Heart
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
—in biblical language, the inward center of the person: thought, understanding, desire, will, conscience, courage, faith, and affection. The heart is not merely the seat of emotion contrasted with the mind. People reason in their hearts, form intentions there, and direct their lives from it (Prov. 4:23; Mark 2:6-8). Lydia’s heart was opened by the Lord to attend to Paul’s message, and faith is confessed as belief “with the heart” (Acts 16:14; Rom. 10:10).