Doubt vs. Unbelief

Doubt

1 Timothy 2:8: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

doubt- διαλογισμός

Lexham Theological Wordbook διαλογισμός

masc. thought, reasoning, opinion. Describes the product or result of thinking.

This noun depicts various types of thought and the end product of thinking. It is used to express doubts (dialogismos) from an individual (Luke 24:38) and may be modified adjectively to represent evil (πονηρός, ponēros) thoughts (dialogismos; Matt 15:19; Jas 2:4). Jesus perceives the thoughts (dialogismos) of the scribes and Pharisees in Luke 5:22, and even though the word is not further modified there, in that context evil and malicious reasoning is implied. The word dialogismos is not used in the NT to refer to good thoughts.

dia- through

logos- words

Militating through words in search for meaning

Luke 2:35: “(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Philippians 2:14: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”

This is John Baptist in prison, thinking through the nature and character of Jesus.

Unbelief

Mark 6:6: “And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

Matthew 13:58: “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

1 Timothy 1:13: “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

ἀπιστία

a- no

pistis- faith

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 602 ἀπιστία

ἀπιστία (apistia), ας (as), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 570; TDNT 6.174—1. LN 31.89 lacking in trustworthiness (Ro 3:3+); 2. LN 31.97 refusing to trust (Ro 11:20, 23; Heb 3:12, 19+; Mk 16:14, 15 v.r.); 3. LN 31.105 not believing, unbelief, lack of faith (Mt 13:58; Mk 6:6; 9:24; Ro 4:20; 1Ti 1:13+; Mt 17:20 v.r.)

Alister McGrath on the progression from doubt to unbelief:

Doubt is not unbelief. But it can become unbelief. That basic principle should guide our reflections on this important issue. Doubt is natural within faith. It comes about because of our human weakness and frailty. We lack the confidence to trust fully in God and long for certainty in all matters of faith. But absolute certainty is hard to come by. You can be sure that 2 + 2 = 4, but is that going to change your life? Is that going to give you a reason to live and hope in the face of death? And it isn’t just Christians who are in this situation. The atheist’s belief that there is no God is just as much a matter of faith as your belief that there is! Doubt also comes about through our lack of humility. All of us are tempted to believe that because we haven’t got the answers to the hard questions of faith, then there aren’t any answers to those questions.

We need to learn to be relaxed about doubt. Doubt is like an attention-seeking child. The more attention you pay to it, the more attention it demands. By worrying about your doubts, you get locked into a vicious cycle of uncertainty.

So how does doubt become unbelief? Unbelief is the decision to live your life as if there is no God. It is a deliberate decision to reject Jesus Christ and all that He stands for. But doubt is something quite different. Doubt arises within the context of faith. It is a wistful longing to be sure of the things in which we trust. But it is not, and need not, be a problem. Just because I can’t prove my faith in God doesn’t mean that it is wrong.

ABRAHAM:

Romans 4:20: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”

διακρίνω- 1359 διακρίνομαι (diakrinomai), διακρίνω (diakrinō): vb.; ≡ DBLHebr 9149; Str 1252; TDNT 3.946—1. LN 30.109 evaluate carefully, judge (1Co 14:29); 2. LN 30.99 prefer, judge as superior (1Co 4:7); 3. LN 30.113 make a distinction, to judge there is a difference (Ac 15:9); 4. LN 31.37 (dep.) doubt, be uncertain (Ro 14:23; Ac 10:20; Jas 1:6; Jude 22+); 5. LN 33.444 (dep.) dispute, argue (Jude 9+); 6. LN 33.412 (dep.) criticize, express disapproval (Ac 11:2+)