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,

 

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