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Word Studies

pistis (G4102) -- Faith

Original: pistis (feminine noun) Transliteration: pístis Definition: From peithō (G3982); persuasion, credence; moral conviction of religious truth, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; constancy in such profession Occurrences: 222 in NT (244 per BLB count)

Translations

  • "faith" -- 153 (68.9%) -- the dominant translation
  • "of faith" -- 22 (9.9%)
  • "By faith" -- 15 (6.8%) -- especially in Hebrews 11
  • "the faith" -- 10 (4.5%)
  • Also: assurance (1), belief (1), fidelity (1)

Key Verses for This Study

  • Rom 1:5 -- "obedience to the faith" (pistis linked with obedience)
  • Rom 3:22,25,26,27,28,30,31 -- faith as the instrument of justification that "establishes" the law
  • Rom 4:5,9,11-14,16,19 -- Abraham's faith counted as righteousness
  • Rom 16:26 -- "obedience of faith" (pistis as bookend of Romans)
  • Gal 2:16,20; 3:2,7-9,11,14,22-26; 5:5,6 -- faith vs. works of the law
  • Eph 2:8 -- saved by grace through faith
  • Heb 11:1-39 -- faith exemplified in obedient action (15 uses of "by faith")
  • Jas 2:1,5,14,17,20,22,24,26 -- faith working with works
  • Rev 14:12 -- "the faith of Jesus" paired with commandment-keeping

Semantic Range

The word covers a spectrum from intellectual assent ("believe that") to relational trust ("believe in") to faithfulness/fidelity. In the NT, pistis predominantly refers to trust in God/Christ that issues in a transformed life. Note: it is NEVER presented as mere intellectual assent alone (Jas 2:19 -- demons "believe" but lack saving faith).

charis (G5485) -- Grace

Original: charis (feminine noun) Transliteration: cháris Definition: From chairō (G5463); graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act; the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life Occurrences: 146 in NT (156 per BLB count)

Translations

  • "grace" -- 82 (56.2%) -- the dominant translation
  • "Grace" -- 21 (14.4%) -- in epistolary greetings
  • "favour" -- 5 (3.4%)
  • "thank/thanks" -- 7 (4.8%)
  • Also: liberality (1), benefit (1), gift (1), joy (1), thankworthy (1), acceptable (1)

Key Verses for This Study

  • Rom 1:5 -- "grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith"
  • Rom 3:24 -- "justified freely by his grace"
  • Rom 4:4,16 -- grace vs. debt; "of faith, that it might be by grace"
  • Rom 5:2,15,17,20 -- "access by faith into this grace"; grace abounding
  • Rom 6:1,14,17 -- "shall we sin that grace may abound? God forbid"; "not under law but under grace"
  • Rom 11:5,6 -- grace and works mutually exclusive as ground of election
  • Eph 2:5,7,8 -- "by grace are ye saved through faith"
  • Tit 2:11 -- "the grace of God that bringeth salvation...Teaching us"
  • Tit 3:7 -- "justified by his grace"

Semantic Range

Charis covers unmerited divine favor, the gift of salvation, the empowering presence of God, and even the thankful response to that favor. Critically for this study, grace is not merely forensic (declaring righteous) but also transformative (teaching godliness -- Tit 2:12).

ergon (G2041) -- Work/Deed

Original: ergon (neuter noun) Transliteration: érgon Definition: From ergō (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); an act, a deed Occurrences: 126 in NT (176 per BLB count)

Translations

  • "works" -- 60 (47.6%)
  • "work" -- 32 (25.4%)
  • "deeds" -- 7 (5.6%)
  • "deed" -- 4 (3.2%)

Key Verses for This Study

  • Rom 3:20,27,28 -- "by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified"; "law of works"
  • Rom 4:2,6 -- Abraham not justified by works before God; righteousness without works
  • Rom 9:32 -- Israel sought righteousness by works of law, not by faith
  • Gal 2:16; 3:2,5,10 -- "not justified by works of the law"; "works of the law or hearing of faith?"
  • Eph 2:9 -- "not of works, lest any man should boast"
  • Eph 2:10 -- "created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works" (works as purpose, not ground)
  • Tit 3:5 -- "not by works of righteousness which we have done"
  • Tit 3:8 -- "be careful to maintain good works"
  • Jas 2:14,17,18,20-26 -- "faith without works is dead"; faith and works cooperate

Critical Distinction

"Works of the law" (erga nomou) as the GROUND of justification is consistently rejected (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:9; Tit 3:5). Yet "good works" (erga agatha) as the FRUIT/PURPOSE of salvation are consistently required (Eph 2:10; Tit 2:14; 3:8; Jas 2:14-26). The same word ergon serves both constructions -- context determines meaning.

nomos (G3551) -- Law

Original: nomos (masculine noun) Transliteration: nómos Definition: From nemō (to parcel out); law, regulation, principle; includes both Mosaic law and broader moral/divine law Occurrences: 169 in NT (197 per BLB count)

Translations

  • "law" -- 95 (56.2%)
  • "the law" -- 49 (29.0%)
  • "of the law" -- 14 (8.3%)

Key Verses for This Study

  • Rom 3:19-21,27,28,31 -- law brings knowledge of sin; faith establishes the law
  • Rom 7:7,12,14 -- law is holy, just, good, spiritual
  • Rom 8:2,3,4,7 -- law of Spirit vs. law of sin; righteousness of law fulfilled
  • Rom 13:8,10 -- love is the fulfilling of the law
  • Gal 2:16,19,21; 3:10-13,17-19,21,23,24; 5:3,4,14,18,23 -- law's role vs. faith
  • 1Ti 1:8,9 -- "the law is good, if a man use it lawfully"
  • Jas 1:25; 2:8,10,12 -- "royal law"; "law of liberty"; keep whole law

Multiple Senses

Paul uses nomos in multiple senses: (1) the Mosaic Torah as a whole system; (2) the moral law/commandments; (3) a principle or rule ("law of faith," "law of sin"); (4) the Pentateuch as Scripture. The distinction between these senses is essential to avoid contradiction.

hupakoe (G5218) -- Obedience

Original: hupakoe (feminine noun) Transliteration: hupakŏē Definition: From hupakouō (G5219); attentive hearkening, compliance, submission Occurrences: 15 in NT

Translations

  • "obedience" -- 8 (53.3%)
  • "obedient" -- 2 (13.3%)
  • "the obedience" -- 2 (13.3%)
  • Also: obey (1), of obedience (1), obeying (1)

All Key Verses

  • Rom 1:5 -- "obedience to the faith" (bookend #1)
  • Rom 5:19 -- "by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Christ's obedience)
  • Rom 6:16 -- "servants to obey...whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness"
  • Rom 15:18 -- "to make the Gentiles obedient"
  • Rom 16:19 -- "your obedience is come abroad unto all men"
  • Rom 16:26 -- "obedience of faith" (bookend #2)
  • 2 Cor 7:15 -- "the obedience of you all"
  • 2 Cor 10:5 -- "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"
  • 2 Cor 10:6 -- "readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled"
  • Phm 1:21 -- "having confidence in thy obedience"
  • Heb 5:8 -- "yet learned he obedience" (Christ's obedience)
  • 1 Pet 1:2 -- "sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience"
  • 1 Pet 1:14 -- "as obedient children"
  • 1 Pet 1:22 -- "in obeying the truth through the Spirit"

The "Obedience of Faith" Phrase

The phrase hupakoe pisteos (Rom 1:5; 16:26) forms the theological bookends of Romans. The genitive can be: (a) obedience that consists in faith, (b) obedience that springs from faith, or (c) obedience to the faith/gospel. All three readings are grammatically possible; context supports a combination of (a) and (b).

hupakouo (G5219) -- To Obey

Original: hupakouo (verb) Transliteration: hupakŏuō Definition: From hupo (under) + akouō (to hear); to hear under (as a subordinate), to listen attentively, to heed, to obey Occurrences: 21 in NT

Key Verses

  • Rom 6:16,17 -- servants obey; "ye have obeyed from the heart"
  • Rom 10:16 -- "they have not all obeyed the gospel"
  • Php 2:12 -- "as ye have always obeyed"
  • Heb 5:9 -- "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him"
  • Heb 11:8 -- "By faith Abraham...obeyed" (faith and obey in same sentence)
  • 2Th 1:8 -- "them that obey not the gospel"

Etymology Note

Literally "to hear under" -- hearing from a position of subordination. This connects belief (hearing the gospel) with obedience (responding to what is heard). In Heb 11:8, Abraham's faith and obedience are simultaneous: "By faith...obeyed."

hupotasso (G5293) -- To Submit/Subject

Original: hupotasso (verb) Transliteration: hupŏtassō Definition: From hupo + tassō (to arrange); to subordinate, to obey, to submit Occurrences: 47 in NT (40 per BLB)

Key Verse for This Study

  • Rom 8:7 -- "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be"
  • Rom 10:3 -- "have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God"
  • Jas 4:7 -- "Submit yourselves therefore to God"

dikaiosis (G1347) -- Justification

Original: dikaiosis (feminine noun) Transliteration: dikaíōsis Definition: From dikaioō; acquittal (for Christ's sake) Occurrences: 2 only in NT

Both Verses

  • Rom 4:25 -- "raised again for our justification"
  • Rom 5:18 -- "the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life"

Significance

This rare word (only 2 NT uses) refers to the ACT of being declared righteous, not the state of being righteous. Both occurrences link justification to Christ's work (death/resurrection) and its universal availability.

dikaioma (G1345) -- Ordinance/Righteous Requirement

Original: dikaioma (neuter noun) Transliteration: dikaíōma Definition: From dikaioō; an equitable deed; a statute or decision Occurrences: 10 in NT

Key Verses

  • Rom 1:32 -- "the judgment (dikaioma) of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death"
  • Rom 2:26 -- "keep the righteousness (dikaioma) of the law"
  • Rom 5:16 -- "the free gift is of many offences unto justification (dikaioma)"
  • Rom 5:18 -- "by the righteousness (dikaioma) of one the free gift came upon all men"
  • Rom 8:4 -- "That the righteousness (dikaioma) of the law might be fulfilled in us"
  • Rev 19:8 -- "fine linen is the righteousness (dikaioma) of saints"

Critical for This Study

Rom 8:4 uses dikaioma (the righteous requirement/ordinance of the law) -- not "the law" generically -- as what is "fulfilled in us." This specifies that the moral content/requirement of the law is what faith and the Spirit accomplish in believers.

hamartia (G266) -- Sin

Original: hamartia (feminine noun) Transliteration: hamartía Definition: From hamartanō (to miss the mark); a sin, offense; sin as a principle or power Occurrences: 134 in NT (174 per BLB)

Key Verses

  • Rom 3:9,20 -- all under sin; by law is knowledge of sin
  • Rom 5:12,20,21 -- sin entered by one man; where sin abounded, grace much more abounded
  • Rom 6:1,2,6,11,12,14,17 -- shall we continue in sin? God forbid; sin shall not have dominion
  • Rom 7:7 -- "I had not known sin, but by the law"
  • Rom 8:2,3 -- law of sin; God condemned sin in the flesh
  • 1 Jhn 3:4 -- "sin is the transgression of the law" (hamartia = anomia)

1 John 3:4 Connection

John defines hamartia as anomia (lawlessness/transgression of the law). This is the Bible's own definition of sin -- not as a vague moral failing but as specifically breaking God's law. This is foundational for understanding why faith does not abolish the law.

anomos (G460) -- Lawlessly/Without Law

Original: anomos (adverb) Transliteration: anómōs Definition: Adverb from anomos (G459); lawlessly, without (the Jewish) law Occurrences: 2 in NT

Verse

  • Rom 2:12 -- "For as many as have sinned without law (anomos) shall also perish without law"

The noun anomia appears in Mat 7:23 ("ye that work iniquity/lawlessness"), 1 Jhn 3:4 ("sin is the transgression of the law" = sin is anomia). This word directly links lawlessness to sin and to Jesus's rejection of false professors.

aman (H539) -- To Believe/Be Faithful (Hebrew)

Original: aman (verb) Transliteration: ʼâman Definition: Primitive root; to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render or be firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain Occurrences: 132 in OT (108 per BLB)

Translations

  • "believe" -- 12 (9.1%)
  • "faithful" -- 12 (9.1%)
  • "sure" -- 8 (6.1%)
  • "believed" -- 5 (3.8%)
  • "trust" -- 3 (2.3%)
  • "be established" -- 3 (2.3%)
  • Also: nursing father, assurance, steadfast, verified

Key Verses

  • Gen 15:6 -- "And he believed (aman) in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (the foundational faith text)
  • Exo 14:31 -- "the people...believed the LORD"
  • Num 14:11 -- "How long will this people...not believe me?"
  • Deu 1:32 -- "ye did not believe the LORD your God"
  • Isa 7:9 -- "if ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established" (aman used twice: believe/established)
  • Isa 28:16 -- "he that believeth shall not make haste"
  • Isa 53:1 -- "Who hath believed our report?"
  • Hab 1:5 -- (related: would not believe)

Etymology and Theology

The root aman means "to be firm, established, sure." From this root comes: emunah (faithfulness), amen (so be it, truly), emuwn (faithful). The Hebrew concept of faith inherently includes FIRMNESS and RELIABILITY -- it is not mere intellectual assent but settled trust that produces steadfast action. Gen 15:6 (Abraham "believed") uses this root, and the same root produces words for "faithful" and "established."

tsadaq (H6663) -- To Be Righteous/Justify

Original: tsadaq (verb) Transliteration: tsâdaq Definition: Primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right in a moral or forensic sense; to cleanse, clear self, justify, be/do just Occurrences: 54 in OT (41 per BLB)

Key Verses

  • Gen 38:26 -- Tamar "hath been more righteous than I"
  • Exo 23:7 -- "I will not justify the wicked"
  • Deu 25:1 -- "they shall justify the righteous"
  • Job 9:2 -- "how should man be just with God?"
  • Psa 51:6 -- "thou mightest be justified when thou speakest" (quoted in Rom 3:4)
  • Psa 143:2 -- "in thy sight shall no man living be justified" (quoted in Rom 3:20; Gal 2:16)
  • Isa 50:8 -- "He is near that justifieth me"
  • Isa 53:11 -- "shall my righteous servant justify many"
  • Dan 8:14; 12:3 -- eschatological use

OT-NT Connection

Psa 143:2 and Isa 53:11 provide the OT foundation for Paul's doctrine of justification. The OT already teaches that no person can be justified by their own deeds (Psa 143:2) and that God's servant will "justify many" (Isa 53:11).

emuwn (H529) -- Faithful/Faith

Original: emuwn (masculine noun) Transliteration: ʼêmûwn Definition: From aman (H539); established, trusty; trustworthiness Occurrences: 5 in OT

All Verses

  • Deu 32:20 -- "children in whom is no faith (emuwn)"
  • Psa 31:24 -- "the LORD preserveth the faithful (emuwn)"
  • Pro 13:17 -- "a faithful (emuwn) ambassador is health"
  • Pro 14:5 -- "a faithful (emuwn) witness will not lie"
  • Isa 26:2 -- "the righteous nation which keepeth the truth (emuwn)"

Significance

Emuwn connects faithfulness/trustworthiness with righteousness (Psa 31:24), truth-telling (Pro 14:5), and covenant loyalty (Deu 32:20). In Isa 26:2, the "righteous nation" is characterized by keeping emuwn (faith/truth/faithfulness) -- linking faith-faithfulness to righteousness.

apistia (G570) -- Unbelief

Original: apistia (feminine noun) Transliteration: apistía Definition: From apistos; faithlessness, disbelief, lack of Christian faith Occurrences: 12 in NT

Key Verses

  • Rom 3:3 -- "shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?"
  • Rom 4:20 -- Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief"
  • Rom 11:20,23 -- "because of unbelief they were broken off"; "if they abide not still in unbelief"
  • Heb 3:12,19 -- "evil heart of unbelief"; "could not enter in because of unbelief"

Unbelief as Covenant-Breaking

In Hebrews 3-4, apistia (unbelief) is paralleled with disobedience. The Israelites could not enter the promised land "because of unbelief" (3:19), and this unbelief is equated with disobedience (3:18 uses apeitheo). Unbelief and disobedience are two sides of the same coin.

apeitheo (G544) -- To Disobey/Disbelieve

Original: apeitheo (verb) Transliteration: apeithéō Definition: From apeithes; to disbelieve willfully and perversely; to be disobedient Occurrences: 16 in NT

Key Verses

  • Jhn 3:36 -- "he that believeth not (apeitheo) the Son shall not see life"
  • Rom 2:8 -- "them that...do not obey (apeitheo) the truth"
  • Rom 10:21 -- "a disobedient (apeitheo) and gainsaying people"
  • Rom 11:30 -- "ye...have not believed (apeitheo)"
  • Heb 3:18 -- "them that believed not (apeitheo)" (parallel with 3:19 apistia)
  • 1 Pet 2:7,8 -- "them which be disobedient (apeitheo)"
  • 1 Pet 3:20 -- "which sometime were disobedient (apeitheo)"

Critical Observation

This word is translated BOTH as "disobey" and "disbelieve" -- the KJV alternates between them. The word itself means both simultaneously. This is linguistically significant: in the NT vocabulary, unbelief IS disobedience, and disobedience IS unbelief. Faith and obedience are so linked that their opposites are expressed by a single word.

tsedaqah (H6666) -- Righteousness

Original: tsedaqah (feminine noun) Transliteration: tsᵉdâqâh Definition: From tsadaq (H6663); rightness (abstractly), subjectively rectitude, objectively justice, morally virtue Occurrences: 165 in OT (157 per BLB)

Key Verses

  • Gen 15:6 -- "he counted it to him for righteousness (tsedaqah)" -- faith counted as righteousness
  • Deu 6:25 -- "it shall be our righteousness (tsedaqah), if we observe to do all these commandments" -- obedience counted as righteousness
  • Psa 106:31 -- Phinehas's act "counted unto him for righteousness (tsedaqah)"
  • Isa 46:13; 51:6; 56:1 -- God's righteousness linked to salvation
  • Isa 64:5 -- "our righteousnesses are as filthy rags"
  • Jer 23:5 -- Messianic: "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"
  • Dan 9:7,16,18 -- God's righteousness in judgment

Gen 15:6 vs. Deu 6:25

Both use tsedaqah as that which is "counted." In Gen 15:6, faith is counted as righteousness. In Deu 6:25, obedience is called "our righteousness." These are not contradictory but complementary: faith and obedience are both aspects of covenant faithfulness, and both are recognized as "righteousness." Paul and James each emphasize one side of this coin.

charitoo (G5487) -- To Grace/Bestow Grace

Original: charitoo (verb) Transliteration: charitóō Definition: From charis (G5485); to grace, to indue with special honor, to make accepted Occurrences: 3 in NT (2 per BLB)

All Verses

  • Luk 1:28 -- "Hail, thou that art highly favoured (charitoo)" -- Mary is graced/favored by God
  • Eph 1:6 -- "wherein he hath made us accepted (charitoo) in the beloved" -- believers graced in Christ

Significance

While charis (G5485) is the noun "grace," charitoo is the verb -- "to grace" someone. Eph 1:6 shows that believers are not merely given grace as a commodity but are themselves "graced" -- made accepted through divine favor. This underscores grace as relational transformation, not merely legal transaction.

ergates (G2040) -- Worker/Laborer

Original: ergates (masculine noun) Transliteration: ergátēs Definition: From ergon (G2041); a toiler; figuratively, a teacher Occurrences: 14 in NT (16 per BLB)

Key Verses for This Study

  • Mat 7:23 -- "depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (uses ergazomai, but cf. Luk 13:27)
  • Luk 13:27 -- "depart from me, all ye workers (ergates) of iniquity"
  • 2 Cor 11:13 -- "false apostles, deceitful workers (ergates)"
  • Php 3:2 -- "Beware of evil workers (ergates)"
  • 2 Tim 2:15 -- "a workman (ergates) that needeth not to be ashamed"

Contrast

Ergates is used both positively (laborers in the harvest, workmen approved by God) and negatively (workers of iniquity, deceitful workers). The word itself is neutral; the qualifier determines whether the worker serves God or lawlessness.

ennomos (G1772) -- Lawful/Under Law

Original: ennomos (adjective) Transliteration: énnomos Definition: From en (in) + nomos (law); (subjectively) legal, or (objectively) subject to law Occurrences: 2 in NT

Both Verses

  • Acts 19:39 -- "it shall be determined in a lawful (ennomos) assembly"
  • 1 Cor 9:21 -- "not being without law to God, but under the law (ennomos) to Christ"

Critical for This Study

In 1 Cor 9:21, Paul declares himself "not without law (anomos) to God, but under the law (ennomos) to Christ." This is Paul's own explicit statement that he is NOT lawless -- he is "in-lawed" to Christ. The compound en+nomos means literally "in law." This single verse refutes any reading of Paul as antinomian.

nomikos (G3544) -- Pertaining to Law/Lawyer

Original: nomikos (adjective) Transliteration: nomikós Definition: From nomos; according or pertaining to law, i.e. legal; as a noun, an expert in the Mosaic law Occurrences: 9 in NT

Key Verses

  • Mat 22:35 -- "Then one of them, which was a lawyer (nomikos), asked him a question"
  • Tit 3:9 -- "avoid foolish questions...and strivings about the law (nomikos)"
  • Tit 3:13 -- "Bring Zenas the lawyer (nomikos) and Apollos on their journey"

Context Note

The predominant use of nomikos as "lawyer" (expert in Torah) shows that law-discussion was a recognized specialization. Tit 3:9 warns against unprofitable contentions about the law -- not against law-keeping itself, but against fruitless debates.

tsaddiq (H6662) -- Righteous/Just

Original: tsaddiq (adjective) Transliteration: tsaddîyq Definition: From tsadaq (H6663); just, lawful, righteous (man) Occurrences: 210 in OT (206 per BLB)

Translations

  • "the righteous" -- 49 (23.3%) -- the dominant translation
  • "of the righteous" -- 38 (18.1%)
  • "righteous" -- 27 (12.9%)
  • "just" -- 12 (5.7%)

Key Verses for This Study

  • Gen 6:9 -- "Noah was a just (tsaddiq) man and perfect" -- righteousness before the law
  • Gen 18:23-26 -- Abraham intercedes for "the righteous (tsaddiq)" in Sodom
  • Hab 2:4 -- "the just (tsaddiq) shall live by his faith" -- the foundational OT text quoted in Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38
  • Isa 53:11 -- "my righteous (tsaddiq) servant justify many" -- the Messianic servant
  • Pro 4:18 -- "the path of the just (tsaddiq) is as the shining light"

Theology

Tsaddiq describes a person in right relationship with God, characterized by right conduct. In Hab 2:4, the tsaddiq (righteous/just person) is defined as one who lives "by faith" -- not by works-merit but by trust in God. This connects righteousness and faith at the OT root level.

batach (H982) -- To Trust

Original: batach (verb) Transliteration: bâṭach Definition: Primitive root; to hie for refuge; figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure; careless Occurrences: 135 in OT (120 per BLB)

Translations

  • "trust" -- 13 (9.6%)
  • "trusteth" -- 6 (4.4%)
  • Also: trusted, confident, secure, hope, bold

Key Verses for This Study

  • Psa 78:22 -- "they believed (aman) not in God, and trusted (batach) not in his salvation" -- both aman and batach together
  • Psa 37:3,5 -- "Trust (batach) in the LORD, and do good...commit thy way unto the LORD"
  • Pro 3:5 -- "Trust (batach) in the LORD with all thine heart"
  • Isa 12:2 -- "I will trust (batach), and not be afraid"
  • Jer 17:5,7 -- "Cursed be the man that trusteth (batach) in man...Blessed is the man that trusteth (batach) in the LORD"

Relationship to Aman (H539)

While aman emphasizes firmness, reliability, and belief, batach emphasizes taking refuge, confident reliance, and security. Psa 78:22 uses both together: Israel "believed (aman) not" and "trusted (batach) not." The Hebrew vocabulary of faith thus includes both intellectual conviction (aman) and confident reliance (batach).

episterizo (G1991) -- To Confirm/Strengthen

Original: episterizo (verb) Transliteration: epistērízō Definition: From epi + sterizo; to support further, to reestablish, to confirm Occurrences: 4 in NT

All Verses

  • Acts 14:22 -- "Confirming (episterizo) the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith"
  • Acts 15:32 -- "exhorted the brethren...and confirmed (episterizo) them"
  • Acts 15:41 -- "confirming (episterizo) the churches"
  • Acts 18:23 -- "strengthening (episterizo) all the disciples"

Significance

Every use of episterizo involves strengthening believers in their faith. This indicates that faith is not a one-time event but requires ongoing confirmation, nurture, and strengthening -- consistent with the view that saving faith is a continuing relationship rather than a momentary decision.