Lesson 6 - Question 5 of 38 

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Use of the Word "Faith" in the New Testament (continued):

Pistis and Pistos - Two Greek Words:


The New Testament Books were originally written in Greek or Aramaic.  The earliest manuscripts of the New Testament in existence today are in the Greek language.  If you were to go to these Greek manuscripts and look at the passages that have been translated into the English words "faith, faithfulness, etc.," you would find two principal Greek words:

1.  - Pistis - pronounced "pis'-tis"

Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words defines pistis (Greek word #4102) as:

  • "Firm Persuasion," a conviction based on hearing
  • It is used in the New Testament always of faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual.

Strong's Concordance defines pistis as:

  • Persuasion, i.e., credence;
  • Moral Conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation;
  • Abstract constancy in such profession;
  • By extensive...the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself.


2.  - Pistos - pronounced "pis-tos'"

Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words defines pistos (Greek word #4103) as:

  • A verbal adjective, is used in two senses:
     
    • In the passive tense:  "faithful, to be trusted, reliable"
    • In the active tense:  "signifying believing, trusting, relying"

Strong's Concordance defines pistos:

  • As an object - "Trustworthy"
  • As a subject - "Trustful"

Question:

Which of the following would best describe the word "faith" as used in the New Testament:

  1. Firm persuasion
  2. Moral conviction
  3. The system of religious truth

All of the Above None of the Above 3. Only


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