"Belief" in the Gospel of John

I've recently had the privilege of preaching a sermon series through parts of the Gospel of John. Most recently I've been reminded of a wonderful teaching from a wise professor in seminary Dr. Robert Yarbrough. Dr. Yarbrough made the argument that frequency of word choice often revealed the focus of biblical authors. 

If this is the case then the Gospel of John, more than any other book in the New Testament, is focused on belief. The Greek verb "πιστεύω" (pisteuō) is used a total of 244 times in 218 different verses (By count of Greek Concordance of the NASB). Out of these 218 different verses, 85 of those verses occur in the gospel of John. This accounts for about 38% of the word's usage in the New Testament. Strong's offers the following definition of this word: 

(Taken from Blueletterbible.org entry on Strong's G4100)

You might be saying "Ok, Jacob, so belief shows up frequently in John....so what?" Here the distinction must be made between the verb "πιστεύω" (pisteuō) and the feminine noun πίστις (pistis). 

(Taken from Blueletterbible.org entry on Strong's G4102)

While Pisteuo (which occurs in 85 verses in John) is mostly focused on faith in relationship to something, Pistis is mostly focuses on the presence of faith period. 

John's Gospel uses a word (Pisteuo) which points towards a particular action, and often this verb is used with consequential meaning. The consequential meaning simply put means that there are consequences related to the action or in-action related to this verb. While the noun version of "faith" or "believe" most often refers to a moral persuasion, creed, or conviction that already exist. The verb form places a higher emphasis on the object of that persuasion, creed, or conviction. There are a great many who have faith in god(s), there are a great many who have faith (in general) regarding their political party, their favorite sports team, their spouse, their children, their ethical convictions, and their own conduct. Yet in the Gospel of John the noun form of this word never shows up. John is obsessed with using the verb form. John isn't focused on the faith or belief people already have, John (and the Holy Spirit through John) as he relates Christ's ministry is focused on the absolute necessity to put faith in Jesus. 

By way of contrast, let's look at a few passages that use πίστιν (Pistis) the noun form of faith/belief. This won't be comprehensive or exhaustive in any way, but hopefully it gives us an introductory idea of the distinctions and purpose for John's use for the verb rather than the noun.  

In Matthew 8:10 we're told of the Roman centurion in Capernaum. Jesus comments: ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν παρ᾽ οὐδενὶ τοσαύτην πίστιν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ εὗρον. "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith."

Here the presence of belief, the reality of the substance of the faith of the Centurion is recognized by Jesus. 

In Mark 2:5 we're told about the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof of a house in Capernaum. As the friends of the man lower him through the roof we're told: καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ τέκνον ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'"

Here the presence of belief is again noted by Jesus as he observes the reality of the substance of the faith of the friends of the paralyzed man. 

In Acts 6:5 we are given a resume for Stephen (one of the first Deacons) and he is described thusly: ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον ἄνδρα πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου. "They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;"

Here the actuality of Stephen's faith is spoken of as being "full" as a testimony to his character and devotion. 

Let us now take a look at a few instances of πιστεύω (pisteuō) in John's gospel. Again, this won't be comprehensive, or exhaustive, but will give us further understanding on why this word is used so frequently throughout John's account of Christ's earthly ministry. 

In John's prologue and introduction (John 1:1-18) he uses πιστεύω (pisteuō) twice! First in 1:7 and then again in 1:12. 

1:7 - οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι᾽ αὐτοῦ

1:7 - He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.

In 1:7 we see that the "He" is John the Baptist who came as a precursor to Christ, and his intention and purpose in work was that through him all might believe in the coming Christ. The emphasis here through the verb form is placed in the lack of a present reality. In other words, there is a faith deficit and John's purpose is to point to the one where faith must be directed, where faith must be placed. 

1:12 - ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ

1:12 - Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

In 1:12 we see that belief from an early moment in John is connected to the object of belief - Christ's name. John's gospel continues with this theme conveying the importance of faith in Jesus. John's Gospel isn't a call to generic faith, nor does it point to the presence of an already blossoming faith which was previously displayed. John's Gospel continually uses the word belief or believe in relationship to a call to action towards placing trust, hope, and assurance in the name, in the life, in the death, and in the resurrection of Jesus the Christ. 

In John 2:23 we're told that a great many people saw what Jesus was doing and ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ "believed in his name"

In John 3 during his nocturnal discourse with Nicodemus, Jesus speaks often using the verb believe in verses 3:12, 15, 16, 18, and 36. I'll quote the most famous verse of that discourse (and maybe in wider culture) to further demonstrate the relationship between faith, and the object of the faith:  

3:16 οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον

3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Belief in the Gospel of John is a challenge, an offer, and a purpose. Belief is a challenge issued to those who do not have faith, to place their in Jesus. Belief in Christ is an offer of salvation for those who are weak, weary, downtrodden, and lost. Belief is a purpose of Jesus entire ministry, he declares multiple times throughout the Gospel of John that he says the things he says, and does the things he does "So that you might believe". 

The last time πιστεύω (pisteuō) is used in the Gospel of John is at the beginning of the epilogue which is at the end of Chapter 20. Just as John began his prologue with an explanation that John the Baptist's purpose was to point to the object of belief, the one coming who we should place all our hope, trust, and faith. John the gospel writer wraps up reaffirming his purpose in writing. In this way, like a masterful orator, John uses the same theme in conclusion as he used in his introduction (In public speaking this is often called a "wraparound" or a "circle" format). He began with belief in Christ, and he ends with a purpose statement reiterating the necessity of belief in Christ. 

John 20:31 ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ

John 20:31 these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Maybe you have faith. Maybe you have beliefs. We all do, we are all believers of something and in someone. Whether that is another person, or ourselves. We all put our hopes into something. John's Gospel challenges us to direct our faith into the person and work of Jesus. John's Gospel offers us life eternal through faith in Jesus. John's Gospel declares that Jesus' perspective on his mission was so that we might believe in him! 

Do you have faith in this Jesus today? Do you believe in this name today? Is he your hope? Is he the object of your faith? Is he the source of your present and future life? Believe in him, make Christ the object of your faith and have life abundantly now, and forevermore with him.