ὀλιγοπιστία (oligopistia)
oligopistia
little faith
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun oligopistia describes a state of "little faith" or diminished trust in God. It appears only once in the New Testament, at Matthew 17:20, where Jesus uses it to address the disciples’ inability to cast out a demon. The term combines oligos ("small" or "few") with pistis ("faith"), indicating that the issue was not a total absence of belief, but a faith that was insufficient for the task at hand.
This usage highlights a practical distinction in Scripture between having some trust and having enough to act decisively. Jesus contrasts this small faith with the power of a mustard seed, suggesting that even a tiny amount of genuine trust can accomplish what human effort cannot. The word serves as a diagnostic label for moments when fear or doubt shrinks the scope of one’s reliance on God.
Translators consistently render it as "little faith," preserving the comparative nature of the Greek. It does not condemn the disciples for their failure, but identifies the specific quality of trust that was lacking. The verse stands as a reminder that spiritual effectiveness depends less on the volume of one’s confidence and more on the object of that confidence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus called His disciples “little faith,” He was not rejecting them but diagnosing a specific struggle. The Greek word oligopistia combines ‘small’ and ‘faith,’ pointing to trust that is genuine yet insufficient for the task at hand. This distinction matters because it separates total unbelief from a faith that has shrunk under pressure. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus addresses their inability to cast out a demon not by condemning their character, but by identifying this limited trust as the barrier.
This word offers comfort to anyone who feels their belief is too weak to make a difference. It reminds us that spiritual power does not depend on the volume of our confidence, but on the object of that confidence. Even a tiny amount of genuine trust, like a mustard seed, can accomplish what human effort cannot. The issue is not whether your faith is big enough, but whether it is placed in the right God.
You do not need to manufacture a larger faith to be effective. Instead, you can bring your small, honest trust to Jesus. He meets us where we are, using our limited reliance on Him to demonstrate His sufficient power. This perspective shifts the focus from our performance to His provision, allowing hope to grow even in moments of doubt.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- little faith1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀλιγοπιστίαν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 17:20
He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
This is the only occurrence of the word, where Jesus identifies 'little faith' as the reason the disciples could not cast out a demon.