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{{Short description|Greek theological term}}
{{Eastern Orthodox sidebar|expanded=theology}}
'''''Phronema''''' is a transliteration of the Greek word φρόνημα, which has the meanings of "mind", "spirit", "thought", "purpose", "will", and can have either a positive meaning ("high spirit", "resolution", "pride") or a bad sense ("presumption", "arrogance").<ref>[http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23112352 Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'': φρόνημα]</ref>

In the [[New Testament]], the word is used four times in [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul's]] [[Letter to the Romans]]: twice with "τῆς σαρκός" (of the flesh) and twice with "τοῦ πνεύματος" (of the spirit): "for the ''mind'' of the flesh [is] death, and the ''mind'' of the Spirit –  life and peace;  because the ''mind'' of the flesh [is] enmity to God [...] and He who is searching the hearts hath known what [is] the ''mind'' of the Spirit" (Romans 8:6-
27).<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|8:6-27|YLT}}</ref>

== Eastern Orthodox theology ==

The term ''phronema'' is used in [[Eastern Orthodox]] [[theology]] for one particular ''mindset'' or ''outlook'' –  the ''Eastern Orthodox mind''.<ref>The appeal to Tradition was actually an appeal to the mind of the Church, her phronema. It was a method to discover and ascertain the faith as it had been always held, from the very beginning: semper creditum. The permanence of Christian belief was the most conspicuous sign and token of its truth: no innovations [For further discussion of this topic see my articles: "The Function of Tradition in the Ancient Church," The Greek Orthodox Theological Review, IX (No. 2, 1964), 181-200, and "Scripture and Tradition: An Orthodox point of view," Dialog, II (No. 4, 1963), 288-293. Cf. also "Revelation and Interpretation," in: Biblical Authority for Today, edited by Alan Richardson and W. Schweitzer (London and Philadelphia, 1951), pp. 163-180]. On Church and Tradition. An Eastern Orthodox View by Archpriest George Florovsky (1893-1979) [http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/church_tradition_florovsky.htm]</ref> The attaining of ''phronema'' in this sense is a matter of practicing the correct faith (''orthodoxia'') in the correct manner (''orthopraxis''). Attaining ''phronema'' is regarded as the first step toward ''[[Theosis (Eastern Orthodox theology)|theosis]]'', the state of ''glorification''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acquiring an Orthodox Mindset: Introduction |url=http://orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=orthodoxinfo.com}}</ref>

''Phronema'' is also the name of the official annual review of [[St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College]], Sydney, Australia. It presents articles and book reviews from Orthodox and non-Orthodox on topics with central reference to theology, Church history and Orthodoxy.<ref>
[http://www.sagotc.edu.au/pdf/PhrXXIIIweb.pdf Phronema, volume 23, 2008]</ref>

== Use by John Henry Newman ==

The term was used by [[John Henry Newman]] in an article published in 1859 under the title "On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine". He said that the ''consensus'' of the faithful is to be regarded as "a sort of instinct, or ''phronēma'', deep in the bosom of the mystical body of Christ".<ref>[http://www.newmanreader.org/works/rambler/consulting.html John Henry Newman, ''On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine'' (Rambler, July 1859)]</ref>

== Use by Ernst Haeckel ==

The term was used by [[Ernst Haeckel]] in his book ''The Wonders of Life''<ref>[https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16420977W/Wonders_of_life_A_Popular_Study_of_Biological_Philosophy Ernst Haeckel, ''The Wonders of Life: A Popular Study of Biological Philosophy'' (London, 1904, Watts & Co.)]</ref> where (p.&nbsp;342) the phronema is the name given to a part of the cortex, as “the real organ of mind”.

== See also ==
*[[Hesychasm]]
*[[Praxis (Orthodox)]]
*[[Theoria]]
*[[Theosis (Eastern Orthodox theology)]]

;People
*[[Alexander Schmemann]]
*[[Georges Florovsky]]
*[[John Meyendorff]]
*[[Vladimir Lossky]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Greek Orthodox Christianity}}

[[Category:Eastern Orthodox theology]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Greek words and phrases]]