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 Context

While 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 Context

In 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 Spirit

In 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 Considerations

The 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.

Conclusion

The 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.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.

PERSUADE; PERSUASION

per-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 in Acts 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. See ALMOST. Similarly in Acts 13:43, the Revised Version (British and American) replaces "persuade" by "urge," and the same change should have been made also in 2 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 in Galatians 1:10 (the English Revised Version and the King James Version, not in the American Standard Revised Version) and 2 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

3982. peitho -- to persuade, 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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3982.htm - 10k

374. anapeitho -- to persuade
... to persuade. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anapeitho Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap-i'-tho) Short Definition: I urge by evil persuasion, I tempt Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/374.htm - 5k

374a. anapeitho -- to persuade
... to persuade. Transliteration: anapeitho Short Definition: persuades. Word Origin
from ana and peitho Definition to persuade NASB Word Usage persuades (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/374a.htm - 5k

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, ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1670.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... if there is strain or tension . . . trying to persuade yourself to keep from
doubting, you can be quite sure that it is not faith . . . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

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 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2138.htm - 6k

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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4135.htm - 8k

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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4389.htm - 6k

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. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3980.htm - 7k

545. apeithes -- disobedient
... preferred-will (cf. 2307 ). See 543 (). [Note the root, 3982 ("persuade").].
Word Origin from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and peitho ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/545.htm - 7k

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 ...
/hebrew/6601.htm - 5k

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 ...
/hebrew/5496.htm - 6k

It was a Difficult Matter to Persuade Me that the Tinseled Ware ...
... THE THIRD CENTURY 9 It was a difficult matter to persuade me that the tinseled
ware upon a hobby-horse was a fine thing. It was a ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/9 it was a difficult.htm

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 to persuade them and said: "The ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xl the evil one.htm

And So from Such Things Let a Man Persuade Himself not to Make ...
... Life of Antony. Section 18. And so from such things let a man persuade
himself not to make light? 18. And so from such things ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 18.htm

Not Even the Most Experienced Men could Persuade Him of the Vanity ...
... Book IV. Chapter III."Not Even the Most Experienced Men Could Persuade
Him of the Vanity of Astrology to Which He Was Devoted. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter iii not even the most.htm

Of a Lazy Brother who Tried to Persuade Others to Leave the ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XX. Of a lazy brother who tried to persuade others
to leave the monastery. We know a brother, whose name we ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xx of a lazy.htm

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 who persuade others to sacrifice and serve idols. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/5 that god is so.htm

The Rules of Eloquence are True, Though Sometimes Used to Persuade ...
... Book II. Chapter 36."The Rules of Eloquence are True, Though Sometimes
Used to Persuade Men of What is False. 54. There are also ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 36 the rules of eloquence.htm

The Pythagoreans and Stoics, While they Hold the Immortality of ...
... Chap. XVIII."The Pythagoreans and Stoics, While They Hold the Immortality
of the Soul, Foolishly Persuade a Voluntary Death. Others ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xviii the pythagoreans and stoics.htm

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 to persuade." [1951] Then he adds: "To teach is a ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 12 the aim of the.htm

Rhetoric and Eloquence
... Cicero has written in many places that the duty of an orator is to speak in "a manner
proper to persuade"; and in his books of rhetoric, of which undoubtedly ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/rhetoric and eloquence.htm

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). ...
/p/persuade.htm - 15k

Persuasion (2 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PERSUADE; PERSUASION. ... (2) The "popular persuasions"
of 1 Esdras 5:73 are "efforts to persuade the people" (uncertain text, however). ...
/p/persuasion.htm - 9k

Win (27 Occurrences)
... yourselves. (WEY NIV). Matthew 28:14 If this comes to the governor's ears, we
will persuade him and make you free of worry." (See NAS). Luke ...
/w/win.htm - 14k

Almost (27 Occurrences)
... Some scholars are of the opinion that the thought is: "You are trying to persuade
me so as to make me a Christian." This is, indeed, the Spanish version; but ...
/a/almost.htm - 20k

Persuaded (40 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Persuade. 2. (pp & a.) Prevailed upon;
influenced by argument or entreaty; convinced. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/p/persuaded.htm - 18k

Persuading (6 Occurrences)
... (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Persuade. Multi-Version Concordance ... (YLT). Acts 18:13 saying --
'Against the law this one doth persuade men to worship God;' (See RSV NIV). ...
/p/persuading.htm - 8k

Hezeki'ah (120 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 32:11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade 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 ...
/h/hezeki'ah.htm - 35k

Judaeus
... He tried to persuade them that, after all, Greek thought was not inimical to their
cherished doctrines, but, on the contrary, involved similar, almost identical ...
/j/judaeus.htm - 29k

Philo
... He tried to persuade them that, after all, Greek thought was not inimical to their
cherished doctrines, but, on the contrary, involved similar, almost identical ...
/p/philo.htm - 29k

James (40 Occurrences)
... By the same reasoning, he accompanied Jesus on His journey to Capernaum (John
2:12), and joined in attempting to persuade Him to depart from Galilee for Judea ...
/j/james.htm - 78k

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