Understanding ἀπειθέω (apeitheo) Strong’s G544: The Greek Word That Reveals the Heart of Unbelief and Disobedience to God’s Truth

Pronunciation Guide: ah-pay-THEH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G544: ἀπειθέω is a compound verb that fundamentally means “to refuse to believe and obey.” It combines willful unbelief with disobedience, expressing active resistance to God’s truth and authority. This word powerfully conveys both an internal attitude of unbelief and its outward manifestation in disobedient behavior.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: ἀ- (negative prefix) + πείθω (to persuade, believe)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative and teaching passages
• Voice: Active and Passive
• Tense: Present, Imperfect, Aorist

ἀπειθέω Morphology:

• ἀπειθῶ (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I disobey/disbelieve
• ἀπειθεῖ (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it disobeys/disbelieves
• ἀπειθοῦντες (present active participle, nominative plural) – those who are disobeying/disbelieving
• ἀπειθήσας (aorist active participle, nominative singular) – having disobeyed/disbelieved
• ἀπειθοῦσιν (present active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they disobey/disbelieve

Origin & History

The term ἀπειθέω emerged from classical Greek literature where it primarily denoted refusal to be persuaded or convinced. Xenophon uses it in his “Memorabilia” (4.4.14) to describe those who refuse to be convinced by sound arguments. In the Septuagint, it takes on deeper theological significance, often translating Hebrew terms related to rebellion against God (מרה, סרר).

The early church fathers, particularly Clement of Alexandria in his “Stromata,” emphasized the compound nature of ἀπειθέω, noting how it represents both cognitive rejection of truth and behavioral opposition to divine authority. Origen, in his “Commentary on John,” explores how this term relates to the Jewish rejection of the Messiah.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Active resistance to divine truth and authority
• Willful unbelief manifesting in disobedience
• Persistent rebellion against God’s revealed will
• Refusal to be persuaded by divine evidence

ἀπειθέω Translation Options:

• “To refuse to believe” – Emphasizes the volitional aspect of unbelief
• “To disobey” – Highlights the behavioral manifestation
• “To rebel against” – Captures the active resistance component
• “To reject in unbelief” – Combines both cognitive and behavioral aspects
• “To remain unconvinced” – Emphasizes the persistent state of unbelief

Biblical Usage

The first appearance of ἀπειθέω in John 3:36 establishes a crucial theological connection between belief and obedience. Here, it contrasts those who believe in the Son with those who refuse to believe, showing that unbelief is not merely intellectual doubt but active resistance to God’s authority.

Throughout the New Testament, ἀπειθέω frequently appears in contexts describing opposition to the gospel message and resistance to God’s revealed truth. It often characterizes those who have heard the truth but willfully reject it, demonstrating that unbelief is a moral choice rather than merely an intellectual position.

Notable appearances include:

• “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not believe [ἀπειθῶν] the Son will not see life” John 3:36
• “But to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey [ἀπειθοῦσι] the truth” Romans 2:8
• “By which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient [ἀπειθήσασίν]” 1 Peter 3:19-20
• “For just as you once were disobedient [ἀπειθήσατε] to God” Romans 11:30
• “To those who are disobedient [ἀπειθοῦσιν], the stone which the builders rejected” 1 Peter 2:7

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish thought, the concept of hearing (שמע) was intrinsically linked with obedience. This understanding illuminates why ἀπειθέω combines both unbelief and disobedience. The Jewish mindset didn’t separate intellectual assent from practical obedience – they were two sides of the same coin.

The term gained particular significance in the context of first-century Judaism, where religious leaders claimed to believe in God while rejecting His Messiah. This paradox helped early believers understand that true faith necessarily includes submission to God’s authority, particularly as revealed in His Son.

Theological Significance

ἀπειθέω reveals the intrinsic connection between faith and obedience in biblical theology. It demonstrates that genuine belief always manifests in obedience, while unbelief inevitably leads to disobedience. This word challenges the modern notion that one can intellectually believe in God while living in persistent disobedience to His commands.

The use of ἀπειθέω in contexts relating to salvation emphasizes that saving faith involves more than mental assent – it requires submission to God’s authority. This understanding helps explain why the New Testament frequently connects belief with obedience and unbelief with rebellion.

Furthermore, the word highlights God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. While salvation is entirely God’s work, unbelief is portrayed as a willful choice for which humans are held accountable. This tension maintains both divine sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀπειθέω challenges us to examine whether our profession of faith manifests in obedience to God’s Word. It reminds us that true faith isn’t merely intellectual agreement with truth but a transformative trust that leads to obedient action.

This word also encourages believers to recognize that instances of disobedience in their lives may stem from areas of functional unbelief – places where they haven’t fully trusted God’s goodness and authority. This insight invites deeper faith and repentance rather than mere behavior modification.

Related Words

• πείθω (peitho) – to persuade, convince, trust – Forms the root of ἀπειθέω but with opposite meaning, showing the positive response to God’s truth See G3982
• ἀπιστία (apistia) – unbelief, unfaithfulness – Related concept focusing more on the state of unbelief rather than active disobedience See G570
• παρακοή (parakoe) – disobedience – Emphasizes the aspect of hearing wrongly or refusing to hear See G3876
• ἀνυπότακτος (anupotaktos) – insubordinate, unruly – Describes the character of one who refuses to submit to authority See G506

Did you Know?

• The concept of ἀπειθέω is so significant in biblical Greek that it appears in every major genre of New Testament literature – Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation – showing its fundamental importance to biblical theology.
• Modern Greek still uses forms of ἀπειθέω to describe civil disobedience or rebellion against authority, maintaining its core meaning of active resistance rather than passive unbelief.
• The compound structure of ἀπειθέω (ἀ + πείθω) follows a common pattern in Greek where adding the ἀ- prefix creates an opposite meaning, similar to how English uses “un-” or “dis-“. This linguistic feature helps emphasize the deliberate nature of unbelief.

Remember This

ἀπειθέω reminds us that unbelief is never merely intellectual – it is a moral choice that manifests in disobedience to God’s truth and authority.