Lexical Summary apeitheó: Disobey, be disobedient, refuse to believe Original Word: ἀπειθέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to disbelieve, disobeyFrom apeithes; to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely) -- not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving. see GREEK apeithes HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 544 apeithéō – literally, refuse to be persuaded (by the Lord). See 543 (apeitheia). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apeithés Definition to disobey NASB Translation disbelieved (1), disobedient (10), do not obey (1), obey (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 544: ἀπειθέωἀπειθέω, ἀπειθῶ; imperfect ἠπείθουν; 1 aorist ἠπείθησα; "to be ἀπειθής (which see); not to allow oneself to be persuaded; not to comply with; a. to refuse or withhold belief (in Christ, in the gospel; opposed to πιστεύω): τῷ υἱῷ, John 3:36; τῷ λόγῳ, 1 Peter 2:8; 1 Peter 3:1; absolutely of those who reject the gospel, (R. V. to be disobedient; cf. b.): Acts 14:2; Acts 17:5 (Rec.); b. to refuse belief and obedience: with the dative of thing or of person, Romans 2:8 (τῇ ἀλήθεια); The verb ἀπειθέω expresses a settled refusal to be persuaded, an obstinate resistance that shows itself both as unbelief and as disobedience. In Scripture, trust in God and submission to His word are inseparable; therefore unbelief inevitably manifests itself in moral rebellion, whereas genuine faith demonstrates itself in obedience (compare Romans 1:5, though a different verb). ἀπειθέω highlights the relational breach that occurs when the Creator’s self-revelation is willfully rejected. Old Testament Backdrop Although ἀπειθέω appears only in the New Testament, its thought-world is rooted in Israel’s covenant story. The Septuagint often renders Hebrew terms for stubbornness or failure to heed (for example, מָרָה and לֹא שָׁמַע) with cognate forms, preparing the theological stage for the New Testament’s linkage of faith to obedience and unbelief to covenant breaking (see Deuteronomy 9:23; Psalm 78:22). Israel’s wilderness generation becomes the archetype of ἀπειθέω in Hebrews 3:18. New Testament Occurrences Gospel Witness John 3:36 uses the present participle ἀπειθῶν to set a stark antithesis: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever rejects the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” The verb underlines that unbelief is more than intellectual doubt; it is an active rejection that leaves a person under divine judgment. Apostolic Mission in Acts Acts 14:2 and 19:9 portray Jewish opposition to the gospel. “The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles” (Acts 14:2). Later, in Ephesus, “some became obstinate and refused to believe” (Acts 19:9). Luke thereby identifies ἀπειθέω as the principal obstacle the early missionaries faced—an obstinacy endangering not only their hearers but the entire mission field. Pauline Teaching Romans employs the verb seven times to weave a salvation-historical tapestry. Hebrews Hebrews 3:18 links ἀπειθήσασιν with failure to enter God’s rest, stressing that unbelief bars participation in the promised inheritance. In Hebrews 11:31 Rahab is contrasted with “those who were disobedient,” displaying how faith delivers while unbelief destroys. 1 Peter Peter employs the verb five times. Theological Significance 1. Unbelief as Moral Rebellion. ἀπειθέω unites mind and will: rejection of God’s truth issues in concrete resistance to His authority. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Evangelism must aim not only to inform but to persuade hearts, addressing the volitional core of unbelief. Historical Reflection Early church fathers saw ἀπειθέω fulfilled in both Jewish and pagan rejection of the gospel, yet they also cited Romans 11 to justify hope for Israel’s future restoration. Reformation commentators, stressing sola fide, used the verb to prove that justifying faith cannot be separated from a submissive spirit; antinomianism was labeled a subtle form of ἀπειθέω. Contemporary Relevance Modern skepticism mirrors the first-century pattern. Where culture rejects biblical authority, the church must answer with clear proclamation and holy living, trusting that the Spirit who once turned persecutors into apostles can still overcome ἀπειθέω today. Englishman's Concordance John 3:36 V-PPA-NMSGRK: ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ υἱῷ NAS: life; but he who does not obey the Son KJV: and he that believeth not the Son INT: he that moreover is not subject to the Son Acts 14:2 V-APA-NMP Acts 19:9 V-IIA-3P Romans 2:8 V-PPA-DMP Romans 10:21 V-PPA-AMS Romans 11:30 V-AIA-2P Romans 11:31 V-AIA-3P Romans 15:31 V-PPA-GMP Hebrews 3:18 V-APA-DMP Hebrews 11:31 V-APA-DMP 1 Peter 2:8 V-PPA-NMP 1 Peter 3:1 V-PIA-3P 1 Peter 3:20 V-APA-DMP 1 Peter 4:17 V-PPA-GMP Strong's Greek 544 |
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