Original Word: πιστεύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pisteuó
Pronunciation: pis-tyoo'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (pist-yoo'-o)
KJV: believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with
NASB: believe, believed, believes, believing, entrusted, believers, do
Word Origin: [from G4102 (πίστις - faith)]

1. to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit
2. (by implication) to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)

believe, put in trust with.

From pistis; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ) -- believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

see GREEK pistis

4100 pisteúō (from 4102 /pístis, "faith," derived from 3982 /peíthō, "persuade, be persuaded") – believe (affirm, have confidence); used of persuading oneself (= human believing) and with the sacred significance of being persuaded by the Lord (= faith-believing). Only the context indicates whether 4100 /pisteúō ("believe") is self-serving (without sacred meaning), or the believing that leads to/proceeds from God's inbirthing of faith.

Word Origin
from pistis
Definition
to believe, entrust
NASB Translation
believe (118), believed (73), believers (3), believes (29), believing (10), do (1), entrust (1), entrusted (6), entrusting (1), has faith (1).

STRONGS NT 4100: πιστεύω

πιστεύω; imperfect ἐπίστευον; future πιστεύσω; 1 aorist ἐπίστευσα; perfect πεπίστευκα; pluperfect (without augment, cf. Winers Grammar, § 12, 9; (Buttmann, 33 (29))) πεπιστεύκειν (Acts 14:23); passive perfect πεπίστευμαι; 1 aorist ἐπιστεύθην; (πιστός); the Sept. for הֶאֱמִין; in classical Greek from Aeschyl, Sophocles, Euripides, Thucydides down; to believe, i. e.

1. intransitive, to think to be true; to be persuaded of; to credit, place confidence in;

a. universally: the thing believed being evident from the preceding context, Matthew 24:23,(26); Mark 13:21; 1 Corinthians 11:18; with an accusative of the thing, Acts 13:41 (L T Tr WH ὁ for Rec. ᾧ), to credit, have confidence, followed by ὅτι, Acts 9:26; τίνι, to believe one's words, Mark 16:13; 1 John 4:1; τίνι ὅτι, John 4:21; τῷ ψεύδει, 2 Thessalonians 2:11; περί τίνος, ὅτι, John 9:18.

b. specifically, in a moral and religious reference, πιστεύειν is used in the N. T. of "the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of his soul"; thus it stands α. absolutely to trust in Jesus or in God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: Matthew 8:13; Matthew 21:22; Mark 5:36; Mark 9:23; Luke 8:50; John 11:40; followed by ὅτι, Matthew 9:28; Mark 11:23; (Hebrews 11:6); τῷ λόγῳ, ᾧ (ὅν) εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, John 4:50. β. of the credence given to God's messengers and their words, with a dative of the person or thing: Μωϋσεῖ John 5:46. to the prophets, John 12:38; Acts 24:14; Acts 26:27; Romans 10:16; ἐπί πᾶσιν οἷς ἐλάλησαν οἱ προφῆται, to place reliance on etc. Luke 24:25. to an angel, Luke 1:20; followed by ὅτι, Luke 1:45. to John the Baptist, Matthew 21:25 (26),32; Mark 11:31; Luke 20:5. to Christ's words, John 3:12; John 5:38, 46; John 6:30; John 8:45; John 10:(37),38{a}; τοῖς ἔργοις of Christ, John 10:38{b}. to the teachings of evangelists and apostles, Acts 8:12; τῇ ἀλήθεια, 2 Thessalonians 2:12; ἐπιστεύθη τό μαρτύριον, the testimony was believed, 2 Thessalonians 1:10 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 39,1 a.; Buttmann, 175 (152)); τῇ γραφή, John 2:22. ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ, to put faith in the gospel, Mark 1:15 (Buttmann, 174 (151f); cf. Winers Grammar, 213 (200f)) (Ignatius ad Philad. 8, 2 [ET] ((but see Zahn's note); cf. John 3:15 in γ. below)). γ. used especially of the faith by which a man embraces Jesus, i. e. "a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah — the divinely appointed author of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God, conjoined with obedience to Christ": πιστεύω τόν υἱόν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἶναι Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, Acts 8:37 Rec.; ἐπιστεύθη (was believed on (cf. Winers Grammar, § 39, 1 a.; Buttmann, 175 (152))) ἐν κόσμῳ, 1 Timothy 3:16. the phrase πιστεύειν εἰς τόν Ἰησοῦν, εἰς τόν υἱόν τοῦ Θεοῦ, etc., is very common; properly, to have a faith directed unto, believing or in faith to give oneself up to, Jesus, etc. (cf. Winers Grammar, 213 (200f); (Buttmann, 174 (151))): Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42 (R G L Tr text); John 2:11; John 3:15 R G,; (R G L); ,(),; ,(); ; Acts 10:43; Acts 19:4; Romans 10:14; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 1:29; 1 John 5:10; 1 Peter 1:8; εἰς τό φῶς, John 12:36; εἰς τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, John 1:12; John 2:23; John 3:18; 1 John 5:13; τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, to commit oneself trustfully to the name (see ὄνομα, 2, p. 448a), 1 John 3:23; ἐπ' αὐτόν, ἐπί τόν κύριον, to have a faith directed toward, etc. (see ἐπί, C. I. 2 g. α., p. 235b (cf. Winers Grammar, and Buttmann, as above, also Buttmann, § 147, 25)): Matthew 27:42 T Tr text WH; John 3:15 L text; Acts 9:42; Acts 11:17; Acts 16:31; Acts 22:19 ((cf. Wis. 12:2)); ἐπ' αὐτῷ, to build one's faith on, to place one's faith upon (see ἐπί, B. 2 a.γ., p. 233a; Buttmann, as above): Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Peter 2:6; ἐν αὐτῷ, to put faith in him, John 3:15 (L marginal reading; cf. T Tr WH also (who probably connect ἐν αὐτῷ with the following ἔχῃ; cf. Westcott's Commentary at the passage, Meyer, others)) (cf. Jeremiah 12:6; Psalm 77:22 (), where πιστεύειν ἐν τίνι means to put confidence in one, to trust one; (cf. Mark 1:15 above, β. at the end)); ἐν τούτῳ πιστεύομεν, on this rests our faith (A. V. by this we believe), John 16:30; with the simple dative, τῷ κυρίῳ, to (yield faith to) believe (cf. B. 173 (151)): Matthew 27:42 R G L Tr marginal reading; Acts 5:14; Acts 18:8; supply τούτῳ before οὗ in Romans 10:14; to trust in Christ (God), 2 Timothy 1:12; διά τίνος, through one's agency to be brought to faith, John 1:7; 1 Corinthians 3:5; διά Ἰησοῦ εἰς Θεόν, 1 Peter 1:21 R G Tr marginal reading; διά τῆς χάριτος, Acts 18:27; διά τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν εἰς ἐμέ, John 17:20; διά τί, John 4:39 (), ; . πιστεύω followed by ὅτι with a sentence in which either the nature and dignity of Christ or his blessings are set forth: John 6:69; John 8:24; John 10:38c R G; ,(); ; (); ; 1 John 5:1, 5; Romans 6:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; μοι ὅτι, John 14:11; τί, John 11:26; πιστεύω σωθῆναι, Acts 15:11; the simple πιστεύειν is used emphatically, of those who acknowledge Jesus as the saviour and devote themselves to him: Mark 15:32 (here L adds αὐτῷ); Luke 8:12; Luke 22:67; John 1:50(); f; Rec.; ; Acts 5:14; (); ; (); Romans 1:16; Romans 3:22; Romans 4:11; Romans 10:4; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 1:13,(); 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 4:3; with ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας added, Acts 8:37 Rec.; with a dative of instrumentality καρδία, Romans 10:10; participle present οἱ πιστεύοντες, as a substantive: Acts 2:44; Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 3:22; (Ephesians 1:19); 1 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 13; 2 Thessalonians 1:10 Rec.; 1 Peter 2:7; equivalent to who are on the point of believing, 1 Corinthians 14:22, cf. 1 Corinthians 14:24f; aorist ἐπίστευσα (marking entrance into a state; see βασιλεύω, at the end), I became a believer, a Christian (A. V. believed): Acts 4:4; Acts 8:13; Acts 13:12, 48; Acts 14:1; Acts 15:7; Acts 17:12, 34; Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 15:2, 11; with the addition of ἐπί τόν κύριον (see above), Acts 9:42; participle πιστεύσας, Acts 11:21; Acts 19:2; ὁ πιστεύσας, Mark 16:16; plural, ; Acts 4:32; οἱ πεπιστευκότες, they that have believed (have become believers): Acts 19:18; Acts 21:20; (on (John's use of) the tenses of πιστεύω see Westcott on 1 John 3:23). It must be borne in mind, that in Paul's conception of τό πιστεύειν εἰς Χριστόν, the prominent element is the grace of God toward sinners as manifested and pledged (and to be laid hold of by faith) in Jesus, particularly in his death and resurrection, as appears especially in Romans 3:25; Romans 4:24; Romans 10:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; but in John's conception, it is the metaphysical relationship of Christ with God and close ethical intimacy with him, as well as the true 'life' to be derived from Christ as its source; cf. Rückert, Das Abendmahl, p. 251. Moreover, πιστεύειν is used by John of various degrees of faith, from its first beginnings, its incipient stirring within the soul, up to the fullest assurance, John 2:23 (cf. John 2:24); ; of a faith which does not yet recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but as a prophet very like the Messiah, John 7:31; and to signify that one's faith is preserved, strengthened, increased, raised to the level which it ought to reach, ; 1 John 5:13b Rec.; (cf. references under the word πίστις, at the end). is applied also to the faith by which one is persuaded that Jesus was raised from the dead, inasmuch as by that fact God declared him to be his Son and the Messiah: John 20:8, 25, 29; πιστεύσῃς ἐν τῇ καρδία σου ὅτι ὁ Θεός αὐτόν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν σωθήσῃ, Romans 10:9 (cf. Buttmann, § 133, 19). Since according to the conception of Christian faith Christ alone is the author of salvation, ὁ πιστεύων repudiates all the various things which aside from Christ are commended as means of salvation (such e. g. as abstinence from flesh and wine), and understands that all things are lawful to him which do not lead him away from Christ; hence, πιστεύει (τίς) φαγεῖν πάντα, hath faith to eat all things or so that he eats all things, Romans 14:2; cf. Rückert at the passage; (Winers Grammar, § 44,3 b.; per contra Buttmann, 273f (235)). δ. πιστεύειν used in reference to God has various senses: αα. it denotes the mere acknowledgment of his existence: ὅτι ὁ Θεός εἷς ἐστιν, James 2:19; acknowledgment joined to appropriate trust, absolutely, Jude 1:5; εἰς Θεόν, John 12:44; John 14:1; equivalent to to believe and embrace what God has made known either through Christ or concerning Christ: τῷ Θεῷ, John 5:24; Acts 16:34; Titus 3:8; 1 John 5:10; ἐπί τόν Θεόν, Romans 4:5; τήν ἀγάπην, ἥν ἔχει ὁ Θεός, 1 John 4:16; εἰς τήν μαρτυρίαν, ἥν κτλ., 1 John 5:10. ββ. to trust: τῷ Θεῷ, God promising a thing, Romans 4:3, 17 (on which see κατέναντι); Galatians 3:6; (James 2:23); absolutely, Romans 4:18; followed by ὅτι, Acts 27:25. ε. πιστεύειν is used in an ethical sense, of confidence in the goodness of men: ἡ ἀγάπη πιστεύει πάντα, 1 Corinthians 13:7. τό πιστεύειν is opposed to ἰδεῖν, John 20:29; to ὁρᾶν, ibid. and 1 Peter 1:8 (Theophilus ad Autol. 1, 7 at the end), cf. 2 Corinthians 5:7; to διακρίνεσθαι, Romans 4:19; Romans 14:1, 23, cf. James 1:6; to ὁμολογεῖν, Romans 10:9.

2. transitively, τίνι τί, to intrust a thing to one, i. e. to his fidelity : Luke 16:11; ἑαυτόν τίνι, John 2:24; passive, πιστεύομαι τί, to be intrusted with a thing: Romans 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:17; Galatians 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Timothy 1:11; Titus 1:8 (Ignatius ad Philad. 9 [ET]; examples from secular authors are given in Winers Grammar, § 39, 1 a.). On the grammatical construction of the word cf. Buttmann, § 133, 4 (and the summaries in Ellicott on 1 Timothy 1:16; Vaughan on Romans 4:5; Cremer, under the word). It does not occur in Revlation, nor in Philemon, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John (Cf. the references under the word πίστις, at the end.)

Overview of New Testament Usage

The verb translated “believe” occurs 244 times, permeating every genre of the New Testament. It is most frequent in the Gospel of John (approximately 40 %), closely followed by the Pauline letters and Acts. The word can denote (1) accepting something as true, (2) placing trust in a person, or (3) entrusting something to another’s care. Context determines the nuance, yet the center of gravity is always personal reliance upon God in Christ.

Belief as the Saving Response

From the outset, Scripture presents believing as the divinely ordained means of receiving salvation. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The same logic undergirds Romans 10:9–10, where confession with the mouth and belief in the heart bring about righteousness and salvation. Mark 16:16 couples belief with baptism as the prescribed response to the gospel proclamation.

Johannine Centrality

John structures his narrative around signs “so that you may believe” (John 20:31). Belief moves from initial assent (John 2:11) to deeper relational trust (John 11:25–27) and climaxes in the confession of Thomas (John 20:28). Unbelief, by contrast, is moral culpability: “You refuse to come to Me to have life” (John 5:40). Thus belief is both epistemic and volitional.

Pauline Theology of Belief

Paul heralds justification “through faith” (Galatians 2:16); yet he also uses the verb to describe divine stewardship: the gospel “was entrusted to me” (1 Timothy 1:11). Believing is not a meritorious work but the open hand receiving God’s gift (Romans 4:5). It also governs the Christian’s ongoing life: “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17), and believers abound in hope “by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Belief and Obedience

New Testament writers frequently juxtapose belief with obedience, underscoring that true faith issues in action. Jesus declares, “If you hold to My teaching, you are truly My disciples” (John 8:31). Hebrews interprets the wilderness generation’s failure as unbelief (Hebrews 3:19; 4:3), linking disbelief with disobedience. James likewise points out that intellectual assent alone is insufficient: “Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19).

Collective Faith and Church Growth

Acts records entire households and cities coming to faith. “Crispus … believed in the Lord together with his whole household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8). Corporate belief fosters unity: “All the believers were together and had everything in common” (Acts 2:44). Elders are appointed in churches where people “had believed” (Acts 14:23), illustrating that faith births and shapes local congregations.

Entrusting and Stewardship

Several passive or perfect forms carry the sense of something entrusted. Paul speaks of “the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which I have been entrusted with” (1 Timothy 1:11) and reminds Titus that God’s word “was entrusted” at the proper time (Titus 1:3). Ministers today likewise hold a sacred trust to guard, proclaim, and exemplify the faith once delivered.

Assurance and Perseverance

Perfect tenses stress settled conviction: “We have believed and know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69). Paul’s personal testimony echoes this certitude: “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). Such assurance fuels perseverance amid trials (Acts 27:25; 1 Peter 1:8).

Warning Passages

Scripture soberly testifies to the danger of unbelief. Jesus laments, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Eschatologically, those “who refused to believe the truth but delighted in wickedness” face judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:12). These warnings exhort readers to ongoing, obedient faith.

Historical Reception

Early church fathers emphasized πιστεύω in baptismal creeds (“I believe in God…”). During the Reformation, the verb’s forensic dimension undergirded the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Throughout missions history, calls to “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31) have framed evangelistic appeals, anchoring preaching in the apostolic pattern.

Ministry Implications Today

• Evangelism: Present Christ’s finished work and summon hearers to believe (John 20:31).
• Discipleship: Nurture a faith that endures, obeys, and matures (Colossians 2:6–7).
• Pastoral Care: Strengthen assurance by reminding believers of God’s faithfulness (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
• Apologetics: Address doubts, for faith rests on credible testimony (John 20:29; 1 John 5:10).
• Stewardship: Guard the entrusted gospel with integrity and courage (1 Timothy 6:20).

Conclusion

The verb translated “believe” weaves through the New Testament as the vital response to God’s revelation, the ongoing posture of the redeemed, and the sacred trust of those called to proclaim the gospel. Its 244 occurrences testify that authentic Christianity is, at its heart, believing God—and living accordingly.

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