πιστόω (pistoō)
pistoō
be convinced
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb pistoō means to make something trustworthy or to establish it as firm. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in 2 Timothy 3:14, where Paul urges Timothy to continue in what he has learned and firmly believed. Here, the word describes the act of being convinced or assured of the truth of Scripture. It is not merely an intellectual agreement but a deep-seated confidence that stands firm.
This usage connects back to its root, pistis, which means faith or trust. While pistis is the noun for belief, pistoō is the active process of making that belief solid. The sources note that in the Septuagint, it often translates the Hebrew amen, meaning "so be it" or "truly," emphasizing certainty. Thus, when Paul uses pistoō, he is calling for a faith that is not wavering but established and reliable.
Translators typically render this as "continue in what you have learned and firmly believed." The emphasis is on stability. In a context where false teachers are rising, Paul’s instruction is to hold fast to the truth with unwavering assurance. The word itself carries the weight of something built on a solid foundation, resistant to doubt or change.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Paul writes to Timothy, he uses a word that speaks to the very core of how we hold onto truth. To be 'firmly established' is not just to agree with an idea in your mind, but to have a deep, settled confidence that does not shift when pressures rise. This kind of assurance comes from knowing the source of what you believe, rather than relying on your own strength.
In a world full of changing opinions, this stability offers a quiet peace. It means your faith is rooted in something solid, like a house built on rock. You do not need to worry about every new trend or argument shaking your foundation, because the truth you have learned stands firm. This assurance allows you to live with courage and clarity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you were assured of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπιστώθης1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 3:14
But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
This verse uniquely shows the word describing a believer's settled state of confidence in the teachings they have received, rather than an initial act of belief.