTED at the proclamation (of) Jonah, and behold — a greater (thing than) Jonah (is) here" (Matthew 12:41). It may be implied in the story of Jonah that the people may have repented from their evil ways specifically. Indeed, as a consequence of the "proclamation of Jonah" (Matthew 12:41), it is written that "they turned FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS" (Jonah 3:10). 

The people hearing the proclamation of Jonah would have REPENTED (FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS), and as a consequence TURN FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS.  

To REPENT and to TURN can be used in the same context, but they can also be described as distinct in the Bible. 

For more information on how to REPENT and to TURN can be described as distinct:

What can "repentance" mean?:

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Jesus ended His earthly ministry by telling His apostles "(that) REPENTANCE for (the) forgiveness (of) SINS is-proclaimed on (the basis of) His name" (Luke 24:47). This is similar to John the baptist earlier who was "proclaiming (a) baptism (of) REPENTANCE for (the) forgiveness (of) SINS" (Mark 1:4). 

Peter: 

Peter proclaimed to repent in relation to the forgiveness of sins specifically, as it is written: "Peter says to them, “REPENT, and let each (of) you be-baptized on (the basis of) the name (of) Jesus Christ for (the) forgiveness (of) your SINS" (Acts 2:38).

1 chapter later, the same "Peter" (Acts 3:12) proclaimed again to people to repent in relation to their sins being wiped out specifically, as he said: "REPENT and turn-back so-that your SINS (may) be-wiped-out" (Acts 3:19).

5 chapters later, after that someone sinned, the same "Peter" (Acts 8:20) told that person: "REPENT FROM THIS BADNESS (OF) YOURS" (Acts 8:22).

Paul: 

"Paul" (Acts 17:22) said that "God, (as to) the present (things), is-commanding people (that) everyone everywhere REPENT. BECAUSE He-set (a) day on which He-is-about TO-JUDGE the world IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Acts 17:30-31). 

The same "Paul" (Romans 1:1) indicated that this judgment in righteousness, which he linked to why people had to "REPENT" (Acts 17:30), will be according to their works, whether GOOD or BAD, as he wrote about the "RIGHTEOUS-JUDGMENT (of) God, Who will-give-back (to) each (one) ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS  — (to) the (ones) seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility in-accordance-with endurance (in) GOOD WORK, (He will-give-back) eternal life" (Romans 2:5-7) but "(He will-give-back) affliction and distress upon every soul (of) the person COMMITTING EVIL" (Romans 2:9). From this, it may be implied that people would need to REPENT FROM COMMITTING EVIL. 

"Paul" (Acts 26:1) said that he "was-declaring (to) the (ones) both in Damascus first and (in) Jerusalem, and (throughout) all the country (of) Judea, and (to) the Gentiles (that they should) REPENT and turn to God, doing works worthy (of) REPENTANCE" (Acts 26:20). 

The language used here for "doing works worthy (of) REPENTANCE" (Acts 26:20) is similar to what John the Baptist told the people when he said to them to "produce fruit worthy (of) REPENTANCE" (Matthew 3:8) which would be GOOD fruit (instead of EVIL fruit), as he added: "Therefore every tree not producing GOOD fruit is-cut-down and thrown into (the) fire" (Matthew 3:10). 

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