suneidesis is a person’s moral awareness, able to be clear or defiled, to testify, and to be affected by conduct toward others.

The term most often denotes a person’s moral awareness as good, clean, clear, weak, wounded, defiled, or in need of cleansing; it also appears as an inner witness or point of judgment, especially in conduct affecting others and in disputes over food associated with idols.

1. Moral condition in conduct before God and others · dominant

   The singular forms describe moral awareness as a condition connected with conduct: in Acts 24:16 the APB renders a resolve to have a “clear conscience before God and man,” while 1 Timothy 1:5 joins a “good conscience” with a clean heart and genuine faith. In 1 Peter 3:16, having a good conscience accompanies good behavior, and Hebrews 13:18 connects a clear conscience with desiring to act honorably.

   Acts 24:161 Timothy 1:51 Peter 3:16Hebrews 13:18Acts 23:12 Timothy 1:3
2. Inner witness and moral evaluation · common

   In Romans 2:15, the genitive singular occurs where conscience testifies alongside thoughts that accuse or defend. Romans 9:1 likewise presents it as bearing witness, while 2 Corinthians 4:2 places the singular accusative in an appeal to every human conscience before God.

   Romans 2:15Romans 9:12 Corinthians 1:122 Corinthians 4:22 Corinthians 5:11
3. Sensitivity affected by another’s food choice · common

   In the idol-food discussion, the nominative singular is described as weak and defiled in 1 Corinthians 8:7, and as liable to be wounded in 1 Corinthians 8:12. The accusative and genitive forms in 1 Corinthians 10:28 and 1 Corinthians 10:29 distinguish the other person’s conscience from one’s own when deciding whether to eat.

   1 Corinthians 8:71 Corinthians 8:101 Corinthians 8:121 Corinthians 10:251 Corinthians 10:281 Corinthians 10:29
4. Defilement, cleansing, and awareness of sins · occasional

   The singular accusative is the thing that sacrifices could not clear in Hebrews 9:9 and that is cleansed from dead works in Hebrews 9:14. Hebrews 10:2 speaks of “consciousness of sins,” while Hebrews 10:22 and Titus 1:15 contrast an evil or defiled moral awareness with cleansing and purity.

   Hebrews 9:9Hebrews 9:14Hebrews 10:2Hebrews 10:22Titus 1:151 Timothy 4:2

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB usually uses “conscience,” including descriptions such as good, clean, clear, weak, wounded, defiled, and seared. In Hebrews 10:2 it instead renders the clause “consciousness of sins”; These English expressions identify the verse context rather than establish separate lexical meanings.