Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Persuasion in the biblical context refers to the act of convincing or influencing someone to believe or do something. It involves the use of reasoning, argument, or appeal to change someone's mind or behavior. In the Scriptures, persuasion is often associated with the proclamation of the Gospel and the efforts to lead others to faith in Jesus Christ.
Biblical Examples and Usage:The concept of persuasion is evident throughout the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, where the apostles and early Christians sought to persuade others of the truth of the Gospel.
1.
Paul's Ministry: The Apostle Paul frequently engaged in persuasion as part of his missionary work. In
Acts 18:4, it is recorded, "Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks." Paul's approach often involved reasoning from the Scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah (
Acts 17:2-4).
2.
Persuasion and the Gospel: Persuasion is closely linked to the preaching of the Gospel. In
2 Corinthians 5:11, Paul writes, "Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men." Here, persuasion is motivated by a reverence for God and a desire for others to come to salvation.
3.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: While human effort in persuasion is significant, the Bible emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting and convincing individuals of the truth. In
John 16:8, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, saying, "When He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment."
4.
Persuasion and False Teachings: The Bible also warns against being persuaded by false teachings. In
Galatians 1:6-7, Paul expresses astonishment that the Galatians are "so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all." Here, persuasion is seen in a negative light when it leads believers away from the truth.
5.
The Power of Persuasion in Personal Relationships: Persuasion is not limited to evangelism but extends to personal relationships and community life. In
Philemon 1:8-9, Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, saying, "Although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love." This demonstrates the use of persuasion through love and relationship rather than authority.
Theological Implications:Persuasion in the Bible underscores the importance of truth, love, and the work of the Holy Spirit in leading individuals to faith. It highlights the responsibility of believers to share the Gospel with others, using wisdom and discernment to persuade effectively. At the same time, it serves as a caution against being swayed by false doctrines and the importance of grounding one's faith in the truth of Scripture.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to engage in persuasion with humility, patience, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. This involves understanding the Scriptures, being prepared to give a reason for the hope within (
1 Peter 3:15), and approaching others with love and respect. Persuasion should always aim to glorify God and lead others to a deeper understanding of His truth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination.
2. (n.) The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction, which has been induced.
3. (n.) A creed or belief; a sect or party adhering to a certain creed or system of opinions; as, of the same persuasion; all persuasions are agreed.
4. (n.) The power or quality of persuading; persuasiveness.
5. (n.) That which persuades; a persuasive.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PERSUADE; PERSUASIONper-swad', per-swazhun: (1) In the older English "persuade" need not mean "convince" (although this is its usual sense in the King James Version:Matthew 27:20, etc.), but may mean only "attempt to convince," "argue with." This is well brought out inActs 26:28, where the Greek is literally "In little thou `persuadest' peitheis to make me a Christian." the King James Version took peitheis as "convince" ("almost thou persuadest me...."), but this is impossible, and so the Revised Version (British and American) rendered peitheis by "thou wouldest fain." To keep something of the language of the King James Version, "persuasion" was supplied after "little," but it should have been italicized, for it is merely conjectural, as the American Revised Version margin recognizes by giving "time" as an alternative for "persuasion." The text of the passage, however, is suspected. SeeALMOST. Similarly inActs 13:43, the Revised Version (British and American) replaces "persuade" by "urge," and the same change should have been made also in2 Kings 18:32 and its parallels. (2) The "popular persuasions" of 1 Esdras 5:73 are "efforts to persuade the people" (uncertain text, however).Acts 19:8 the King James Version writes "persuading the things" (the Revised Version (British and American) "as to the things") for "present the things persuasively." And inGalatians 1:10 (the English Revised Version and the King James Version, not in the American Standard Revised Version) and2 Corinthians 5:11, there is a half-ironic force in the word: Paul's enemies have accused him of using unworthy persuasion in making his conversions.
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
3988. peismone --persuasion...persuasion. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: peismone Phonetic Spelling:
(pice-mon-ay') Short Definition:
persuasion, conviction Definition
...1650. elegchos -- a proof, test
... test. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: elegchos Phonetic Spelling:
(el'-eng-khos) Short Definition: a proof,persuasion, reproof Definition: a...
4006. pepoithesis -- confidence
... Cognate: 4006 (a feminine noun derived from 3982 , "persuade, be persuaded") --
properly, ; used of human confidence (deluded self-persuasion in Phil 3:4), but...
2138. eupeithes -- constantly attendant
... compliant, obedient From eu and peitho; good forpersuasion, ie (intransitively)
complaint -- easy to be intreated. see GREEK eu. see GREEK peitho....
570. apistia -- unbelief
... Cognate: 570 (the negated form of 4103 , "faithful") -- properly, without (divine)
persuasion, "no-faithfulness" (unfaithfulness); "want of faith" (betraying a...
374. anapeitho -- to persuade
... to persuade. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anapeitho Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap-i'-tho) Short Definition: I urge by evilpersuasion, I tempt Definition...
266. hamartia -- a sin, failure
... is the brand of sin that emphasizes its -originated (-empowered) nature -- ie it
is not originated or empowered by God (ie of , His inworkedpersuasion, cf....
2210. zemioo -- to damage, suffer loss
... eternal significance in every scene of life by living in faith ("His inworked
persuasion," 4102 , Phil 3:8,9). This eternal gain always follows, no matter how...
2309. thelo -- to will, wish
... 2309 ("to desire, wish") is commonly used of the Lord extending His "best-offer"
to the believer -- wanting (desiring) to birth Hispersuasion (faith) in them...
3890. paramuthion -- exhortation, encouragement
... Phonetic Spelling: (par-am-oo'-thee-on) Short Definition: comfort, consolation
Definition: comfort, consolation, an exhortation,persuasion, encouragement....
Library
How Antony at thePersuasion of Cleopatra Sent Herod to Fight...
... CHAPTER 19. How Antony At ThePersuasion Of Cleopatra Sent Herod To Fight Against
The Arabians; And Now After Several Battles, He At Length Got The Victory....
Paul'sPersuasion
... TALK THIRTY-THREE. PAUL'SPERSUASION. Paul uses the term "persuaded" in
the sense of assurance. When he said that he was persuaded...
Passion andPersuasion
... PASSION ANDPERSUASION. It may... unpleasing. The passions are the very life
and soul ofpersuasion. QUALITIES NEEDED IN THE ORATOR. What...
Hold Fast in the Meantime thisPersuasion, While I Examine a...
... Chapter VIII. Hold fast in the meantime thispersuasion, while I examine
a question which comes in? Hold fast in the meantime...
That the World's Belief in Christ is the Result of Divine Power...
... Book XXII. Chapter 7."That the World's Belief in Christ is the Result of
Divine Power, Not of HumanPersuasion. But it is thoroughly...
Objection to the Number of Extracts from Philosophical Writings in...
... And otherwise erudition commends him, who sets forth the most essential doctrines
so as to producepersuasion in his hearers, engendering admiration in those...
John i. 11
... And to this end He draws no one by force or compulsion: but bypersuasion and
benefits He draws all that will, and wins them to Himself....
"That which was from the Beginning, which we have Heard, which we...
... of their hearers, or make them the more inclinable to receive instruction, or catch
their favour or good-will, which is of great moment topersuasion, for it...
With Respect to the Question, "How is He Incapable of Persuading...
... And if one were to apply this expression to men who are the "artificers ofpersuasion,"
[4571] he would not be wrong; for it is possible for a man who has...
Whether the Angels Can Change the Will of Man?
... In this way also God alone can move the will efficaciously; but an angel and man
move the will by way ofpersuasion, as above explained ([904]Q[106], A[2])....
Thesaurus
Persuasion (2 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) A creed or belief; a sect or party adhering to a certain creed or system
of opinions; as, of the same
persuasion; all persuasions are agreed.
...Persuade (20 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) To usepersuasion; to plead; to prevail bypersuasion. 6. (n.)Persuasion.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PERSUADE;PERSUASION....
Feel (58 Occurrences)
... pain. 4. (vt) To take internal cognizance of; to be conscious of; to have
an inwardpersuasion of. 5. (vt) To perceive; to observe....
Train (17 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To draw along; to trail; to drag. 2. (vt) To draw bypersuasion, artifice,
or the like; to attract by stratagem; to entice; to allure....
Believe (239 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To have a firmpersuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a
persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith....
Belief (61 Occurrences)
... knowledge; reliance upon word or testimony; partial or full assurance without positive
knowledge or absolute certainty;persuasion; conviction; confidence; as...
Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... and a fiercer mood; he had less patience with transgressors; he was a man of action
rather than a man of thought, and more inclined to use force thanpersuasion...
Urge (34 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To press the mind or will of; to ply with motives, arguments,persuasion,
or importunity. 3. (vt) To provoke; to exasperate....
Obey (219 Occurrences)
... of subordinating one's self to the person or thing heard, hence, "to obey." There
is another New Testament usage, however, indicatingpersuasion from, peithomai...
Occasion (53 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Need; exigency; requirement; necessity; as, I have no occasion for
firearms. 5. (n.) A reason or excuse; a motive; apersuasion....
Resources
How can I become more motivated for soul winning? | GotQuestions.orgIs there a correct political persuasion for Christians? | GotQuestions.orgHow is the Islamic idea of jihad different from the violence in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgPersuasion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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