Brief Overview of πιστός (Strong’s G4103: pistos)

Strong’s G4103: From πείθω (peithō), πιστός describes someone or something that is trustworthy, faithful, or reliable. In New Testament usage, it primarily denotes both active faith (believing) and passive faithfulness (being believed in). The term carries significant theological weight in describing both God’s character and the expected character of believers.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πιστός emerges as a cornerstone term in New Testament theology, embodying both the quality of being trustworthy and the characteristic of having faith. Its primary meaning centers on reliability and faithfulness, while secondary meanings encompass belief and trust. The word carries profound theological significance as it describes both divine and human faithfulness. In early church usage, πιστός became a distinctive marker of Christian identity, often used to designate believers from non-believers. The term maintains its relevance today as it challenges believers to embody Christ-like faithfulness while trusting in God’s unwavering faithfulness to His promises.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πιστός, pistos, [pis-tos’]
• Pronunciation Guide: ‘pis’ as in ‘pistol’, ‘tos’ as in ‘toast’, with emphasis on first syllable
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• Root: πείθω (peithō) – to persuade, be convinced
• Suffix: -τος (-tos) – verbal adjective suffix indicating possibility or fitness
• Function: Forms an adjective expressing the quality of being worthy of trust or capable of believing

D – Defining Meanings

• Actively faithful, believing, trusting
• Passively trustworthy, reliable, faithful
• Credible, genuine, true

For compound words:
The verbal adjective suffix -τος transforms the root meaning of persuasion (πείθω) into a quality or state of being, indicating both active faith and passive trustworthiness.

Translation Options:

• Faithful – Best captures both active and passive aspects
• Trustworthy – Emphasizes passive reliability
• Believing – Highlights active faith aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πίστις (pistis) [pis’-tis] – faith, the noun form
• πιστεύω (pisteuō) [pis-tyoo’-o] – to believe, the verb form
• πιστικός (pistikos) [pis-tee-kos’] – genuine, pure

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As an adjective, πιστός follows these patterns:

• Gender: Masculine (-ος), Feminine (-η), Neuter (-ον)
• Number: Singular and Plural forms
• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Declension: First and Second

Example morphological changes:

• Masculine singular nominative: πιστός
• Feminine singular nominative: πιστή
• Neuter plural accusative: πιστά

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes πιστός’s dual nature of active believing and passive trustworthiness. Thayer’s highlights its connection to πείθω and its development from persuasion to trust. LSJ provides classical usage examples showing its evolution. Vine’s emphasizes its importance in Christian character description. Moulton and Milligan demonstrate its widespread use in papyri for commercial trustworthiness.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“Who then is the faithful [πιστός] and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?” (Matthew 24:45)

Additional References:
1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Timothy 2:13, Revelation 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, Hebrews 10:23

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πιστός embodies the beautiful reciprocal relationship between God and His people. It proclaims the good news that we serve a faithful God who keeps His promises, and through Christ, we are empowered to become faithful ourselves. This term bridges divine and human faithfulness, showing how God’s unchanging character transforms believers into people who reflect His trustworthiness.

D – Did You Know?

• Πιστός became an early Christian self-designation, appearing in ancient graffiti and tomb inscriptions
• The term appears in ancient business contracts, highlighting its significance in everyday Greek life
• Early church fathers used πιστός to distinguish genuine believers from mere hearers of the word

Strong’s G4103: Derived from πείθω, πιστός describes one who is trustworthy or faithful, expressing both active faith and passive reliability. In NT usage, it characterizes God’s unchanging faithfulness and the believer’s response of faith and faithfulness, forming a cornerstone of Christian theology and practice.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: #faithfulness #trust #belief #reliability #character #discipleship #promises #covenant #commitment #Christian-identity​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​