林後7章11節清楚地給出了悔改的定義,不過英文好象更達意一些.

7:8 我先前寫信叫你們憂愁．我後來雖然懊悔、如今卻不懊悔．因我知道那信叫你們憂愁、不過是暫時的。

7:9 如今我歡喜、不是因你們憂愁、是因你們從憂愁中生出懊悔來．你們依着　神的意思憂愁、凡事就不至於因我們受虧損了。

7:10 因為依着　神的意思憂愁、就生出沒有後悔的懊悔來、以致得救．但世俗的憂愁、是叫人死。

7:11 你看、你們依着　神的意思憂愁、從此就生出何等的殷勤、自訴、自恨、恐懼、想念、熱心、責罰．〔或作自責〕在這一切事上你們都表明自己是潔淨的。

7:11 For you see what care was produced in you by this very sorrow of yours before God, what clearing of yourselves, what wrath against sin, what fear, what desire, what serious purpose, what punishment. In everything you have made it clear that you are free from sin in this business.

7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.