Beth-El Baptist Church

10/17/04

What is the difference between “Believe In” and “Believe On”?

The phrase ‘believe in’ and ‘believe on’ occur several times in the scriptures so today we will be looking at the differences between the two phrases.

Who uses these phrases?

Matthew (1 time), Mark (1 time), Luke (7 times), John (37 times), Paul (17 times), Peter (2 times)

How are they used?

Who?	Believe On	Believe In
Matthew		Matthew 18:6
Mark		Mark 9:42
Luke	Acts 11:17; 16:31; 19:4; 22:19	Acts 9:42; 10:43; 16:34
John	John 1:12; 2:11; 3:18, 36; 4:39; 6:29,35,40,47; 7:31,38,39,48; 8:30,31; 9:35,36; 10:42; 11:45,48; 12:11,42,44,46; 14:12; 17:20 1 John 3:23 5:10-13	John 2:23; 3:15-18; 7:5; 11:25,26; 12:36; 14:1
Paul	Romans 4:5,24; 9:33; 10:11 Philippians 1:29 1 Timothy 1:16; 3:16	Romans 3:26; 4:18; 10:9,14; 15:31 1 Corinthians 15:2 Galatians 2:16 1 Thessalonians 1:7 2 Thessalonians 1:18 Titus 3:8
Peter	1 Peter 2:6	1 Peter 1:21

What are the Hebrew/Greek words for ‘believe in’?

The primary words for “believe” are

Pisteuo (strongs #4100) – To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in

The primary words for “in” are

Eis (strongs #1519) – into, unto, to, towards, for, among

Epi (strongs #1909) – upon, on, at, by, before

What are the Hebrew/Greek words for ‘believe on’?

The primary words for “believe” are

Pisteuo (strongs #4100) – To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in

Pistis (strongs #4102) – Conviction of the truth

The primary words for “in” are

Eis (strongs #1519) – into, unto, to, towards, for, among

Epi (strongs #1909) – upon, on, at, by, before

En (strongs #1722) – in, by, with

The next page of notes lists all of the Strong’s number combinations. The numbers in parenthesis are related to endings for tense and mood. Even there, the combinations are identical. In particular look at John 3:18 which uses the same combination of words twice but are translated differently.

Summary

By looking at the Greek words we see that there really is no difference in the original languages. The difference between ‘believe in’ and ‘believe on’ can essentially be described as a choice made by the translators.

What is the meaning then of either ‘believe in’ or ‘believe on’ since they have the same meaning as far as the Greek is concerned? Scripturally speaking, they both mean to be absolutely persuaded about the truth of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for the sins of His people (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Believe On

4100 (5723) 1519 (eis) – joh 1:12; 3:18, 36; 6:35, 40, 47; 7:38,39; 12:44, 46; 14:12; 1jo 5:13

4100 (5725) 1519 – 1jo 5:10,13

4100 (5661) 1519 – joh 6:29; 9:36; act 19:4

4100 (5719) 1519 – joh 9:35

4100 (5761) 846 (him) – joh 8:31

4100 (5656) 1519 – joh 2:11; 4:39; 7:31, 48; 8:30; 10:42; 11:45; 12:42

4100 (5692) 1519 – joh 11:48

4100 (5694) 1519 – joh 17:20

4100 (5707) 1519 – joh 12:11

4100 (5721) 1519 – phi 1:29

4100 (5657) 1909 (epi) – act 16:31

4100 (5723) 1909 – act 22:19; rom 4:5,24; 9:33; 10:11; 1pe 2:6

4100 (5721) 1909 – 1ti 1:16

4100 (5660) 1909 – act 11:17

4100 (5661) 3686 (name) (believe on the name) – 1jo 3:23

4100 (5681) 1722 (en) (believed on in) – 1ti 3:16

Believe In

0539 03068 (Believe in the LORD)

4100 (5723) 1519 – mat 18:6; mar 9:42; joh 3:15,16; 11:25, 26; act 10:43; 1pe 1:21

4100 (5707) 1519 – joh 7:5

4100 (5720) 1519 – joh 12:36; 14:1

4100 (5758) 1519 – joh 3:18

4100 (5656) 1519 – joh 2:23; gal 2:16

4100 (5656) 1909 – act 9:42; rom 4:18

4100 (5661) 1722 – rom 10:9

4100 (5723) 1722 – 1th 1:7

4100 (5681) 1722 – 2th 1:10

4100 (5692) – rom 10:14

4100 (5656) 1500 (eike) (believed in vain) – 1co 15:2

4100 (5761) 2316 (theos) (believing in God) – act 16:34

4100 (5761) 2316 (believed in God) – Titus 3:8

4102 1537 – rom 3:26

544 (5723) 1722 (them that do not believe in) – rom 15:31