The stubborn and sinful refusal to accept God's word and his messengers. Since the coming of Jesus Christ it is frequently expressed in the rejection of his person and teaching.
Unbelief expressed towards God
because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.
Rebellion against God
2 Kings 17:14–15 See also Nehemiah 9:16; Psalm 78:17–19, Psalm 95:8–11; Isaiah 65:2; Jeremiah 7:26; Acts 7:51; Hebrews 3:12–19
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.
Rejection of God's promises
Psalm 106:24 See also Romans 4:20, Romans 10:16; Hebrews 4:2
They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
Unbelief expressed towards Jesus Christ
Rejection by those close to him
John 1:11 See also Matthew 13:54–58 parallel Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:14–30; John 7:5
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Rejection of his miracles
Matthew 12:22–24 parallels Mark 3:22, Luke 11:14–16
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see. The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
Rejection of his claims
See also Luke 22:67; John 5:37–38, John 6:36, John 6:64, John 10:24–26; 1 Peter 2:7
Rejection of his words
John 3:11–12 See also John 5:46–47, John 8:45
Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
Demands for miraculous signs
John 4:48 See also Matthew 12:38–39 parallel Luke 11:29; Matthew 16:4 parallel Mark 8:12; Luke 11:16
Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”
Unbelief expressed towards God's messengers
Genesis 19:16 Lot; Exodus 4:1 Moses; 2 Kings 7:2 Elisha; 2 Chronicles 32:15 Sennacherib of Assyria urges the inhabitants of Jerusalem to disbelieve Hezekiah's words; Isaiah 53:1 Isaiah; Matthew 21:32 John the Baptist; Acts 13:50, Acts 14:2; Acts 17:13 Paul and Silas; Acts 19:9, Acts 28:24
Unbelief expressed in unrighteousness
Titus 1:15 See also Romans 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Timothy 1:13
To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Unbelief despite miraculous signs
Nehemiah 9:16–17 See also Exodus 4:8–9; Psalm 78:32; John 9:18, John 10:31–33, John 12:37
But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments. They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.
Means of overcoming unbelief
John 10:37–38 the evidence of Jesus Christ's miracles; Romans 10:14–15 preaching the gospel; 1 Corinthians 14:22–24 prophecy in worship; 1 Peter 3:1 the behaviour of a believing spouse; 1 Timothy 1:13 God's mercy
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.