Understanding ἄπιστος (apistos) Strong’s G571: The Greek Word That Reveals Faith’s Profound Impact on Belief and Trust

Pronunciation Guide: ah-PIS-tos (ἄ = ah, πι = pis, στος = tos)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G571: ἄπιστος (apistos) primarily denotes someone or something characterized by unbelief or unfaithfulness. As a compound word formed by the negative prefix ‘a-‘ and the root ‘pistos’ (faithful), it literally means “not faithful” or “without faith.” This word carries both the passive sense of “untrustworthy” and the active sense of “unbelieving.”

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Root Word: πίστις (pistis, faith)
• Compound Structure: ἀ- (negative prefix) + πιστός (faithful)
• Primary Usage: Narrative and teaching passages
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Literary Context: Predominantly found in didactic material and narrative accounts

ἄπιστος Morphology:

• ἄπιστος (nominative singular masculine/feminine) – unfaithful/unbelieving
• ἄπιστον (nominative/accusative singular neuter) – unfaithful thing
• ἀπίστου (genitive singular) – of the unbeliever
• ἀπίστῳ (dative singular) – to/for the unbeliever
• ἄπιστοι (nominative plural) – unbelievers
• ἀπίστους (accusative plural) – unbelievers (direct object)

Origin & History

The term ἄπιστος appears in classical Greek literature as early as the 5th century BCE, where it primarily meant “not to be trusted” or “incredible.” In Herodotus’ Histories, the word describes both untrustworthy individuals and unbelievable accounts. The Septuagint (LXX) uses ἄπιστος sparingly, most notably in Proverbs where it describes those who are unfaithful to wisdom’s calling.

The semantic range expanded in Hellenistic times, as evidenced in Polybius’ writings (2nd century BCE), where it began to incorporate more explicitly religious connotations of unbelief. This development set the stage for its New Testament usage, where it gained additional theological weight in describing those who reject the Messiah.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• One who does not believe or trust in the divine revelation
• Someone who is unfaithful or untrustworthy in relationships
• That which is incredible or seems impossible to believe
• One who lacks faith or conviction in spiritual matters

ἄπιστος Translation Options:

• “Unbelieving” – Best used when referring to one’s spiritual state or response to divine truth
• “Faithless” – Appropriate when emphasizing the absence of trust or loyalty
• “Unfaithful” – Optimal when describing relational breaches of trust
• “Incredible” – Suitable in contexts where something seems beyond belief
• “Untrusting” – Useful when highlighting the active choice to withhold trust

Biblical Usage

The New Testament employs ἄπιστος with particular theological significance, often contrasting those who believe in Messiah Jesus with those who do not. Its first appearance in Matthew 17:17 sets a powerful tone, where Jesus laments the “unbelieving” generation’s lack of faith.

The term takes on special importance in Paul’s writings, particularly in his Corinthian correspondence, where he addresses the relationship between believers and unbelievers. The word serves to demarcate not just religious belief but fundamental worldview orientations and lifestyle choices.

• “O unbelieving [ἄπιστος] and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” Matthew 17:17
• “If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever [ἄπιστος]” 1 Corinthians 7:12
• “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers [ἄπιστοις]” 2 Corinthians 6:14
• “But the unbelieving [ἀπίστοις] Jews stirred up the Gentiles” Acts 14:2
• “If therefore the whole church… and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers [ἄπιστοι]” 1 Corinthians 14:23

Cultural Insights

In the first-century Jewish context, ἄπιστος carried particularly weighty connotations due to the fundamental importance of faithfulness (אמונה, emunah) in Hebrew thought. Unlike Greek philosophical traditions that emphasized intellectual assent, Hebrew understanding of faith encompassed practical trust and loyal devotion to יהוה (Yahweh).

The term would have resonated deeply with Jewish audiences familiar with the concept of מְרִי (meri, rebelliousness) from the prophetic literature. This connection helps explain why ἄπιστος often appears alongside descriptions of stubbornness or hardness of heart in the New Testament.

Theological Significance

The use of ἄπιστος in the New Testament reveals a profound theological truth: unbelief is not merely passive doubt but an active stance of rejection toward God’s revelation. This understanding challenges the modern notion that unbelief is a neutral position. Instead, it represents a decisive response to divine truth.

When Jesus uses this term in Matthew 17:17, He highlights how unbelief grieves the heart of God. The juxtaposition of divine patience with human obstinacy creates a powerful picture of God’s long-suffering nature even amid His people’s resistance to trust Him fully.

The term’s usage in Paul’s letters, particularly regarding marriage and partnerships, demonstrates that belief versus unbelief represents fundamentally different orientations toward reality that affect every aspect of life and relationships.

Personal Application

Understanding ἄπιστος challenges us to examine the areas in our lives where we might be functioning as practical unbelievers, even while professing faith. It calls us to recognize that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative trust that shapes our entire approach to life and relationships.

The word reminds us that belief and unbelief are not static conditions but dynamic responses to God’s ongoing revelation. Each day presents new opportunities to choose trust over doubt, faithfulness over unfaithfulness, and belief over skepticism.

Related Words

• πιστός (pistos) – faithful, believing, trustworthy (pronunciation: pis-TOS) – Direct antonym emphasizing positive faith and reliability See G4103
• ἀπιστία (apistia) – unbelief, faithlessness (pronunciation: ah-pis-TEE-ah) – Noun form expressing the state or condition of unbelief See G570
• ὀλιγόπιστος (oligopistos) – of little faith (pronunciation: o-li-GO-pis-tos) – Compound term describing one with minimal faith See G3640
• διακρίνω (diakrino) – to doubt, waver (pronunciation: dee-ah-KREE-no) – Verb expressing the action of doubting or wavering in faith See G1252

Did you Know?

• The concept of ἄπιστος in ancient Greek theater was used to describe plot elements that were too incredible for the audience to believe, showing how the word bridged both religious and secular contexts in classical culture.
• In Byzantine Greek, ἄπιστος became a technical term for those outside the Christian faith, particularly Muslims, demonstrating how religious identity became increasingly tied to belief rather than ethnicity.
• Modern Greek still uses ἄπιστος in common speech, though it has largely lost its religious connotations and primarily means “unbelievable” or “incredible” in contemporary usage.

Remember This

ἄπιστος reminds us that unbelief is not merely the absence of faith but an active position that shapes our entire worldview and response to God’s truth.