What is Unbelief?
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. (Mark 16:14, KJV)
We are familiar with faith in the New Testament, and we also understand the concept of doubt. However, many are unfamiliar with unbelief, though the term appears 12 times in the New Testament. Unbelief is not mere doubt; it is a deliberate rejection of truth. But what does the Bible really say about unbelief? And what are its different forms in Scripture?
The term unbelief appears frequently in the New Testament and is expressed in different forms. It is found both as a noun and a verb, carrying a weightier meaning than simple doubt. The noun “apistia” (ἀπιστία) means “lack of faith” or “faithlessness,” while the verb “apisteō” (ἀπιστέω) means “to refuse to believe” or “to be unwilling to believe.” This distinction is critical. In English, we often think of unbelief as merely the absence of faith, but in Greek, it implies an active refusal to trust God.
When Jesus appeared to His 11 disciples after the resurrection, He rebuked them sternly for their unbelief. They had heard the testimony of those who had seen Him and understood it. They weighed it in their minds and chose not to believe. It was willful unbelief.
Contrast this with Paul’s case in 1 Timothy 1:13. He initially rejected Christ, but his unbelief was due to ignorance. This type of unbelief results from a lack of understanding and can be termed ignorant unbelief.
Whether willful or ignorant, unbelief is a rejection of God’s truth. It is not struggling with doubt but outright refusal to believe. While doubt is wrestling with faith, unbelief is rejecting it.
The seriousness of unbelief lies in its intentionality. It is not a lack of evidence but a refusal to accept the evidence given. Many reject Christ, not because they don’t know the truth, but because they refuse to submit to it.
But what about Christians? Can we also struggle with unbelief? Hebrews 3:12 warns, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Though the Bible doesn’t provide extensive verses on this subject, practically speaking, it’s evident that a Christian might believe in Jesus yet reject certain truths in God’s Word. For example, a believer might accept salvation but struggle to believe in divine healing or the gifts of the Spirit.
Unbelief and doubt can disrupt our walk with God. We must guard our hearts against both willful and ignorant unbelief, just as we guard against doubt.
Meditate
What is the difference between faith, doubt, and unbelief?
Act on the Word
Here’s a sobering truth: we may trust God in some areas, wrestle with doubt in others, and even reject His truth in certain aspects of our lives. Take a moment to reflect—are there areas where unbelief is holding you back?
Pray
Lord, help me to trust You fully and remove any unbelief from my heart. Strengthen my faith so I may walk in Your truth.
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