God bless you and happy New Year! I pray that you abound in health and peace in the upcoming year. In our last issue we looked at the question was there faith in the Old Testament? We also looked at the faith of Jesus Christ.
In this issue I'd like to look at the root word for faith. The Greek word peitho {pi'-tho}, Strong's number 3982, is where the noun (pistis) or faith comes from. Pistis is translated faith some 239 times among other words in the New Testament.
The word peitho means "to persuade, to induce one by words, to believe" according to Strong's. I would like to take a look at this word peitho so we can see the root meaning of the word translated faith.
The first occurrence of peitho is found in the gospel of Matthew. The scene here is Pilate sitting in the judgment seat asking the people who should he released? Jesus the Christ or Barabbas a notable criminal.
Matthew 27:19-20 19When he (Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.20But the chief priests and elders persuaded (peitho) the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
The word rendered persuaded is (peitho) in the text. In its first occurrence we see that the multitude was persuaded by the chief priest and elders to choose Barabbas and crucify Jesus.
Please note that the multitude was acted upon by a source outside of themselves. Here that source was the chief priest and elders. In other words the multitude did not persuade themselves. So the question on the floor is who did the persuading? The answer of course is the chief priest and the elders.
Matthew 28:1-4 1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
This record records the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The guards were stationed outside the tomb to make sure none of his disciples would come and steal away the body.
See Matthew 27:62-66
Matthew 28:11-14 11Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.14And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Again the word persuade is Greek word (peitho). The elders said that they would persuade the governor if word of Jesus got back to him. Who did the persuading? The soldiers? No they were acted on by the elders.
The next record I'd like to consider is one where some of the apostles were put in the common prison for speaking the word and healing the people. So what do you do when you are put in prison? A jail break, that's what.
Acts 5:19-20 19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
The apostles were taken to the council of the chief priest and Pharisees.
Acts 5:27-40 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
The word obeyed here is (peitho). The about 400 men were persuaded by Theudas. The about 400 did not persuade themselves.
37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
The word obeyed is the word (peitho). The much people referred to in this verse were persuaded by Judas of Galilee. The much people here did not persuade themselves.
38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
The word agreed here is the word (peitho). The council did not persuade themselves they were persuaded by Gamaliel. Could the meaning of this word be any clearer?
Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded (peitho) them to continue in the grace of God.
Persuaded (peitho) once again. Who persuaded many of the Jews and religious proselytes? Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
Who persuaded (peitho) the people? The Jews from Antioch and Iconium.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Who persuaded (peitho) the Jews and the Greeks? Paul, as he reasoned with them in the synagogue.
Acts 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Who persuaded (peitho) much people? Once again Paul is guilty.
Acts 21:12-14 12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.14And when he would not be persuaded, (peitho) we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
In this record we see that many people tried to persuade Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. However we also see the great law of free will working here when Paul refuses to listen not only to the People but also to the will of the Lord not to Jerusalem.
The word is clear when it speaks of the meaning of the word peitho. To have faith is to be persuaded from a source outside of oneself. This means that you cannot not have faith of yourself but you can receive faith from a source outside of yourself. This is exactly what Ephesians teaches.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Faith along with grace and salvation is a gift of God and it is not of or from ourselves.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
God is the author and distributer of faith it is a fruit of the spirt that God gives not a fruit of good works.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
To Be Continued … ÿ