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Unveiling the Word

Understanding key Greek words like ὀλιγόπιστος (oligopistos) is vital for interpreting New Testament texts and appreciating their theological nuances. This word, found in Matthew 6:30, is particularly significant because it directly addresses the issue of faith, or rather, the lack of it. Jesus often used oligopistos to describe His followers when they struggled with trusting God. The word captures an essential theme in Christian teaching: the importance of unwavering faith. By exploring the context and meaning of oligopistos, readers gain insight into the spiritual challenge of faith and reliance on God’s providence.

Necessary Information

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Greek Word: ὀλιγόπιστος (oligopistos), pronounced o-lee-GO-pis-tos.

Etymology: The word is a compound of oligos (ὀλίγος), meaning “little” or “small,” and pistis (πίστις), meaning “faith” or “trust.” Together, they form a term that literally means “little faith” or “small in faith.”

Part of Speech: Oligopistos is an adjective, used to describe a person or group as being deficient in faith or trust. It is often used to characterize someone whose faith is weak or who hesitates to fully trust in God’s provision.

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Defining Meanings

1. Of Little Faith: The primary meaning of oligopistos is “having little faith.” It is used by Jesus in the Gospels to call out His disciples or listeners for their lack of trust in God’s promises and care.

2. Doubtful or Hesitant in Faith: It also conveys the idea of being hesitant or wavering in one’s faith, especially in times of trial or uncertainty.

3. Spiritual Weakness: By extension, oligopistos can suggest a spiritual deficiency, not in belief, but in the strength of trust and reliance on God.

Exploring Similar Words

1. ἄπιστος (apistos) [pronunciation: AH-pis-tos]: This word means “unbelieving” or “faithless.” Unlike oligopistos, which refers to weak faith, apistos refers to a total lack of faith or disbelief.

2. πίστις (pistis) [pronunciation: PIS-tis]: Pistis means “faith” or “trust.” It is the opposite of oligopistos and reflects a firm and strong belief in God’s promises.

3. διάκρισις (diakrisis) [pronunciation: dee-AH-kree-sis]: This term means “doubt” or “wavering.” It is similar to oligopistos in the sense that both involve uncertainty, but diakrisis leans more toward internal struggle and doubt.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Case, Number, Gender: Oligopistos is an adjective and, like most Greek adjectives, it agrees with the noun it modifies in case, number, and gender. It can appear in the singular or plural, and can take different forms depending on whether it describes a masculine, feminine, or neuter noun.

Declension: As an adjective, oligopistos follows the first and second declension pattern in Greek grammar. Its forms change depending on the case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative) and gender of the noun it modifies.

Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.

Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexicon sources highlight the repeated use of oligopistos by Jesus, particularly in the Synoptic Gospels. The word underscores a theme of spiritual rebuke, often in a compassionate way, urging the hearers to deepen their trust in God. It appears in contexts where doubt about God’s provision, protection, or guidance is prevalent. For instance, in Matthew 6:30, Jesus uses oligopistos to challenge His disciples, reminding them of God’s care even for the “grass of the field.” This term calls for a response of greater reliance on God, especially in the face of anxiety or uncertainty about the future.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. Matthew 6:30: “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith [ὀλιγόπιστος]?”

2. Matthew 8:26: “And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith [ὀλιγόπιστος]?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”

3. Matthew 14:31: “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith [ὀλιγόπιστος], why did you doubt?’”

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work English text with the Greek word in parentheses

Septuagint Isaiah 7:9 “If you do not believe, you will not be established (ὀλιγόπιστος).”

Septuagint Psalm 106:24 “They despised the pleasant land, having no faith (ὀλιγόπιστος) in his promise.”

Noteworthy Summary

The Greek word ὀλιγόπιστος (oligopistos), found in Matthew 6:30 and other key New Testament passages, encapsulates Jesus’ call to trust God more fully. It reflects not the absence of faith, but the weakness or insufficiency of faith in moments of doubt or fear. Understanding this word enriches the reader’s perception of the challenges of faith and the importance of relying on God’s promises, especially when circumstances seem overwhelming.

Did You Know?

1. The word oligopistos is used exclusively by Jesus in the New Testament, often in moments where His disciples expressed fear or anxiety.

2. In classical Greek, oligos also carries the meaning of “few” or “small,” which helps explain the sense of a “small or insufficient faith” in the context of oligopistos.

3. Oligopistos appears mostly in the context of teachings about God’s provision, such as in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.