570. apistia

Lexicon

apistia: Unbelief, faithlessness, lack of faith

Original Word: ἀπιστία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: apistia
Pronunciation: ah-pees-TEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-is-tee'-ah)
Definition: Unbelief, faithlessness, lack of faith
Meaning: unbelief, unfaithfulness, distrust.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

unbelief.

From apistos; faithlessness, i.e. (negatively) disbelief (lack of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience) -- unbelief.

see GREEK apistos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 570 apistía (the negated form of 4103 /pistós, "faithful") – properly, without (divine) persuasion, "no-faithfulness" (unfaithfulness); "want of faith" (betraying a trust)" (J. Thayer).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from apistos
Definition
unbelief
NASB Translation
unbelief (10), unbelieving (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 570: ἀπιστία

ἀπιστία, ἀπιστίας, ἡ (from ἄπιστος), want of faith and trust;

1. unfaithfulness, faithlessness (of persons betraying a trust): Romans 3:3 (cf. references under the word ἀπιστέω, 1).

2. want of faith, unbelief: shown in withholding belief in the divine power, Mark 16:14, or in the power and promises of God, Romans 4:20; Hebrews 3:19; in the divine mission of Jesus, Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:6; by opposition to the gospel, 1 Timothy 1:13; with the added notion of obstinacy, Romans 11:20, 23; Hebrews 3:12. contextually, weakness of faith: Matthew 17:20 (where L T Tr WH ὀλιγοπιστίαν); Mark 9:24. (In Greek writings from Hesiod and Herodotus down.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from ἄπιστος (apistos), meaning "unbelieving" or "faithless," which itself comes from the negative prefix ἀ- (a-, "not") and πίστις (pistis, "faith").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H539 • אָמַן (aman): Often translated as "believe" or "trust," this Hebrew root is the opposite of ἀπιστία, emphasizing faithfulness and reliability.
- H530 • אֱמוּנָה (emunah): Meaning "faithfulness" or "steadfastness," this term is related to the concept of faith and trust in God, contrasting with unbelief.
- H5230 • נָפַל (naphal): While not a direct equivalent, this term can be associated with falling away or failing, which can metaphorically relate to the consequences of unbelief.

Usage: In the New Testament, ἀπιστία is used to describe the condition of those who do not believe in the message of the Gospel or who doubt God's power and promises. It is often contrasted with faith (πίστις, pistis) and is seen as a hindrance to receiving God's blessings.

Context: The concept of ἀπιστία is significant in the New Testament, where it is often portrayed as a barrier to experiencing the fullness of God's work. This term appears in several key passages, illustrating the spiritual and practical implications of unbelief.

In Matthew 13:58, Jesus' inability to perform many miracles in His hometown is attributed to the people's ἀπιστία: "And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief." Here, unbelief is shown to limit the manifestation of divine power.

Mark 9:24 provides a poignant example of the struggle with ἀπιστία. A father seeking healing for his son cries out, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" This plea highlights the tension between faith and doubt, acknowledging human frailty while seeking divine assistance.

Romans 11:20-23 discusses the concept of ἀπιστία in the context of Israel's rejection of the Gospel. Paul warns Gentile believers not to be arrogant but to stand in faith, recognizing that Israel's unbelief led to their temporary exclusion, but they can be grafted back in if they do not persist in unbelief.

Hebrews 3:12 cautions believers against developing an "evil heart of unbelief" that leads them away from the living God. This passage underscores the danger of ἀπιστία as a spiritual condition that can harden hearts and prevent entry into God's rest.

Overall, ἀπιστία is depicted as a serious spiritual issue that can hinder one's relationship with God and obstruct the flow of His grace and power. The New Testament encourages believers to cultivate faith and trust in God, overcoming unbelief through reliance on His promises and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Forms and Transliterations

απιστια απιστία ἀπιστία ἀπιστίᾳ απιστιαν απιστίαν ἀπιστίαν απιστιας απιστίας ἀπιστίας apistia apistía apistíāi apistian apistían apistias apistías

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 13:58 N-AFS
GRK: διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν
NAS: there because of their unbelief.
KJV: because of their unbelief.
INT: because the unbelief of them

Mark 6:6 N-AFS
GRK: διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν Καὶ
NAS: And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around
KJV: because of their unbelief. And he went
INT: because of the unbelief of them And

Mark 9:24 N-DFS
GRK: μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ
NAS: I do believe; help my unbelief.
KJV: help thou mine unbelief.
INT: of me the unbelief

Mark 16:14 N-AFS
GRK: ὠνείδισεν τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν καὶ
NAS: [at the table]; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart,
KJV: them with their unbelief and
INT: rebuked the unbelief of them and

Romans 3:3 N-NFS
GRK: μὴ ἡ ἀπιστία αὐτῶν τὴν
NAS: did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify
KJV: shall their unbelief make the faith
INT: not the unbelief of them the

Romans 4:20 N-DFS
GRK: διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἀλλ' ἐνεδυναμώθη
NAS: he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong
KJV: of God through unbelief; but
INT: he doubted through unbelief but was strengthened

Romans 11:20 N-DFS
GRK: καλῶς τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἐξεκλάσθησαν σὺ
NAS: they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand
KJV: Well; because of unbelief they were broken off,
INT: Well by the unbelief they were broken out you

Romans 11:23 N-DFS
GRK: ἐπιμένωσιν τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἐνκεντρισθήσονται δυνατὸς
NAS: they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted
KJV: not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in:
INT: they continue in unbelief will be grafted in able

1 Timothy 1:13 N-DFS
GRK: ἐποίησα ἐν ἀπιστίᾳ
NAS: I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
KJV: [it] ignorantly in unbelief.
INT: I did [it] in unbelief

Hebrews 3:12 N-GFS
GRK: καρδία πονηρὰ ἀπιστίας ἐν τῷ
NAS: of you an evil, unbelieving heart
KJV: heart of unbelief, in
INT: a heart evil of unbelief in

Hebrews 3:19 N-AFS
GRK: εἰσελθεῖν δι' ἀπιστίαν
NAS: to enter because of unbelief.
KJV: enter in because of unbelief.
INT: to enter in on account of unbelief

Strong's Greek 570
11 Occurrences

ἀπιστίᾳ — 6 Occ.
ἀπιστίαν — 4 Occ.
ἀπιστίας — 1 Occ.