Biblical Concept: Peitho
Vocabulary: Peitho / pei,qw = to
persuade, to convince. Peitho is the root behind the
translations faith and believe.
Biblically, this verb is used with a diversity of moods and tenses and
situations. The NASB makes diverse
translations of peitho in the sentences to follow. Words have definitions but sentences have
meaning, and the diverse intent of the sentences contributes to the variety of
translations.
Findings:
Peitho is used in numerous contexts that focus on the human decision making
process.
Peitho, in a number of passages, describes the process of one human trying to
convince / persuade another human to become convinced about a particular point
of view.
Peitho, in a number of passages, is part of the description of life as a
Christian. Few passages describe the
salvation process itself. (Faith and
belief cover the salvation process.)
Peitho is translated confidence /
confident a notable number of times.
Being convinced leads to confidence.
Like faith and belief, peitho
(persuade, convince) observes that humans are volitional creatures. This is the purpose of humans, to make
volitional choices. Will humans: obey or
disobey, believe or not believe, be faithful or unfaithful, etc.
(The underlines of peitho translations are mine.)
NAS Matthew 27:20 But
the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for
Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death.
43 "He trusts
in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him; for He
said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
NAS Matthew 28:14
"And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him
over and keep you out of trouble."
NAS Luke 11:22 but when someone
stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his
armor on which he had relied, and distributes his plunder.
NAS Luke 16:31 "But
he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will
they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"
NAS Luke 18:9 And He
also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that
they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
NAS Luke 20:6 "But
if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced
that John was a prophet."
NAS Acts 5:36 "For
some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be
somebody; and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. And he was
slain; and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
37 "After this
man Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away some people
after him, he too perished, and all those who followed him were
scattered.
NAS Acts 5:40 And they took his advice; and after calling
the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the
name of Jesus, and then released
them.
NAS Acts 12:20 Now he
was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and
with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king's chamberlain, they were asking for peace,
because their country was fed by the king's country.
NAS Acts 13:43 Now when the
meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the
God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging
them to continue in the grace of God.
NAS Acts 14:19 But Jews
came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over
the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him
to be dead.
NAS Acts 17:4 And some
of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great
multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
NAS Acts 18:4 And he was
reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and
Greeks.
NAS Acts 19:8 And he
entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months,
reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
26 "And you see
and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded
and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with
hands are no gods at all.
NAS Acts 21:14 And since
he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of
the Lord be done!"
NAS Acts 23:21 "So
do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for
him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay
him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."
NAS Acts 26:26 "For
the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence,
since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for
this has not been done in a corner.
28 And Agrippa replied
to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a
Christian."
NAS Acts 27:11 But the
centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship,
than by what was being said by Paul.
NAS Acts 28:23 And when
they had set a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and
he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God, and
trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and
from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
24 And some were being
persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.
NAS Romans 2:8 but to
those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
19 and are confident
that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in
darkness,
NAS Romans 8:38 For I am
convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
NAS Romans 14:14 I know
and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself;
but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
NAS Romans 15:14 And
concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you
yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to
admonish one another.
NAS 2 Corinthians 1:9
indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should
not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;
NAS 2 Corinthians 2:3
And this is the very thing I wrote you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow
from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all,
that my joy would be the joy of you all.
NAS 2 Corinthians 5:11
Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made
manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
NAS 2 Corinthians 10:7
You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident
in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself,
that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
NAS Galatians 1:10 For
am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please
men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of
Christ.
NAS Galatians 5:7 You
were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
10 I have confidence
in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is
disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
NAS Philippians 1:6 For
I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in
you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
14 and that most of
the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far
more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
25 And convinced
of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress
and joy in the faith,
NAS Philippians 2:24 and
I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall be coming shortly.
NAS Philippians 3:3 for
we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory
in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,
4 although I myself
might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence
in the flesh, I far more:
NAS 2 Thessalonians 3:4
And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing
and will continue to do what we command.
NAS 2 Timothy 1:5 For I
am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your
grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in
you as well.
12 For this reason I
also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed
and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him
until that day.
NAS Philemon 1:21 Having
confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will
do even more than what I say.
NAS Hebrews 2:13 And
again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold,
I and the children whom God has given Me."
NAS Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved,
we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that
accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
NAS Hebrews 13:17 Obey
your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls,
as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with
grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us, for we
are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves
honorably in all things.
NAS James 3:3 Now if we
put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct
their entire body as well.
NAS 1 John 3:19 We shall
know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before
Him,