Dictionaries :: Unbelief

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Unbelief:

un-be-lef':The word (the King James Version) represents two Greek words, apeitheia, "disobedience" (only in Ro 11:30,32; Heb 4:6,11), and apistia, "distrust," the antithesis to "FAITH". (which see). The two words are not only akin etymologically but run into one another by mental connection, certainly where spiritual relations are concerned, as between man and God. For when God has spoken, in precept and yet more in promise, distrust involves, at least potentially, an element of disobedience. His supreme claim is to be trusted to command only what is right, and to promise only what is true. He is infinitely sympathetic in His insight, and infallibly knows where distrust comes only of the dim perceptions and weak mis-givings of our mortal nature, and where, on the other hand, a moral resistance lies at the back of the non-confidence. But the presence of that darker element is always to be suspected, at least, and searched for in serious self-examination.

We may remark that it is a loss in our language that "unbelief" is the only word we can use as the antithesis to "faith"; for "faith" and "BELIEF" (which see) are not exactly synonyms. "Unfaith" would be a welcome word for such use, if it were generally so understood.

Written by Handley Dunelm

Nave's Topical Bible

Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning

Exd 4:1; Num 11:21-23; 20:12, 13; Psa 78:19, 21, 22, 32; 95:8-11; 106:7, 24; Isa 6:9, 10; 7:9; 53:1-3; 58:3; Jer 5:12-14; Mal 1:2, 7; Mat 10:14, 15; 11:16-19; 13:13-15, 58; 17:17, 19, 20; 21:32; Mar 4:24, 25; 6:2-6; 9:24; 16:14, 16; Luk 7:31-35; 8:12, 18; 10:16; 12:46; 13:34; 14:16-24; 16:31; 18:8; 19:41, 42; 22:67; 24:11, 21, 25, 26, 36-45; Jhn 1:10, 11; 3:7, 11, 12, 18, 32, 36; 4:48; 5:38, 40, 43, 44, 46, 47; 6:36, 60-62, 64, 66, 70, 71; 8:24, 45-47, 52, 53; 10:25, 26, 37, 38; 12:37-40, 47, 48; 14:17; 16:8, 9; 20:27; Act 13:40, 41; 19:9; 22:18; 28:24; Rom 1:18; 3:3; 4:20; 9:31, 32; 10:6, 7, 14, 16, 21; 11:7, 20, 30-32; 14:23; 1Cr 1:18, 22, 23; 2:14; 14:22; 2Cr 6:14-16; 2Th 2:11, 12; 3:2; 1Ti 1:13; 2Ti 2:13; Tts 1:15; Hbr 3:12, 16-19; 4:1-3, 6, 11; 11:6, 31; 12:25; Jam 1:6, 7; 1Pe 2:7, 8; 2Pe 3:4; 1Jo 2:22, 23; 4:3; 5:10, 12; Jud 1:5; Rev 21:8

Unbelief: Instances Of:

Eve,

Gen 3:4-6.

Moses and Aaron,

Num 20:12.

Israelites,

Deu 9:23; 2Ki 17:14; Psa 78.

Naaman,

2Ki 5:12.

A Samaritan lord,

2Ki 7:2.

Disciples,

Mat 17:17; Luk 24:11, 25.

Zacharias,

Luk 1:20.

Chief priests,

Luk 22:67.

The Jewish leaders,

Mar 1:45; 2:6-11; 8:11, 12; 15:29-32; Jhn 5:38, 40, 43, 46, 47.

Disciples,

Mat 17:20; Mar 4:38, 40; Luk 24:41-45.

The half-brothers of Christ,

Jhn 7:5.

Thomas,

Jhn 20:25.

The Jews of Iconium,

Act 14:2.

The Thessalonian Jews,

Act 17:5.

Jews in Jerusalem,

Rom 15:31.

Ephesians,

Act 19:9.

Saul,

1Ti 1:13.

People of Jericho,

Hbr 11:31.

Thematic Subject Guide

Unbelief:

Exd 4:1Num 11:21-23; Num 20:12-13Psa 78:19; Psa 78:21-22; Psa 78:32; Psa 95:8-11; Psa 106:7; Psa 106:24Isa 7:9; Isa 53:1-3; Isa 58:3Jer 5:12-14Mal 1:2; Mal 1:7Mat 10:14; Mat 11:16-18; Mat 13:13-15; Mat 13:58; Mat 17:17; Mat 17:19-20; Mat 21:32Mar 6:2-5; Mar 9:24; Mar 16:14; Mar 16:16Luk 8:12; Luk 8:18; Luk 10:16; Luk 12:46; Luk 13:34; Luk 14:16-24; Luk 16:31; Luk 18:8; Luk 19:41-42; Luk 22:67; Luk 24:11; Luk 24:21; Luk 24:25-26; Luk 24:37-45Jhn 1:10-11; Jhn 3:7; Jhn 3:11-12; Jhn 3:18; Jhn 3:32; Jhn 3:36; Jhn 4:48; Jhn 5:38; Jhn 5:40; Jhn 5:43-44; Jhn 5:46-47; Jhn 6:36; Jhn 6:60-62; Jhn 6:64; Jhn 6:66; Jhn 6:70-71; Jhn 8:24; Jhn 8:45-47; Jhn 8:52-53; Jhn 10:25-26; Jhn10:37-38; Jhn 12:37; Jhn 12:39-40; Jhn 12:47-48; Jhn 14:17; Jhn 16:8; Jhn 20:27Act 13:40-41; Act 19:9; Act 22:18; Act 28:24Rom 1:18; Rom 3:3; Rom 4:20; Rom 9:31; Rom 10:6-7; Rom 10:14; Rom 10:16; Rom 10:21; Rom 11:20; Rom 11:30-32; Rom 14:231Cr 1:18; 1Cr 1:22-23; 1Cr 2:14; 1Cr 14:222Cr 6:14-162Th 2:11-12; 2Th 3:21Ti 1:132Ti 2:13Tts 1:15Hbr 3:12; Hbr 3:16-19; Hbr 4:1-3; Hbr 4:6; Hbr 4:11; Hbr 11:6; Hbr 11:31; Hbr 12:25Jam 1:6-71Pe 2:7-82Pe 3:41Jo 2:22-23; 1Jo 4:3; 1Jo 5:10; 1Jo 5:12Jud 1:5Rev 21:8

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

Unbelief: Is Sin

Jhn 16:9

Unbelief: Defilement Inseparable From

Tts 1:15

Unbelief: All, by Nature, Concluded In

Rom 11:32

Unbelief: Proceeds From

An evil heart

Hbr 3:12

Slowness of heart

Luk 24:25

Hardness of heart

Mar 16:14; Act 19:9

Disinclination to the truth

Jhn 8:45,46

Judicial blindness

Jhn 12:39,40

Not being Christ's sheep

Jhn 10:26

The devil blinding the mind

2Cr 4:4

The devil taking away the word out of the heart

Luk 8:12

Seeking honour from men

Jhn 5:44

Unbelief: Impugns the Veracity of God

1Jo 5:10

Unbelief: Exhibited In

Rejecting Christ

Jhn 16:9

Rejecting the word of God

Psa 106:24

Rejecting the gospel

Isa 53:1; Jhn 12:38

Rejecting evidence of miracles

Jhn 12:37

Departing from God

Hbr 3:12

Questioning the power of God

2Ki 7:2; Psa 78:19,20

Not believing the works of God

Psa 78:32

Staggering at the promise of God

Rom 4:20

Unbelief: Rebuked by Christ

Mat 17:17; Jhn 20:27

Unbelief: Was an Impediment to the Performance of Miracles

Mat 17:20; Mar 6:5

Unbelief: Miracles Designed to Convince Those In

Jhn 10:37,38; 1Cr 14:22

Unbelief: The Jews Rejected For

Rom 11:20

Unbelief: Believers Should Hold No Communion with Those In

2Cr 6:14

Unbelief: They Who Are Guilty Of

Have not the word of God in them

Jhn 5:38

Cannot please God

Hbr 11:6

Malign the gospel

Act 19:9

Persecute the ministers of God

Rom 15:31

Excite others against saints

Act 14:2

Persevere in it

Jhn 12:37

Harden their necks

2Ki 17:14

Are condemned already

Jhn 3:18

Have the wrath of God abiding upon

Jhn 3:36

Shall not be established

Isa 7:9

Shall die in their sins

Jhn 8:24

Shall not enter rest

Hbr 3:19; 4:11

Shall be condemned

Mar 16:16; 2Th 2:12

Shall be destroyed

Jud 1:5

Shall be cast into the lake of five

Rev 21:8

Unbelief: Warnings Against

Hbr 3:12; 4:11

Unbelief: Pray for Help Against

Mar 9:24

Unbelief: The portion of, awarded to all unfaithful servants

Luk 12:46

Unbelief: Exemplified

Eve

Gen 3:4-6

Moses and Aaron

Num 20:12

Israelites

Deu 9:23

Naaman

2Ki 5:12

Samaritan Lord

2Ki 7:2

Disciples

Mat 17:17; Luk 24:11,25

Zacharias

Luk 1:20

Chief Priests

Luk 22:67

The Jews

Jhn 5:38

Brethren of Christ

Jhn 7:5

Thomas

Jhn 20:25

Jews of Iconium

Act 14:2

Thessalonian Jews

Act 17:5

Ephesians

Act 19:9

Saul

1Ti 1:13

People of Jericho

Hbr 11:31

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

1Strong's Number: g570Greek: apistia

Unbelief:

"unbelief" 12 times, but see BELIEF, C, Note (2) for references.

2Strong's Number: g543Greek: apeitheta

Unbelief:

is always rendered "disobedience" in the RV; in Rom 11:30, 32 and Hbr 4:6, 11, AV, "unbelief."
See DISOBEDIENCE, A, No. 1.