Brief Overview of πίστις (Strong’s G4102: pistis)
Strong’s G4102: A noun meaning “faith,” encompassing trust, confidence, and faithfulness. Central to New Testament theology, representing both human response to God’s revelation and the content of Christian belief. More than intellectual assent, includes active trust and faithful obedience.
U- Unveiling the Word
Πίστις (pistis) represents the foundational concept of faith in New Testament theology. It combines trust, belief, and faithfulness in a comprehensive relationship with God. Unlike modern concepts of faith as mere belief, πίστις involves active trust and commitment. The early church understood it as both the act of believing and the content of belief. Today, it continues to express the full-orbed nature of Christian faith as trust, conviction, and faithful response to God’s revelation in Christ.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: πίστις, pistis, pis’-tis
- Detailed pronunciation: pis (as in “piss”) + tis (as in “this”)
- Part of Speech: Noun
Etymology:
From πείθω (peithō), “to persuade”
Derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰ- meaning “to trust”
D – Defining Meanings
- Faith
- Trust
- Faithfulness
- Belief
- Conviction
Translation Options:
- Faith – traditional but may miss full meaning
- Trust-faithfulness – captures dual aspect
- Believing loyalty – emphasizes active response
E – Exploring Similar Words
- πεποίθησις (pepoithēsis) [pep-oy’-thay-sis] – confidence
- ἐλπίς (elpis) [el-pece’] – hope
- πιστότης (pistotēs) [pis-tot’-ace] – faithfulness
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
Noun Features:
- Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
- Number: Singular, Plural
- Gender: Feminine
- Third Declension
Example forms:
Nominative: πίστις
Genitive: πίστεως
Dative: πίστει
Cross-references:
- Verb: πιστεύω (believe)
- Adjective: πιστός (faithful)
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes its comprehensive meaning. Thayer’s notes both active and passive aspects. LSJ documents pre-Christian usage. Vine’s connects it to covenant faithfulness. Strong’s highlights persuasion aspect. Moulton and Milligan note its use in relationships of trust.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
“When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith [πίστις].'” (Matthew 8:10)
Additional References:
Romans 1:17
Romans 3:22-28
Galatians 2:16
Ephesians 2:8
Hebrews 11:1-6
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Plato: Republic | “Justice requires faithfulness [πίστις] to commitments.” |
| Aristotle: Ethics | “Trust [πίστις] forms the foundation of friendship.” |
| Demosthenes: Orations | “The oath depends on mutual faith [πίστις].” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
Πίστις powerfully expresses the comprehensive nature of Christian response to God. The good news of King Jesus calls for more than mental assent; it demands trust, commitment, and faithful obedience. This word reminds us that true faith transforms both belief and behavior.
D – Did You Know?
- Used in ancient legal documents for trustworthy relationships.
- Central term in early Christian creeds.
- Influenced development of covenant theology.
Strong’s G4102: A noun expressing comprehensive faith-trust-faithfulness relationship with God. Foundational to New Testament soteriology, describing both the act of believing and the content of belief, including trust and faithful response.
Part of speech: Noun
Tags: #faith #trust #belief #faithfulness #salvation #commitment #doctrine #NewTestament #BiblicalGreek #Theology #covenant
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
