The meaning of “πίστις”
Understanding pístis reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. - persuasion, i.e. credence - moral conviction (of religious truth, or the ...
πίστις
assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. - persuasion, i.e. credence - moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation - abstractly, constancy in such profession - by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 15:28 | “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Word: πίστις (pístis) | |
| Romans 4:14 | “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:” Word: πίστις (pístis) | |
| Ephesians 4:5 | “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Word: πίστις (pístis) | |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:11 | “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:” Word: πίστις (pístis) | |
| Philemon 1:6 | “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Word: πίστις (pístis) |
Usage Statistics
Theological Word Study: Faith
Old Testament Usage
Meaning: Faithfulness, trust
The Hebrew emunah (אֱמוּנָה) encompasses both faith and faithfulness—trusting God and being trustworthy. It implies steadfast reliability, as in 'The just shall live by his faith' (Habakkuk 2:4).
New Testament Usage
Meaning: Faith, belief, trust
The Greek pistis (πίστις) denotes faith, belief, or trust—confidence in God's character and promises. It's both intellectual assent and relational trust, central to justification (Romans 5:1).