Strong's Lexicon pistis: Faith, belief, trust, confidence, fidelity Original Word: πίστις Word Origin: Derived from πείθω (peithō), meaning "to persuade" or "to be persuaded." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H530 (אֱמוּנָה, emunah): Often translated as "faithfulness" or "steadfastness," reflecting a similar concept of trust and reliability. - H539 (אָמַן, aman): Meaning "to confirm" or "to support," often used in the context of believing or trusting. Usage: In the New Testament, "pistis" primarily denotes a conviction or belief in the truth of something, often with the implication of trust and reliance. It is used to describe the faith that believers have in God and Jesus Christ, encompassing both intellectual assent and trustful commitment. "Pistis" is foundational to the Christian life, as it is through faith that believers are justified and live out their relationship with God. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, "pistis" was commonly associated with trustworthiness and reliability, both in personal relationships and in the context of civic duties. In the Jewish context, faith was deeply rooted in the covenant relationship with God, emphasizing trust in His promises and faithfulness. The New Testament writers, particularly Paul, expanded on this concept to articulate the believer's relationship with God through Christ, emphasizing faith as a response to God's grace. HELPS Word-studies 4102 pístis (from 3982/peithô, "persuade, be persuaded") – properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith. Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis ("faith") for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4). [4102 (pistis) in secular antiquity referred to a guarantee (warranty). In Scripture, faith is God's warranty, certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass (His way). Faith (4102/pistis) is also used collectively – of all the times God has revealed (given the persuasion of) His will, which includes the full revelation of Scripture (Jude 3). Indeed, God the Lord guarantees that all of this revelation will come to pass! Compare Mt 5:18 with 2 Tim 3:16.] 1. The root of 4102/pistis ("faith") is 3982/peithô ("to persuade, be persuaded") which supplies the core-meaning of faith ("divine persuasion"). It is God's warranty that guarantees the fulfillment of the revelation He births within the receptive believer (cf. 1 Jn 5:4 with Heb 11:1). Faith (4102/pistis) is always received from God, and never generated by us. Ro 12:3: "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (4102/pistis)" (NASU). Eph 2:8,9: " For by grace you have been saved through faith (4102/pistis); and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (NASU). Gal 5:22,23: "22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith (4102/pistis), 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." 2 Thes 1:11: "To this end (glorification) – indeed each time we pray about (peri) you for the purpose (hin) of our God counting you worthy of the call – even that He may fulfill (His) every good-pleasure that comes from (His) goodness and work of faith, in (His) ability." Reflection: Faith is only (exclusively) given to the redeemed. It is not a virtue that can be worked up by human effort. 2. Faith (4102/pistis) enables the believer to know God's preferred-will (cf. J. Calvin; see 2307/thelçma). Accordingly, faith (4102/pistis) and "God's preferred-will (2307/thelçma)" are directly connected in Scripture. 2 Ro 12:2,3: " And do not be conformed to this world, but betransformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will (2307/thelçma) of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (4102/pistis)" (NASU). 5 2 Cor 8:5,7: " And this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will (2307/thelçma) of God" (NASU). 7" But just as you abound in everything, in faith (4102/pistis) and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also" (NASU). Heb 10:36,38: "36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will (2307/thelçma) of God, you may receive what was promised" (NASU). " BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH(4102/pistis); AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM" (NASU). 1 Jn 5:4: "For whatever is born of God conquers the world; and this is the conquest that has conquered the world – our faith (4102/pistis)." 3. In sum, faith (4102/pistis) is a persuasion from God that we receive as He grants impulse ("divine spark"; cf. the Heb hiphil form of believe, *mn, in a later discussion). Faith is always the work of God and involves hearing His voice – whereby the believer lays hold of His preferred-will (cf. J. Calvin). 1 Hab 2:1: " I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak in (Heb b ) me" (NASU). Hab 2:4: "Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live in his faith" (= 4102/pistis, "faith from the Lord"). More on what faith is . . . and isn't
please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (NASU). Reflection: Nothing quite like this two-fold witness appears elsewhere in the Bible. These sweeping statements sober the heart and inspire the soul! The Lord offers to inbirth faith in each scene of life – so that each matters equally in eternity . . . no matter how insignificant they seem (Lk 16:10 with Lk 17:6 and 2 Pet 1:2). Key quotes"Faith always pre-supposes revelation" (W. H. Griffith Thomas, Genesis, 55). "Faith is always a response to a divine revelation" (W. H. Griffith Thomas, Hebrews, 143). "Faith . . . both in its initiation and every step of the way, is Spirit given . . . faith is God given" (W. Hendriksen, Galatians, 197). "Faith precedes works, and is not something merely deduced by reason of existing" (D. Edmond Hiebert, Thessalonians, 2 Thes 1:11). "Faith is always a gift of God" (L. Morris, John, p 520). "The basis of faith is God's revelation of Himself . . . Christianity came to be seen as a faith event" (O. Michel, Dictionary of New Testament Theology). "Faith is the divine response, wrought in man, by God" (from Berkof's Systematic Theology, representing the views of Barth and Brunner). "Faith always has the element of assurance, certainty and confidence . . . and evidential value substantiating the thing we hope for . . . with faith, there is no strain or tension; rather, it has the element of assurance and confidence in it . . . if there is strain or tension . . . trying to persuade yourself to keep from doubting, you can be quite sure that it is not faith . . . faith is not the law of mathematical probability, . . . faith is not natural . . .faith is spiritual, the gift of God . . . you cannot command faith at will, faith is always something that is given-inwrought by God; . . . therefore, if you want to be a man of faith, it will always be the result of becoming a certain type of person" (M. Lloyd Jones, Romans, Ro 4:18-25). "Faith is the divinely given conviction of things unseen" (Homer Kent Jr., Hebrews, 217, quoting Theological Dictionary of the NT vol 2, 476). "Faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible order" (F. F. Bruce, Hebrews, 279). "Faith is knowing what is His will toward us; therefore, we hold faith to be the knowledge of God's will toward us" (John Calvin, as quoted by R. McAfee Brown in Is Faith Obsolete?). "Right faith is a thing wrought in us by the Holy Spirit" (Wm. Tyndale). "We have made faith a condition of mind, when it is a divinely imparted grace of the heart . . . we can receive faith only as he gives it . . . you cannot manufacture faith, you can not work it up . . . you can believe a promise, and at the same time not have the faith to appropriate it . . . genuine, Scriptural faith is not our ability to ‘count it done,’ but is the deep consciousness divinely imparted to the heart of man that it is done, . . . it is the faith that only God can give . . . do not struggle in the power of the will . . . what a mistake to take our belief in God and call of faith . . . Christ, the living word, is our sufficiency . . . (Charles Price, The Real Faith, Logos/publications). Note: On the distinction between believing (belief), and faith in the Scriptures see Js 2:19; Jn 10:38; Ac 8:13, 26:27,28; Ro 14:2; 2 Thes 2:11; 1 Jn 4:1; also Jn 2:23, 7:31, 12:42 and 4102/pisteuô ("believe"). As in the Gospels, a person's believing (belief) is vital (cf. Heb 11:6). But a personal encounter with Christ (a true connection with Him and His Word) is always necessary for believing ("man's responsibility") to be transformed into faith (which is always and only God's word). See also Mt 8:10,13, 9:22,28,29, 15:28; Ac 20:21; Ro 9:32; Gal 3:9,22. SummaryBelief and faith are not exactly equivalent terms. When Jesus told people, "Your faith has made you well," faith was still His gift (Eph 2:8,9). Any gift however, once received, becomes the "possession" of the recipient. Faith however is always from God and is purely His work (2 Thes 1:11). Note: The Greek definite article is uniformly used in the expressions "your faith," "their faith" (which occur over 30 times in the Greek NT). This genitive construction with the article refers to "the principle of faith (operating in) you" – not "your faith" in the sense that faith is ever generated by the recipient. [The meaning of the definite article in this construction is "the principle of faith at work in you," "the operating-principle of faith in them," etc. For examples see: Mt 9:2,22,29; Lk 17:19; Phil 2:17; 2 Pet 1:5, etc.] Faith (4102/pistis) involves belief but it goes beyond human believing because it involves the personal revelation (inworking) of God. Faith is always God's work. Our believing has eternal meaning when it becomes "faith-believing" by the transforming grace of God. Reflection: Demons believe (and shudder) . . . but they do not have (experience) faith! Js 2:19: "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder" (NASU). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom peithó Definition faith, faithfulness NASB Translation faith (238), faithfulness (3), pledge (1), proof (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4102: πίστιςπίστις, πίστεως, ἡ (πείθω (which see)), from (Hesiod, Theognis, Pindar), Aeschylus, Herodotus down; the Sept. for אֱמוּנָה, several times for אֱמֶת and אֲמָנָה; faith; i. e.: 1. conviction of the truth of anything, belief (Plato, Polybius, Josephus, Plutarch; θαυμάσια καί μείζω πίστεως, Diodorus 1, 86); in the N. T. of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it: Hebrews 11:1 (where πίστις is called ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων); opposed to εἶδος, 2 Corinthians 5:7; joined with ἀγάπη and ἐλπίς, 1 Corinthians 13:13. a. when it relates to God, πίστις is "the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ": Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 13:7; πίστις ἐπί Θεόν, Hebrews 6:1; ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρός τόν Θεόν, by which ye turned to God, 1 Thessalonians 1:8; τήν πίστιν ὑμῶν καί ἐλπίδα εἰς Θεόν, directed unto God, 1 Peter 1:21; with a genitive of the object (faith in) (τῶν θεῶν, Euripides, Med. 414; τοῦ Θεοῦ, Josephus, contra Apion 2, 16, 5; cf. Grimm, Exgt. Hdbch. on Sap. vi., 17f, p. 132; (cf. Meyer on Romans 3:22; also Meyer, Ellicott, Lightfoot on Col. as below; Winer's Grammar, 186 (175))): ἡ πίστις τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτόν (Christ) ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Colossians 2:12; διά πίστεως, by the help of faith, Hebrews 11:33, 39; κατά πίστιν, equivalent to πιστεύοντες, Hebrews 11:13; πίστει, dative of means or of mode by faith or by believing, prompted, actuated, by faith, Hebrews 11:3f, 7-9, 17, 20-24, 27-29, 31; dative of cause, because of faith, Hebrews 11:5, 11, 30. b. in reference to Christ, it denotes "a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God" (on this see more at length in πιστεύω, 1 b. γ.); α. universally: with the genitive of the object (see above, in a.), Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, Romans 3:22; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 3:12; Ἰησοῦ, Revelation 14:12; Χρσιτου, Philippians 3:9; τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, Galatians 2:20; τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, James 2:1; μου (i. e. in Christ), Revelation 2:13 (certainly we must reject the interpretation, faith in God of which Jesus Christ is the author, advocated by Van Hengel, Ep. ad Romans 1, p. 314ff, and H. P. Berlage, Disquisitio de formulae Paulinae ψιτις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ signifieatione. Lugd. Bat. 1856); τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, Philippians 1:27; ἀληθείας, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, with prepositions: εἰς (toward (cf. εἰς, B. II. 2 a.)) τόν κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν, Acts 20:21; εἰς Χριστόν, Acts 24:24; Acts 26:18; ἡ εἰς Χριστόν πίστις ὑμῶν, Colossians 2:5; (πίστιν ἔχειν εἰς ἐμέ, Mark 9:42 Tr marginal reading); πρός τόν κύριον, Philemon 1:5 (L Tr WH εἰς) ((see πρός, L 1 c.; cf. Lightfoot at the passage); unless here we prefer to render πίστιν fidelity (see 2, below); cf. Meyer at the passage and Winer's Grammar, § 50, 2); ἐν πίστει τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, reposed in Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 3:13; 2 Timothy 3:15; τήν πίστιν ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, Colossians 1:4; ἡ κατά τινα (see κατά, II. 1 e.) πίστις ἐν τῷ κυρίῳ, Ephesians 1:15; ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ, Romans 3:25 (yet cf. Meyer). πίστις (cf. Winer's Grammar, 120 (114)) and ἡ πίστις simply: Luke 18:8; Acts 13:8; Acts 14:22, 27; Acts 15:9; Acts 17:31; Rom. ( c. universally, the religious belief of Christians; α. subjectively: Ephesians 4:13, where cf. Meyer; in the sense of a mere acknowledgment of divine things and of the claims of Christianity, James 2:14, 17f, 20, 22, 24, 26. β. objectively, the substance of Christian faith or what is believed by Christians: τῇ ἅπαξ παραδοθείσῃ ... πίστει Jude 1:3; ἡ ἁγιωτάτῃ ὑμῶν πίστις, Jude 1:20. There are some who think this meaning of the word is to be recognized also in 1 Timothy 1:4, 19; 1 Timothy 2:7; 1 Timothy 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:1, 6; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 6:10, 21 (cf. Pfleiderer, Paulinismus, p. 468 (English translation, ii., p. 200)); but Weiss (Biblical Theol. d. N. T. § 107 a. note) correctly objects, "πίστις is rather the form in which the truth (as the substance of right doctrine) is subjectively appropriated"; (cf. Meyer on Romans 1:5 (and Prof. Dwight's additional note); Ellicott on Galatians 1:23; Lightfoot on Galatians, p. 157). d. with the predominant idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same: Matthew 8:10; Matthew 15:28; Luke 7:9, 50; Luke 17:5; Hebrews 9:28; Lachmann's stereotyped edition; Hebrews 10:22; James 1:6; with a genitive of the subject: Matthew 9:2, 22, 29; Matthew 15:28; Mark 2:5; Mark 5:34; Mark 10:52; (Luke 5:20); 2. fidelity, faithfulness, i. e. the character of one who can be relied on: Matthew 23:23; Galatians 5:22; Philemon 1:5 (? see above in b. α.); Titus 2:10. of one who keeps his promises: ἡ πίστις τοῦ Θεοῦ, subjunctive genitive, Romans 3:3. objectively, plighted faith (often so in Attic writings from Aeschylus down): ἀθετεῖν (see ἀθετέω, a.) τήν πίστιν, 1 Timothy 5:12. Cf. especially Koolhaas, Diss. philol. I. et II.de ratio usu et constructione vocum πίστις, πιστόςet πιστεύειν in N. T. (Traj. ad Rhen. 1733, 4to.); Dav. Schulz, Was heisst Glauben, etc. (Leipz. 1830), p. 62ff; Rückert, Com. üb. d. Röm., 2nd edition, i., p. 51ff; Lutz, Biblical Dogmatik, p. 312ff; Huther, Ueber ζωή u. πιστεύειν im N. T., in the Jahrbb. f. deutsch. Theol. for 1872, pp. 1-33; (Lightfoot's Commentary on Galatians, p. 154ff). On Paul's conception of πίστις, cf. Lipsius, Paulin. Rechtfertigungslehre, p. 94ff; Weiss, Biblical Theol. d. N. T., § 82 c. d. (cf. the index under the word Glaube); Pfleiderer, Paulinismus, p. 162ff (English translation, i., p. 161ff; Schnedermann, De fidel notione ethica Paulina. (Lipsius 1880)). On the idea of faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews see Riehm, Lehrbegr. des Hebrew-Br., p. 700ff; Weiss, as above § 125 b. c. On John's conception, see Reuss, die Johann. Theol. § 10 in the Beiträge zu d. theol. Wissensch. i., p. 56ff (cf. his Histoire de la Theol. Chretienne, etc., 3me edition, ii., p. 508ff (English translation, ii. 455ff)); Weiss, as above § 149, and the same author's Johann. Lehrbegriff, p. 18ff From peitho; persuasion, i.e. Credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself -- assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. see GREEK peitho Englishman's Concordance Matthew 8:10 N-AFSGRK: οὐδενὶ τοσαύτην πίστιν ἐν τῷ NAS: such great faith with anyone KJV: found so great faith, no, not in INT: no one so great faith in Matthew 9:2 N-AFS Matthew 9:22 N-NFS Matthew 9:29 N-AFS Matthew 15:28 N-NFS Matthew 17:20 N-AFS Matthew 21:21 N-AFS Matthew 23:23 N-AFS Mark 2:5 N-AFS Mark 4:40 N-AFS Mark 5:34 N-NFS Mark 10:52 N-NFS Mark 11:22 N-AFS Luke 5:20 N-AFS Luke 7:9 N-AFS Luke 7:50 N-NFS Luke 8:25 N-NFS Luke 8:48 N-NFS Luke 17:5 N-AFS Luke 17:6 N-AFS Luke 17:19 N-NFS Luke 18:8 N-AFS Luke 18:42 N-NFS Luke 22:32 N-NFS Acts 3:16 N-DFS Strong's Greek 4102 |
|
