In the context if the Bible, is the word 'believe' the same as "faith'?

[cjab]

Which is the result of our initial belief, or faith. 'Trusted' and 'having believed' in this next passage are also interesting.

Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

You see, if we don't have life until we have the Spirit in us, and in Galatians 3:2-3 says we come to faith to receive the Spirit.... Paul, speaking of our sanctification even says, having begun in the Spirit (that resulted from the hearing of faith), are we know being perfected by the flesh? The point being, there was no life yet begun when that indicial faith happened, but the ongoing faith seems to always be Spirit powered, or not from the flesh, thus it's a gift from God, but only from that point forward, the indwelling.

Dave

Eph 1:13 is poorly translated by some English versions - e.g. the NIV which is really a paraphrase of the Greek - and it cannot be properly understood apart from Eph 1:12. The Greek is quite terse, albeit not complex. Hence the word "trusted" is inserted by some translations in Eph 1:13 to overcome the terseness of the Greek, e.g. by the KJV; but, (a) no actual word appears in the Greek text here, (b) any artifically inserted word in Eph 1:13 should read "hoped" (not "trusted") because it refers back to the "first-hoped" in Eph 1:12.

The literal rendition is this:

Eph 1:12: ".....that we should be to the praise of his glory: the ones having first-hoped in Christ,"
Eph 1:13 "in whom you also [hoped], having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise....."

As to the distinction between hope and faith:
Heb 1:11 "Now faith is the ground/support/essence/assurance/inner conviction (Gk: hypostasis) of things hoped for, that by which invisible things are proved..."

Heb 1:11 is a complex assemblance of words impregnated with nuance, and subject to extensive comment, so I'll leave it there.

 

[Van]

A good discussion. The ancient Greek meanings:

1. πείθω (peithó - verb)

There are three related Greek words for belief/believe etc., all with an etymology in Ancient Greek. The modern Greek meanings are simpler, but not necessarily reflective of the biblical usage. The ancient Greek meaning are below:

Meaning depends on the voice:

Active voice: persuade, convince, succeed through entreaty, mislead.
Mediopassive (πείθομαι): To yield, believe, put trust in.
Second perfect active (πέποιθᾰ) with passive sense: to trust, rely on.
Perfect passive (πέπεισμαι) to believe, trust (with dative).

2. πίστις (pistis - noun from πείθω)

trust in others, faith
belief in a higher power, faith
the state of being persuaded of something: belief, confidence, assurance
trust in a commercial sense: credit
faithfulness, honesty, trustworthiness, fidelity
that which gives assurance: treaty, oath, guarantee
means of persuasion: argument, proof
that which is entrusted

3. πιστεύω (pisteuó - verb from πίστις)

to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person, statement or thing), to credit
to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ)
to believe, commit (to trust), put in trust with.

A brief perusal of biblical word usage suggests that verb choice is not related to a theological distinction between initial faith and lasting faith, as the same Greek verb πιστεύω is used by Christ of different kinds of believers in the parable of the sower (specifically πιστεύω is also used of those who believe "for a while"). πιστεύω is largely preferred over πείθω by Christ in all the gospels, in every context, unless the emphasis is clearly on "persuasion" (cf. Luke 16:31). This reflects πιστεύω epitomizing the religio-legal (i.e. formal) "have confidence/trust" sense of believe.

Whereas the less formal and secular verb πείθω has a primary meaning of persuade / convince, which has this emphasis contextual to any specific object, whether secular or religious. Such that even if it were possible that πείθω might have been used to distinguish initial faith from lasting/saving faith (supposing there to be an essential distinction which I am not personally convinced of), the evidence suggests this doesn't determine New Testament verb choice, but that verb choice is mainly determined by emphasis.

However, in the context of secular/fanatical belief in unrighteousness or false prophets, I discern πείθω is more likely.

Hi Cjab,

I hold a very different view. The merit or lack their of "faith" is not found in Greek word form, but in whether or not God credited that "faith" as righteousness. We see in the account of Abraham, that he trusted in God's promise, and would follow God's instructions, even when they seemed to run counter to His promise. The NT clearly teaches we must have a "faith like Abraham." Romans 4:16

Note that the form of the Greek word translated faith is a noun, genitive single female. And note it is preceded by the preposition "ek" meaning out from, or arising from, or based upon. In my opinion, this phrase refers, usually, to God's action of crediting our faith as righteousness, just as God did concerning Abraham's faith.

Consider these verses and let me know what you think:
Romans 3:26,
Romans 4:12, 16,
Romans 5:1
Romans 9:30, 32,
Romans 10:6
Romans 14:23

Galatians 2:16
Galatians 3:2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 22, 24
Galatians 5:5

James 2:24.