Greek · G4102 · unreviewed

πίστις

Faith

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

πίστις G4102

Pronunciation pístis

What does πίστις (pístis) mean in the Bible?

πίστις (pístis) is a Greek word meaning "faith". πίστις, -εως, ἡ (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמוּנָה ;] __1. Faith is the exclusive means by which God’s righteousness is received. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Kingdom.

Full entry for πίστις (G4102) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

faith

Extended definition

Trust in God or Christ as the decisive principle of Christian life and salvation, not mere intellectual assent.

(πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמוּנָה ;]

1in active sense, faith, belief, trust, confidence, in NT always of religious faith in God or Christ or spiritual things: Mat.8:10, Luk.5:20, Act.14:9, Rom.1:8, 1Co.2:5, 2Co.1:24, 1Ti.1:5, al.; with genitive obj., Mrk.11:22, Act.3:16, Rom.3:22, Gal.2:16, Eph.3:12, Jas.2:1, al.; with prep., ἐν, Rom.3:25, Gal.3:26, Eph.1:15, Col.1:24, 1Ti.1:14 3:13, 2Ti.1:13 3:15, 2Pe.1:1; εἰς, Act.20:21 24:24 26:18, Col.2:5, 1Pe.1:21; πρός, 1Th.1:8, Phm 5; ἐπί, with accusative Heb.6:1; ἐν τῇ π. στήκειν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Co.16:13, 1Co.13:5, 1Ti.2:15; ὑπακοὴ τῆς π., Rom.1:5 16:26; ὁ ἐκ π., Rom.3:26 4:16, Gal.3:12; διὰ (τῆς) π., Rom.3:30, Gal.2:16, Php.3:9. By meton., objectively, that which is the object or content of belief, the faith: Act.6:7 14:22, Gal.1:23 3:23 6:10, Php.1:26, 27 Ju 3, 20, and perh. also Act.13:8 16:5, Rom.1:5 and 16:26 (see supr.), 1Co.16:13, Col.1:23, 2Th.3:2 (Lft., Notes, 125), 1Ti.1:19 3:9 4:1, 6 5:8 6:10, 12, 2Ti.3:8 4:7 Tit.1:4, 13 3:15, 1Pe.5:9.

2In passive sense,

afidelity, faithfulness: Mat.23:23, Gal.5:22; ἡ π. τοῦ θεοῦ, Rom.3:3;

bobjectively, plighted faith, a pledge of fidelity: 1Ti.5:12. (On the various shades of meaning in which the word is used in NT, see esp. ICC on Rom.1:17, pp. 31ff.; Lft., Ga., 154ff.; Stevens, Th. NT, 422, 515ff.; DB, i, 830ff.; Cremer, see word)

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Faith is the exclusive means by which God’s righteousness is received. 1 Timothy 1:18-20

Faith defines the Roman believers’ identity and produces public testimony. 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Actions must flow from trust and conviction before God. Acts 14:8-20

Faith is the means by which sinners receive justification. Acts 20:17-24

Faith is the means by which the promise is received and righteousness credited. Acts 6:1-7

Identifies the decisive response that secures kingdom blessing. James 2:14-17

Instrument of receiving salvation. James 2:14–17

Instrument through which salvation and restoration are received.

Represents trust in Christ’s sovereign authority.

Represents trust in Christ as the basis of salvation.

Defines trust in Christ’s sovereign identity.

Clarifies that genuine trust in Christ produces obedient action. Mounce lexical work is useful for clarifying pistis in context as active trust, not mere assent.

The healed man’s faith contrasts with the crowd’s misunderstanding.

Specifies reliance upon the Lord Jesus for salvation.

Obedience to the faith signifies conversion and allegiance to Christ.

Faith is both personal trust and doctrinal fidelity, central to surviving spiritual warfare.

Apostasy involves departure from both doctrinal truth and saving trust.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Matt 9:22 · Matt 15:28 · Mark 5:34 · Mark 10:52 · Luke 7:50 · Luke 8:25 · Luke 8:48 · Luke 17:19 · Luke 18:42 · Luke 22:32 · Acts 3:16 · Rom 1:8 · Rom 4:5 · Rom 4:9 · Rom 4:14 · Rom 10:17 36×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Acts 6:5 · Acts 11:24 · Acts 13:8 · Acts 14:27 · Acts 24:24 · Rom 1:5 · Rom 1:12 · Rom 1:17 · Rom 3:22 · Rom 3:25 · Rom 3:26 · Rom 3:27 · Rom 3:30 · Rom 3:31 · Rom 4:11 · Rom 4:12 93×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Acts 3:16 · Acts 6:7 · Acts 14:22 · Acts 15:9 · Acts 16:5 · Acts 26:18 · Rom 3:28 · Rom 4:19 · Rom 4:20 · Rom 5:2 · Rom 11:20 · Rom 14:1 · 1 Cor 16:13 · 2 Cor 1:24 · 2 Cor 8:7 · 2 Cor 13:5 58×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 8:10 · Matt 9:2 · Matt 9:29 · Matt 17:20 · Matt 21:21 · Matt 23:23 · Mark 2:5 · Mark 4:40 · Mark 11:22 · Luke 5:20 · Luke 7:9 · Luke 17:5 · Luke 17:6 · Luke 18:8 · Acts 14:9 · Acts 17:31 55×

Canonical Themes

Covenant Faith Kingdom Messiah Redemption Revelation

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 Timothy 1:18-20 faith pístis

Trust in Christ and fidelity to the apostolic message.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 faith pístis

The body of apostolic truth and trust in Christ.

Acts 14:8-20 Faith pístis Accusative · Singular · Feminine

Trust or confidence.

Acts 20:17-24 Faith pístis

Trust or reliance.

Acts 6:1-7 Faith pístis Genitive · Singular · Feminine

Trust or belief, often referring to commitment to the gospel.

James 2:14-17 πίστις pístis

faith, trust

Additional Occurrences

James 2:14–17 πίστις pístis

faith, trust, belief

Luke 17:1–10 πίστιν pístis

Faith

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way of Love Acts 13 — The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 20 — Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Acts 3 — The Risen Christ Heals and Calls Israel to Repentance Acts 6 — Word Ministry, Servant Leadership, and Stephen’s Faithful Witness Colossians 1 — The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation Ephesians 2 — Made Alive by Grace and Made One in Christ Ephesians 6 — Household Faithfulness and Standing Firm in the Armor of God Galatians 2 — Justified by Faith: Gospel Unity, Apostolic Confrontation, and Life in Christ Galatians 3 — Faith, Promise, and the Curse-Bearing Christ Galatians 5 — Stand Firm in Freedom: Faith Working Through Love and Life by the Spirit Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Luke 22 — The Passover Betrayal, the New Covenant Meal, and the Suffering Servant King Luke 5 — The Authority of Jesus to Call, Cleanse, Forgive, and Make New Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 2 — The Son of Man Has Authority: Forgiveness, Fellowship, and Lordship Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Philippians 1 — Gospel Partnership and Joyful Witness in Christ Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ Romans 1 — The Gospel Reveals the Righteousness of God and the Wrath of God Romans 10 — Christ the End of the Law and the Righteousness Received by Faith Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 16 — Gospel Partnership, Holy Greeting, False-Teacher Warning, and Doxology to the God Who Establishes Romans 3 — All Under Sin and the Righteousness of God Revealed Through Faith in Christ Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details