林后7章11节清楚地给出了悔改的定义,不过英文好象更达意一些.

7:8 我先前写信叫你们忧愁．我后来虽然懊悔、如今却不懊悔．因我知道那信叫你们忧愁、不过是暂时的。

7:9 如今我欢喜、不是因你们忧愁、是因你们从忧愁中生出懊悔来．你们依着　神的意思忧愁、凡事就不至于因我们受亏损了。

7:10 因为依着　神的意思忧愁、就生出没有后悔的懊悔来、以致得救．但世俗的忧愁、是叫人死。

7:11 你看、你们依着　神的意思忧愁、从此就生出何等的殷勤、自诉、自恨、恐惧、想念、热心、责罚．〔或作自责〕在这一切事上你们都表明自己是洁净的。

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.