from Α (as a negative particle) and πιστός; (actively) disbelieving, i.e. without Christian faith (specially, a heathen); (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing):--that believeth not, faithless, incredible thing, infidel, unbeliever(-ing).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adjective G571 (ἄπιστος, *ápistos*) is a compound word formed from the privative alpha (ἀ-), meaning "not" or "without," and `{{G4103}}` (πιστός, *pistos*), meaning "faithful," "trustworthy," or "believing." This etymology immediately reveals its core meaning: "not faithful," "not believing," or "untrustworthy." The base definition provided by Strong's outlines a dual semantic range:
1. **Active Sense (Disbelief):** This is the more prominent usage, referring to one who is "disbelieving," "without Christian faith," or "unbelieving." It denotes a lack of trust in God, Christ, or the gospel message. In this sense, it often describes those outside the community of faith, sometimes specifically labeling them as "heathen" or "infidel." It implies a volitional refusal or inability to believe.
2. **Passive Sense (Untrustworthiness/Incredibility):** This refers to something or someone that cannot be trusted or believed. When applied to a person, it means "untrustworthy" or "faithless" in the sense of being unreliable. When applied to a thing, it means "incredible" or "unbelievable," signifying something that is difficult or impossible to accept as true.
Thus, ἄπιστος encompasses both a spiritual state of unbelief and a practical characteristic of unreliability or implausibility.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The usage of G571 in the New Testament illuminates its multifaceted meaning.
In its active sense, denoting a lack of faith in God or Christ:
* Jesus frequently uses ἄπιστος to describe His disciples or the generation around Him, highlighting their spiritual dullness or lack of trust in divine power. For instance, in [[Matthew 17:17]], [[Mark 9:19]], and [[Luke 9:41]], Jesus laments, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?" This expresses frustration at their inability to exercise sufficient faith for healing or deliverance.
* Perhaps most famously, Jesus challenges Thomas, "Do not be unbelieving, but believing" in [[John 20:27]], directly contrasting ἄπιστος with `{{G4103}}` (πιστός) and calling him to move beyond his doubt and embrace belief in the resurrection.
* Paul often employs ἄπιστος to distinguish between believers and non-believers, particularly in the context of the church's relationship with the outside world. In [[1 Corinthians 6:6]], he decries believers taking disputes to "unbelievers" for judgment. In [[2 Corinthians 6:14]], he issues the stark warning, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers," emphasizing the fundamental spiritual incompatibility between those who believe and those who do not. This usage underscores the profound spiritual chasm created by the presence or absence of faith.
* In [[Titus 1:15]], Paul describes those who are "defiled and unbelieving" (τοῖς δὲ μεμιασμένοις καὶ ἀπίστοις), indicating that unbelief is often accompanied by moral impurity.
In its passive sense, denoting something incredible or untrustworthy:
* The most prominent example of ἄπιστος meaning "incredible" or "unbelievable" is found in [[Acts 26:8]], where Paul, before King Agrippa, asks, "Why is it thought a thing incredible by you, that God should raise the dead?" Here, ἄπιστος refers to the concept of resurrection, which human reason might deem impossible or implausible, yet it is a central tenet of Christian faith.
While the "untrustworthy person" aspect is less explicitly highlighted in direct biblical contexts for G571 compared to "unbelieving," it is an inherent possibility given its antonym `{{G4103}}` (πιστός), which frequently means "trustworthy" or "faithful."
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of G571 is deeply intertwined with other core New Testament terms related to faith and belief:
* **`{{G4103}}` (πιστός, *pistos*):** This is the direct antonym and root of ἄπιστος. While ἄπιστος means "unbelieving" or "unfaithful," πιστός means "believing," "faithful," or "trustworthy." The contrast highlights the essential nature of faith.
* **`{{G4102}}` (πίστις, *pistis*):** This noun means "faith," "belief," or "trust." ἄπιστος describes one who lacks πίστις. The absence of this foundational spiritual quality is precisely what ἄπιστος denotes.
* **`{{G4100}}` (πιστεύω, *pisteuō*):** This verb means "to believe," "to trust," or "to have faith." An ἄπιστος person is one who does not πιστεύω.
* **`{{G570}}` (ἀπιστία, *apistia*):** This is the noun form of ἄπιστος, meaning "unbelief" or "faithlessness." It refers to the state or condition of being ἄπιστος. For example, in [[Mark 6:6]], Jesus marvels at their ἀπιστία (unbelief).
* **Doubt and Skepticism:** These concepts are closely related to the active sense of ἄπιστος. The ἄπιστος individual is often characterized by doubt, questioning, or a refusal to accept spiritual truths.
* **Spiritual Blindness/Hardness of Heart:** In some contexts, unbelief is linked to an inability to perceive spiritual truth, which can be seen as a form of spiritual blindness or a hardened heart, resistant to God's revelation.
### Theological Significance
The word ἄπιστος carries profound theological weight, underscoring several critical biblical doctrines:
* **The Centrality of Faith:** The existence and frequent use of ἄπιστος emphasize that πίστις (faith) is not merely an optional virtue but a foundational requirement for a right relationship with God and for receiving His blessings. Unbelief is depicted as a spiritual impediment, hindering divine power and access to salvation.
* **The Divide Between Believer and Unbeliever:** ἄπιστος clearly delineates two distinct spiritual categories of humanity. This distinction is not merely sociological but existential, marking those who are "in Christ" from those who are not. Paul's warnings against being "unequally yoked" (e.g., [[2 Corinthians 6:14]]) highlight the incompatibility and spiritual danger of compromising this divide.
* **Human Limitation vs. Divine Power:** The use of ἄπιστος to describe things "incredible" (e.g., [[Acts 26:8]]) serves to contrast human skepticism and rational limitations with the boundless power of God. What is unbelievable to human reason (like resurrection) is entirely possible and indeed true for God. This challenges human presumption and calls for a faith that transcends mere logic.
* **The Call to Repentance and Belief:** The New Testament's portrayal of ἄπιστος individuals implicitly and explicitly issues a call to conversion. The state of unbelief is not presented as an immutable destiny but as a condition from which one can turn through repentance and belief in the Gospel. Jesus' interactions with His "unbelieving generation" and Thomas's challenge to "be believing" are invitations to embrace faith.
* **Consequences of Unbelief:** While not always explicitly stated with ἄπιστος, the broader biblical narrative associates persistent unbelief with spiritual death, separation from God, and eternal judgment.
### Summary
The Greek word G571 (ἄπιστος, *ápistos*) is a crucial term in the New Testament, signifying "unbelieving," "faithless," "untrustworthy," or "incredible." Primarily, it describes individuals who lack saving faith in God or Christ, highlighting the spiritual chasm between believers and non-believers. It also, though less frequently, refers to things deemed impossible or unbelievable from a human perspective. The term underscores the indispensable nature of πίστις (faith) for salvation and for experiencing God's power, while simultaneously emphasizing the spiritual dangers and limitations inherent in a state of unbelief. Its usage serves as both a descriptive category for those outside the faith and a compelling call to embrace belief in the divine.
TRV