March 2026 printable 230 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace, God's unmerited divine favor, be to you and peace, an absolute end of all strife or trouble, be to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Father, your words are the words of life. They are words that just cannot fail us. Father, thank you for giving us your Word which is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. By putting to heart and taking believing action, we pray your children may be perfect, well pleasing, and thoroughly furnished unto all good works. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

This month's teaching is on the Greek word peithó used for our English word persuade or persuaded.

Note: The sources for all Greek English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek Word of God (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter, The Bible Hub, Topical Lexicon, and Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language.

Note: Bold added for highlighting.

In our world today, there are many words being said and read on social media that contain a lot of dis-information, fact-less news, or flat-out lies. In many cases, we are being flooded with deceitful and hurtful words. The Bible teaches us that words can either edify us or tear us down. It is written in Ephesians 4:29:

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

We are what we are because of the words we have received, put on our hearts, and acted on through believing and doing. To counter the words which tear us down through lies, dis-information, or fact-less truths, we must search the scriptures daily (see Acts 17:11) and study God's Word (see 2 Timothy 2:15)! The February 2023 teaching addresses What does God's Word say about lies?

When we hear or read words that are contrary to God's Word, we must renew our minds (see Romans 12:2) and say, "it is written" and cite God's Word (see Matthew 4:1-10 and Luke 4:1-12). We have the choice as to what words we let stay in our minds. You see, the knowledge of the Word is not all head knowledge. It is a heart or mind knowledge; it is an internal recognition, feeling, and knowingness. You have to get into the Word of God so that Word of God gets into you. The Word of God must be your heartbeat! Job 23:12 instructed us to esteem the words of God more than food. We must believe God's Word above all else! We must say, "Thus said the Lord, it is written. Be unto us according to God's Word!" John 6:63 reminds us:

The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

It is written in 1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The English word persuade or persuaded is the Greek word peithó meaning to persuade, to convince, to trust, to have confidence. It has been translated to excite, investigate, put upon doing a thing, stir, win by words, influence, and speak with winning words. The verb peithó represents the concepts of persuading others, being convinced in one's own mind, and yielding in obedient trust of God's Word. From the leaders who persuaded the crowds against Jesus in Matthew 27:20 to Paul who tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets in Acts 28:23, this word represents both righteous and unrighteous influence.

There are 55 usages of the Greek word peithó, used for our English word persuade or persuaded in God's Word. We will read some of the usages documented in the scriptures. We exhort and encourage you to read all 55 usages for more understanding. Remember, we do word studies so that we can act on God's Word versus the sense-knowledge word! All people live or die by words. Your word is you; your word defines who you are and what you believe in. By putting on God's Word daily in all we do and say, we let God's Word speak for itself through our words and actions. If we wish to persuade or peithó others as Ambassadors for Christ, we must understand God's Word and the words used to represent God's Will.

As it is written in Proverbs 4:23:

Keep thy heart [mind] with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

As it is written in Proverbs 23:7:

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

The heart is the seat of our personal life which is operated from the mind. The March 2023 and April 2023 teachings focus on word studies regarding the heart and mind. We invite you to read these for more understanding and practical application.

Let us see what we can learn from the first usage of peithó as documented in the scriptures. We will search and examine carefully to understand what God's Will is regarding the Greek word peithó used for our English word persuade or persuaded. The first usage is about God's only begotten son Jesus Christ. It is written in Matthew 27:20. We will read verses 11-19, 22-24 for context.

And Jesus stood before the governor [Pilate]: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews [Judeans]? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

And when he [Jesus] was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Who accused Jesus? The chief priests and elders. These were the religious leaders of that time. Let's continue.

Then said Pilate unto him [Jesus], Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

And he [Jesus] answered him [Pilate] to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

We see that Pilate gave the chief priests and elders a choice. Why? The next verse gives us the answer.

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

When he [Pilate] was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just [righteous] man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Verse 20:

But the chief priests and elders persuaded [peithó] the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

In the first usage of peithó, who were the people that spoke winning words and persuaded the multitude? The chief priests and elders. What was their purpose? That they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. These chief priests and elders were the religious leaders of the people and were supposed to be teaching them the Will of God according to His Word. Yet, they used words to convince the crowd to yell for Barabbas to be released even though Barabbas had committed murder in the insurrection (see Mark 15:7). These religious leaders wanted the people to call for Barabbas' release instead of Jesus, the son of God, who had done no evil and was a just or righteous man as noted by Pilate's wife. What were the chief priests and elders demanding? The release of Barabbas and to destroy utterly Jesus by crucifixion.

In verse 20, the phrase should ask is the Greek word aiteó meaning to ask, request, demand. The word destroy is the Greek word apollumi which means to destroy, perish, lose, or destroy utterly. What were the chief priests and elders with winning words demanding? The release of Barabbas and to destroy utterly Jesus by crucifixion. This leads into the next set of verses.

Verses 21-24:

The governor answered and said unto them [the chief priests and elders], Whether of the twain [the two] will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

Pilate saith unto them [the chief priests and elders], What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be [What?] crucified.

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just [righteous] person: see ye to it.

The next usage of peithó we will review is in the Book of Acts. Acts is the transition book from the Gospel Administration to the Church Epistles (Grace Administration) in which we now live. Acts 2:4 began the Grace Administration which was Pentecost. The Book of Acts focuses on the rise and expansion of the Christian church of the body.
Peithó appears in Acts 13:43; we will read verses 36-42 for context.

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

But he [Jesus Christ], whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

While Jesus Christ's body had started to corrupt after he was laid to rest in the tomb, it had not fully corrupted. Let's continue.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness [remission] of sins:

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

And when the Jews [Judeans] were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them [before] the next sabbath.

Verse 43:

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews [Judeans] and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded [peithó] them to continue in the grace of God.

The phrase the grace of God came on the day of Pentecost or Acts 2:4 where people could be born-again of God's Spirit and receive the gift of holy spirit into manifestation by speaking in tongues. Through their words, Paul and Barnabas persuaded the Gentiles to continue in the grace, unmerited divine favor, from God, the one supreme whom is the fountain of life and light!

The next usage of peithó we will review is written in Romans 8:38. We will include verse 39 for context.

For I am persuaded [peithó], that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are reminded to be persuaded (peithó) by God's Word that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, the one supreme whom is the fountain of life and light which is in Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah, Jesus, the humble one our Lord and master. How powerful and comforting is that? This is why we read God's Word - to become fully persuaded (peithó) that nothing can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!

The next usage of peithó is found in Romans 14:14. The context is a person eating food unto the Lord.

I know, and am persuaded [peithó], by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

The word unclean is the Greek word koinos meaning common, profane, unholy, defiled. This referenced how to eat food unto the Lord. Let's re-read verse 14 with renewed understanding:

I perceive, and am persuaded by winning words, by the Lord, master Jesus, the humble one that there is nothing unholy of itself: but to him that esteemed anything to be unholy, to him it is unholy.

The next usage of peithó we will look at is written in Romans 15:14:

And I [Paul] myself also am persuaded [peithó] of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Let's unpack this verse for the richness of meaning. Here the word full is the Greek word mestos meaning full, filled, complete. The word goodness means kindness and moral worth. The word filled is the Greek word pleroo meaning filled to capacity. The word knowledge is the Greek word gnosis from the root Greek word ginosko meaning to know by experience. And the word admonish is the Greek word noutheteó which means to instruct and warn. Now, let's re-read Romans 15:14 with understanding.

And I, Paul, myself, also am persuaded with winning words of you, my brethren, that you also are filled to capacity of goodness, moral worth and filled to capacity with all knowledge by experience and able also to instruct and warn one another.

Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:11 for the next usage of peithó.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade [peithó] men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

In this verse, the word terror with the genitive or possessive of an object means reverence or respect towards someone or something. The word Lord means master. And the word manifest means to make apparent, show openly, make known. With this understanding and our growing understanding of the word peithó , let's re-read 2 Corinthians 5:11.

Having knowledge of therefore the reverence of the Lord and master, we persuade by winning words of God men; but in contrast we are made apparent unto God; the one supreme whom is the fountain of life and light and I trust also are made apparent in your habit pattern of doing God's Word.

The next usage of peithó for study is written in Galatians 1:10:

For do I now persuade [peithó] men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Given our understanding thus far, let's re-read verse 10:

For do I Paul now persuade with winning words men, or God, the one supreme whom is the fountain of life and light? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the bond servant of Christ, the anointed one the Messiah.

It is written in 2 Thessalonians 3:4 with the next usage of peithó:

And we have confidence [peithó] in the Lord [master] touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Here we see the use of peithó emphasizing the actions we are to take based on the Word of God. Remember, we have the choice as to what words we let stay in our minds and what words we put into believing action. What words do you want in your heart and mind? The Word of God or the words you are exposed to in the senses' realm? I choose the Word of God as my heartbeat and esteemed it more than my necessary food!

The last usage of peithó we will look at is written in 1 John 3:19. We will read verse 18 for context.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed [work] and in truth.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure [peithó] our hearts before him.

We are instructed to love in works and in the truth of God's Word. When we do this we are persuaded or peithó that we are of the truth. What truth? It is written in John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. How appropriate are these verses for our time? They are a reminder that words are not a "measure of a man." This phrase focuses on the idea that true character and integrity are demonstrated not through words but through actions and the way one treats others. It is through works and actions that we truly know a person's heart and where they stand on God's Word!

Let's re-read verse 19 with understanding.

And hereby we know by experience that we are of the truth and shall be assure by winning words of God in our hearts, the inner most part of our being which are operated by our minds in the presence of him.

It is written in John 6:63 tells us:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

In this teaching, we learned the English word persuade or persuaded is the Greek word peithó meaning to persuade, convince, trust, or have confidence. The verb peithó represents the concepts of persuading others, being convinced in one's own mind, and yielding in obedient trust of God's Word. In the Bible, there are 55 usages of the Greek word peithó in God's Word. We examined verses with peithó to better understand that when we put on God's Word in our life, those words become our spirit and life. When we become fully persuaded by God's Word, we see that these verses we examined are the winning words we must choose to speak and act upon in this life! We must condition our life according to God's Word!

Father, we thank you that by reading your Word we are fully persuaded to put it in our hearts and minds so that we can manifest your Word daily in all we do and say. We thank you that your Word can grow and prevail in our daily lives and we can hold steadfast to the knowledge we gain in your Word. Your Word is our life, our strength, and our salvation. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Word of God is the Will of God.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Mack, Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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