View source for Pistis

{{Short description|Greek mythological personification of trust}}
{{Greek myth (personified)}}

In [[Greek mythology]], '''''Pistis''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɪ|s|t|ᵻ|s}}; [[Ancient Greek]]: Πίστις) was the personification of [[good faith]], trust and reliability. In Christianity and in the New Testament, ''pistis'' is typically translated as "faith".  The word is mentioned together with such other personifications as [[Elpis (mythology)|''Elpis'']] (Hope), ''[[sophrosyne]]'' (Prudence), and the ''[[Charites]]'', who were all associated with honesty and harmony among people.<ref>[[Theognis]], Fragment 1. 1135</ref>

Her [[Roman mythology|Roman]] equivalent was [[Fides (deity)|''Fides'']], a personified concept significant in Roman culture.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Additionally, a close linkage between ''pistis'' and persuasion developed through the discussion of faith (belief) and was further morphed by an understanding of ''pistis'' as a rhetorical technique.{{sfn|Grimaldi|1957}}

==In rhetoric==
{{Rhetoric}}
''Pistis'' in rhetoric can mean "proof" and is the element to induce true judgment through [[enthymemes]], hence to give "proof" of a statement.{{sfn|Abizadeh|2002}} 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."{{sfn|Grimaldi|1957|p=89}} The second ''pistis'' is the "subject itself considered under an appeal to the intellect or in its logical aspects."{{sfn|Grimaldi|1957|p=89}} The third ''pistis'' is the "logical, rational, and intellectual aspect of the issue under discussion."{{sfn|Grimaldi|1957|p=90}} All three modes of ''pistis'' occur in logos as it appeals to logical persuasion.{{sfn|Abizadeh|2002}}

==Greek rhetoric and Christianity==
New Testament translators favor the English word "faith" when translating ''pistis.'' Some have argued that the Christian concept of faith (''pistis'') was borrowed from Greek rhetorical notions of ''pistis'',{{sfn|Cherry|Kinneavy|Nakdate|Paul|1992}} perhaps making "argument" a better translation than "faith". Christian ''pistis'' deems 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.{{sfn|Cherry|Kinneavy|Nakdate|Paul|1992}} Whereas, the Greeks took the notion of ''pistis'' as persuasive discourse that was elliptical and concentrated on the "affect and effect rather than on the representation of the truth".{{sfn|Cherry|Kinneavy|Nakdate|Paul|1992|p=134}} The evolution of ''pistis'' in Christianity as a persuasive rhetorical technique starkly contrasts with its meaning used by the Greeks.{{sfn|Cherry|Kinneavy|Nakdate|Paul|1992}} More recent scholarship has argued for a more robust understanding of ''pistis'' that moved beyond a concept of "belief''".'' Teresa Morgan has argued for the concept of "trust".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morgan |first=Teresa |title=Roman Faith and Christian Faith}}</ref> Matthew Bates argues for "allegiance".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bates |first=Matthew |title=Salvation by Allegiance Alone}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Faith]]
* [[Faith in Christianity]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|20em}}

== References ==
* {{wikicite | ref = {{sfnref|Abizadeh|2002}} | reference = Abizadeh, Arash. ''The passions of the wise: Phronesis, rhetoric, and Aristotle's passionate practical deliberation.'', Review of Metaphysics 56.2; ISSU 222 (2002): 267-296. [http://ereserve.library.utah.edu/Annual/POLS/5000/Button/passions.pdf PDF]. }}
* {{wikicite | ref = {{sfnref|Grimaldi|1957}} | reference = Grimaldi, William MA. ''A Note on the Pisteis in Aristotle's Rhetoric, 1354-1356''', American Journal of Philology (1957): 188-192. {{JSTOR|291828}}. }}
*{{cite book|title= A Rhetoric of Doing Essays on Written Discourse: Pistis, Expression, and Belief|last1= Cherry|first1= Roger Dennis|last2= Kinneavy|first2= James L.|last3= Nakdate|first3=Neil|last4= Paul|first4= Stephen|publisher= Southern Illinois University Press|date= 1992}}

{{Greek mythology (deities)|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Greek goddesses]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Faith]]


{{Greek-deity-stub}}