Those who are unwilling to believe and trust in God, especially as he has made himself known in and through Jesus Christ.
Characteristics of unbelievers
A refusal to believe in God
Numbers 14:11; Psalm 78:32; John 5:38; Acts 14:2
A refusal to trust in God
A persistence in sin
Descriptions of unbelievers
They are blind
2 Corinthians 4:4 See also John 9:39–41
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
They are disobedient
Unbelievers can become believers
1 Timothy 1:13 See also Mark 9:24
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
The effect of tongues and prophecy on unbelievers
Relationships between believers and unbelievers
Believers should not marry unbelievers
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
An unbelieving husband or wife
1 Corinthians 7:12–16 See also 1 Peter 3:1
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Eating with unbelievers
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience — the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?
The consequence of remaining an unbeliever
John 3:18 See also Luke 12:46; John 8:24, John 12:48; Revelation 21:8
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Examples of unbelievers
Some Israelites: Numbers 14:13–39; Deuteronomy 1:34–35; 1 Corinthians 10:10; Matthew 17:20 the disciples; Mark 8:11–12 some Pharisees; Acts 14:2, Acts 17:5
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.