Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of persuasion in the Bible encompasses the act of convincing others to believe or act in a certain way, often in the context of faith, righteousness, and truth. The term "persuade" and its derivatives appear in various contexts throughout Scripture, highlighting both human and divine efforts to influence beliefs and actions.
Old Testament ContextWhile the specific term "persuade" is less frequently used in the Old Testament, the concept is evident in narratives where individuals are influenced to follow God's commands or turn away from sin. For example, the prophets often sought to persuade the Israelites to return to God and abandon idolatry. The persuasive power of God's word is a recurring theme, as seen in
Isaiah 1:18 : "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, persuasion is more explicitly addressed, particularly in the context of spreading the Gospel. The Apostle Paul frequently engaged in persuasion as part of his missionary efforts. 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 and dialogue, appealing to both the Scriptures and the experiences of his audience.
Paul's persuasive efforts are further illustrated in
Acts 26:28 , where King Agrippa responds to Paul's testimony by saying, "In such a short time, would you persuade me to become a Christian?" This highlights the challenge and importance of persuasion in the early church's evangelistic mission.
The Role of the Holy SpiritIn Christian theology, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in persuasion, particularly in convicting individuals of sin and leading them to faith in Christ.
John 16:8 states, "And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." The Holy Spirit's work is seen as essential in opening hearts and minds to the truth of the Gospel.
Ethical ConsiderationsThe Bible also addresses the ethical dimensions of persuasion. Believers are called to persuade others with integrity and love, avoiding manipulation or coercion. In
2 Corinthians 5:11 , Paul writes, "Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men." This persuasion is rooted in a sincere desire for others to experience the truth and grace of God.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of persuasion is multifaceted, involving human efforts, divine intervention, and ethical considerations. It is a vital aspect of the Christian mission, emphasizing the importance of truth, love, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in leading others to faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To influence or gain over by argument, advice, entreaty, expostulation, etc.; to draw or incline to a determination by presenting sufficient motives.
2. (v. t.) To try to influence.
3. (v. t.) To convince by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe.
4. (v. t.) To inculcate by argument or expostulation; to advise; to recommend.
5. (v. i.) To use persuasion; to plead; to prevail by persuasion.
6. (n.) Persuasion.
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
3982. peitho -- topersuade, to have confidence... to
persuade, to have confidence. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: peitho Phonetic
Spelling: (pi'-tho) Short Definition: I
persuade, urge Definition: I
...374. anapeitho -- topersuade
... topersuade. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anapeitho Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap-i'-tho) Short Definition: I urge by evil persuasion, I tempt Definition...
374a. anapeitho -- topersuade
... topersuade. Transliteration: anapeitho Short Definition: persuades. Word Origin
from ana and peitho Definition topersuade NASB Word Usage persuades (1)....
1670. helko -- to drag
... to drag. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: helko Phonetic Spelling:
(hel-koo'-o) Short Definition: I drag, draw, pull,persuade Definition: I drag,...
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... if there is strain or tension . . . trying topersuade yourself to keep from
doubting, you can be quite sure that it is not faith . . ....
2138. eupeithes -- constantly attendant
... 2138 (from 2095 , "well" and 3982 , "persuade") -- properly, "well-persuaded," ,
ie willing (pre-disposed, favorable to); easy to come to terms with ....
4135. plerophoreo -- to bring in full measure, to fulfill
... and phoreo; to carry out fully (in evidence), ie Completely assure (or convince),
entirely accomplish -- most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full...
4389. protrepo -- to turn forward, urge forward
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: protrepo Phonetic Spelling: (prot-rep'-om-ahee)
Short Definition: I encourage, exhort Definition: I encourage, exhort,persuade...
3980. peitharcheo -- to obey authority
... 3980 (from 3982 , "persuade" and 746, "what comes ") -- properly, of , ie
what has (the higher authority). Word Origin from a comp....
545. apeithes -- disobedient
... preferred-will (cf. 2307 ). See 543 (). [Note the root, 3982 ("persuade").].
Word Origin from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and peitho...
Strong's Hebrew
6601. pathah -- to be spacious, wide or open... allure, deceive, enlarge, entice, flatter,
persuade, silly one A primitive
root; to open, ie Be (causatively, make) roomy; usually
...5496. suth -- to incite, allure, instigate
... persuaded (2), stirred (1). entice, move,persuade, provoke, remove, set
on, stir up, take away. Perhaps denominative from shayith...
Library
It was a Difficult Matter toPersuade Me that the Tinseled Ware...
... THE THIRD CENTURY 9 It was a difficult matter topersuade me that the tinseled
ware upon a hobby-horse was a fine thing. It was a...
The Evil one Perceived his Great Humiliation, and Boasted Himself...
... The Evil One perceived his great humiliation, and boasted himself in the presence
of his servants: he spoke great words topersuade them and said: "The...
And So from Such Things Let a ManPersuade Himself not to Make...
... Life of Antony. Section 18. And so from such things let a manpersuade
himself not to make light? 18. And so from such things...
Not Even the Most Experienced Men couldPersuade Him of the Vanity...
... Book IV. Chapter III."Not Even the Most Experienced Men CouldPersuade
Him of the Vanity of Astrology to Which He Was Devoted....
Of a Lazy Brother who Tried toPersuade Others to Leave the...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XX. Of a lazy brother who tried topersuade others
to leave the monastery. We know a brother, whose name we...
That God is So Angry against Idolatry, that He Has Even Enjoined...
... 5. That God is so angry against idolatry, that He has even enjoined those to
be slain whopersuade others to sacrifice and serve idols....
The Rules of Eloquence are True, Though Sometimes Used toPersuade...
... Book II. Chapter 36."The Rules of Eloquence are True, Though Sometimes
Used toPersuade Men of What is False. 54. There are also...
The Pythagoreans and Stoics, While they Hold the Immortality of...
... Chap. XVIII."The Pythagoreans and Stoics, While They Hold the Immortality
of the Soul, FoolishlyPersuade a Voluntary Death. Others...
The Aim of the Orator, According to Cicero, is to Teach, to...
... Accordingly a great orator has truly said that "an eloquent man must speak so as
to teach, to delight, and topersuade." [1951] Then he adds: "To teach is a...
Rhetoric and Eloquence
... Cicero has written in many places that the duty of an orator is to speak in "a manner
proper topersuade"; and in his books of rhetoric, of which undoubtedly...
Thesaurus
Persuade (20 Occurrences)... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PERSUADE; PERSUASION.
... (2) The "popular persuasions"
of 1 Esdras 5:73 are "efforts to
persuade the people" (uncertain text, however).
...Persuasion (2 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.PERSUADE; PERSUASION.... (2) The "popular persuasions"
of 1 Esdras 5:73 are "efforts topersuade the people" (uncertain text, however)....
Win (27 Occurrences)
... yourselves. (WEY NIV). Matthew 28:14 If this comes to the governor's ears, we
willpersuade him and make you free of worry." (See NAS). Luke...
Almost (27 Occurrences)
... Some scholars are of the opinion that the thought is: "You are trying topersuade
me so as to make me a Christian." This is, indeed, the Spanish version; but...
Persuaded (40 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) ofPersuade. 2. (pp & a.) Prevailed upon;
influenced by argument or entreaty; convinced. Multi-Version Concordance...
Persuading (6 Occurrences)
... (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofPersuade. Multi-Version Concordance... (YLT). Acts 18:13 saying --
'Against the law this one dothpersuade men to worship God;' (See RSV NIV)....
Hezeki'ah (120 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 32:11 Doth not Hezekiahpersuade you, to give you over to die by famine
and by thirst, saying: The LORD our God will deliver us out of the hand of...
Judaeus
... He tried topersuade them that, after all, Greek thought was not inimical to their
cherished doctrines, but, on the contrary, involved similar, almost identical...
Philo
... He tried topersuade them that, after all, Greek thought was not inimical to their
cherished doctrines, but, on the contrary, involved similar, almost identical...
James (40 Occurrences)
... By the same reasoning, he accompanied Jesus on His journey to Capernaum (John
2:12), and joined in attempting topersuade Him to depart from Galilee for Judea...
Resources
Does The Harbinger really predict America's future? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Herod Agrippa II? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is spiritual manipulation? | GotQuestions.orgPersuade: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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