Lexical Summary apistos: Unbelieving, faithless, unfaithful Original Word: ἄπιστος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance faithless, unbelieving. From a (as a negative particle) and pistos; (actively) disbelieving, i.e. Without Christian faith (specially, a heathen); (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing) -- that believeth not, faithless, incredible thing, infidel, unbeliever(-ing). see GREEK a see GREEK pistos HELPS Word-studies 571 ápistos (from 1 /A "not" and 4103 /pistós, "faithful," see there) – properly, not faithful because unpersuaded, i.e. not convinced (persuaded by God). 571 /ápistos ("faithless, unpersuaded") does not always refer to the unconverted – see Jn 20:27. 571 (ápistos) describes someone who rejects or refuses God's inbirthings of faith (note the root, faith, 4102 /pístis). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and pistos Definition incredible, unbelieving NASB Translation incredible (1), unbeliever (4), unbelievers (7), unbelieving (10), unbelieving one (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 571: ἄπιστοςἄπιστος, ἄπιστον (πιστός) (from Homer down), without faith or trust; 1. unfaithful, faithless (not to be trusted, perfidious): Luke 12:46; Revelation 21:8. 2. incredible, of things: Acts 26:8; (Xenophon, Hiero 1, 9; syrup. 4, 49; Cyril 3, 1, 26; Plato, Phaedr. 245 c.; Josephus, Antiquities 6, 10, 2, etc.). 3. unbelieving, incredulous: of Thomas disbelieving the news of the resurrection of Jesus, John 20:27; of those who refuse belief in the gospel, 1 Corinthians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 7:12-15; 1 Corinthians 10:27; 1 Corinthians 14:22ff; (1 Timothy 5:8); with the added idea of impiety and wickedness, 2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14f of those among the Christians themselves who reject the true faith, Titus 1:15. without trust (in God), Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19; Luke 9:41. Strong’s Greek 571 characterizes persons or attitudes refusing to place trust in the living God and His revealed word. Its presence in narrative, didactic, and apocalyptic passages underscores that unbelief is not merely an intellectual position but a moral and spiritual posture that affects worship, relationships, and eternal destiny. Old Testament Background and Jewish Context Although the specific Greek term appears only in the New Testament, the concept echoes the Hebrew portrayal of “stubborn” or “hard-hearted” Israel (for example Numbers 14:11; Psalm 78:22). First-century Judaism viewed covenant loyalty as inseparable from faith in God’s promises; failure to believe was counted as covenant breach and invited discipline. Jesus’ Diagnosis of the Generation In the Synoptic accounts of the demon-possessed boy, Jesus cries out, “You unbelieving and perverse generation” (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19; Luke 9:41). Unbelief here is more than the disciples’ momentary lapse of power; it typifies a generation resistant to God’s redemptive work. The rebuke links unbelief with moral distortion (“perverse”) and sets the stage for the cross, where ultimate faith is demanded. From Doubt to Faith: Thomas as a Paradigm After the resurrection, Jesus confronts Thomas: “Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27). Thomas is not condemned for honest inquiry but is admonished to abandon settled unbelief when faced with incontrovertible evidence. The passage illustrates that the risen Christ graciously supplies proof, yet still requires personal trust. Acts: Apistos and the Resurrection Hope Paul asks Agrippa’s court, “Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). Here unbelief is exposed as a failure to reckon with God’s demonstrated power in Israel’s history. Resurrection is the litmus test dividing audiences; to reject it is to align with the “unbelieving.” Pauline Ethical and Ecclesial Instructions 1. Civil litigation: “Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!” (1 Corinthians 6:6). Unbelief becomes the watching world whose judgment must not be sought for intra-church disputes. 2. Table fellowship: “If an unbeliever invites you to a meal… eat anything set before you” (1 Corinthians 10:27). Evangelistic openness is balanced with conscience sensitivity. 3. Gifts in worship: “Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers” (1 Corinthians 14:22). Public intelligibility protects the witness when “unbelievers come in” (1 Corinthians 14:23–24). 4. Unequal yoking: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Partnerships that blend righteous and unrighteous goals are forbidden, guarding the church’s holiness. 5. Spiritual blindness: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Unbelief is attributed to satanic deception, highlighting the need for prayer and proclamation empowered by the Spirit. Household Realities and Mixed Marriages 1 Corinthians 7:12–15 teaches believers married to an unbelieving spouse to remain unless the unbeliever departs. “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife” (verse 14). The home thus becomes a mission field; covenant blessing flows through the believing partner without compromising the gospel. Pastoral Qualifications and Provision Failure to care for family members places a professing Christian “worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Practical charity is therefore an essential fruit of genuine faith, and neglect of it aligns one with the faithless. Moral Defilement and Doctrinal Corruption “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure” (Titus 1:15). Unbelief corrupts both mind and conscience, showing that doctrinal error and moral decay reinforce each other. Judgment and Eschatological Destiny Luke 12:46 warns that the unfaithful servant will be “assigned… a place with the unbelievers.” The final catalogue of Revelation 21:8 lists “the unbelieving” among those consigned to the lake of fire. Unbelief therefore culminates in eternal exclusion from God’s kingdom. Historical-Theological Reflections Early Christian apologists, facing Roman suspicion and Jewish objections, identified unbelief not simply as lack of information but as culpable suppression of truth. Post-apostolic fathers urged believers to maintain purity of life and doctrine lest they be classed among the “unbelieving.” Contemporary Ministry Applications • Evangelism: Recognize that unbelief involves spiritual blindness; prayer and clear gospel proclamation must accompany apologetic arguments. Summary Strong’s Greek 571 highlights a condition that resists God’s self-revelation, blinds the heart, distorts worship, fractures community, and, if unrepented, ends in eternal loss. Scripture’s recurring call—“Do not be unbelieving, but believe”—remains central for the church’s preaching, pastoral care, and personal holiness until Christ returns. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 17:17 Adj-VFSGRK: Ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος καὶ διεστραμμένη NAS: and said, You unbelieving and perverted KJV: and said, O faithless and perverse INT: O generation unbelieving and perverted Mark 9:19 Adj-VFS Luke 9:41 Adj-NFS Luke 12:46 Adj-GMP John 20:27 Adj-NMS Acts 26:8 Adj-AMS 1 Corinthians 6:6 Adj-GMP 1 Corinthians 7:12 Adj-AFS 1 Corinthians 7:13 Adj-AMS 1 Corinthians 7:14 Adj-NMS 1 Corinthians 7:14 Adj-NFS 1 Corinthians 7:15 Adj-NMS 1 Corinthians 10:27 Adj-GMP 1 Corinthians 14:22 Adj-DMP 1 Corinthians 14:22 Adj-DMP 1 Corinthians 14:23 Adj-NMP 1 Corinthians 14:24 Adj-NMS 2 Corinthians 4:4 Adj-GMP 2 Corinthians 6:14 Adj-DMP 2 Corinthians 6:15 Adj-GMS 1 Timothy 5:8 Adj-GMS Titus 1:15 Adj-DMP Revelation 21:8 Adj-DMP Strong's Greek 571 |
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