Pistis

InGreek mythology,Pistis(/ˈpɪstɪs/;Ancient Greek:Πίστις) was the personification ofgood faith,trust and reliability. In Christianity and in the New Testament,pistisis typically translated as "faith". The word is mentioned together with such other personifications asElpis(Hope),sophrosyne(Prudence), and theCharites,who were all associated with honesty and harmony among people.

HerRomanequivalent wasFides,a personified concept significant in Roman culture.

Additionally, a close linkage betweenpistisand persuasion developed through the discussion of faith (belief) and was further morphed by an understanding ofpistisas a rhetorical technique.

In rhetoric

Pistisin rhetoric can mean "proof" and is the element to induce true judgment throughenthymemes,hence to give "proof" of a statement.There are three modes by which this is employed. The first mode is the "subject matter capable of inducing a state of mind within the audience."The secondpistisis the "subject itself considered under an appeal to the intellect or in its logical aspects."The thirdpistisis the "logical, rational, and intellectual aspect of the issue under discussion."All three modes ofpistisoccur in logos as it appeals to logical persuasion.

Greek rhetoric and Christianity

New Testament translators favor the English word "faith" when translatingpistis.Some have argued that the Christian concept of faith (pistis) was borrowed from Greek rhetorical notions ofpistis,perhaps making "argument" a better translation than "faith." Christianpistisdeems its persuasion in a positive light as the New Testament concepts of pistis require that a listener be knowledgeable of the subject matter at issue and thus able to fully assent.Whereas, the Greeks took the notion ofpistisas persuasive discourse that was elliptical and concentrated on the "affect and effect rather than on the representation of the truth."The evolution ofpistisin Christianity as a persuasive rhetorical technique starkly contrasts with its meaning used by the Greeks.More recent scholarship has argued for a more robust understanding ofpististhat moved beyond a concept of "belief."Teresa Morgan has argued for the concept of "trust."Matthew Bates argues for "allegiance."

See also

• Faith
• Faith in Christianity

References

• Grimaldi, William (1957-11-02).A Note on Pisteis in Aristotle's Rhetoric.The Johns Hopkins University Press.JSTOR291828.
• Abizadeh, Arash (December 2002).The Passions of the Wise: Phronesis, Rhetoric, and Aristotle's Passionate Practical Deliberation.Philosophy Education Society.JSTOR20131817.
• Cherry, Roger Dennis; Kinneavy, James L.; Nakdate, Neil; Paul, Stephen (1992).A Rhetoric of Doing Essays on Written Discourse: Pistis, Expression, and Belief.Southern Illinois University Press.