The Greek noun dialogismos refers to inner deliberation or reasoning — the process of thinking something through. In the New Testament it carries a predominantly negative connotation: sinful inner reasoning, doubting, or contentious arguing. Jesus perceived the evil dialogismoi of his opponents' hearts (Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:8; Luke 5:22).
The New Testament presents dialogismos as one of the primary spiritual battlegrounds. Jesus rebukes the disciples' self-centered reasoning about greatness (Luke 9:46–47). Paul commands the Philippians to 'do all things without dialogismoi or grumbling' (Philippians 2:14). Romans 1:21 diagnoses humanity's foundational spiritual problem: 'they became futile in their dialogismoi and their foolish hearts were darkened.' The remedy is the gospel's renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2) and the casting down of every reasoning that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).