Greek Word Study | 4102: faith (pistis)

Pistis is used 243 times in the NT.  236 times it is translated "faith" in the Christian Standard Bible.

The Complete Word Study Dictionary says pistis means faith.  Subjectively it means firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality, or faithfulness (though rare).  Objectively it means that which is believed, doctrine, the received articles of faith.

Strong's Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary defines pistis as moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation.  It can also mean constancy in such profession.  And it can mean the system of religious truth itself.  

Vine's Dictionary says that pistis primarily means firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing.  The main elements of pistis in relation to God are (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God's revelation or truth (2 Thess 2:11-12); (2) a personal surrender to Him (Jn 1:12); (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender (2 Cor 5:7).  Vine's goes on to say that "all this stands in contrast to belief in its purely natural exercise, which consists of an opinion held in good 'faith' without necessary reference to its proof."

A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament says pistis means "faith, belief, trust, generally of the leaning of the entire human personality upon God or the Messiah in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness."

Thayer's says pistis means (1) "conviction of the truth of anything... in the NT it refers to the conviction or belief respecting man's relationship with God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith....  "When it relates to God pistis is the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ."  "In reference to Christ, it denotes a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God."  (2) "fidelity, faithfulness, i.e. the character of one who can be relied upon (Gal 5:22)."

The Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words says pistis "is one of the most difficult words to define... [T]o have faith is to relinquish trust in oneself and to put that trust in another."  It is sometimes used to refer to "what one believes, the content of faith, which is God's revelation in Scripture.  But the overall emphasis is placed on the active, responding faith of the hearer to the gospel."  "Faith, then, is belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who saves."  

The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words says it means "belief, trust, and conviction in the person of God and Christ as the only means of salvation, forgiveness of sin, and guarantee of eternal life.  In most cases, the meanings 'belief' and 'faith' are interchangeable."  Sometimes it means "Christianity as a system of belief centered on the person of Christ (Acts 13:8; 14:22; 2 Cor 13:5; Gal 1:23; Eph 4:13; Phil 1:25)."