Of Saints & Shepherds

Quick Facts

• Pronunciation:  ä-pā’-thā-ä
• Strong’s Concordance: #G543
  • obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will
• Appears 6 times in 6 verses in the Greek concordance of the
• Common translations:
  • “disobedience” (6x NASB)
  • “unbelief” (4x KJV)
  • “disobedient” (3x KJV)

How apeitheō is used in the New Testament

1. Romans 11:30, 32 NASB – “For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, … For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”

2. Ephesians 2:2 NASB – “2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”

3. Ephesians 5:6 NASB – “6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

4. Hebrews 4:6, 11 NASB – “6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, … 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”

My observations and perspective

In each of the six cases where the word apeitheia is used in the New Testament, ever single case refers to those who are disobedient to the God and the message of redemption through his son. The word is never used in relation to disobeying the advice, counsel, instruction, or other inputs of local church leaders.