Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7100 Titles of the people of God  »  7105 believers

Those who have faith in God. After Pentecost, the term came to be used specifically to refer to Christians, that is, to those who believe and trust in God, as he has made himself known through Jesus Christ. The NT stresses that Jesus Christ brings the faith of OT believers to perfection and to its proper fulfilment.

Believers as those who have faith in God

1 Kings 18:3-4 See also John 4:39-42; Acts 16:15; James 2:1

OT believers looked forward to the NT faith

Hebrews 11:13 See also Hebrews 11:39; 1 Peter 1:10-12

The church is referred to as the believers

Acts 5:12 See also Acts 1:15; Acts 2:44; Acts 4:32; Acts 9:41; 1 Timothy 4:12

In the early church a distinction was sometimes made between Jewish and Gentile believers

Acts 15:23 See also Acts 10:45; Acts 11:1-3; Acts 15:5; Acts 21:20-25

The term believer is synonymous with Christian

1 Corinthians 7:12-13 See also Acts 15:2; Acts 16:1; 1 Corinthians 6:5; Corinthians 14:22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 5:16

Believers are members of God's family

Galatians 6:10 See also 1 Timothy 6:2; 1 Peter 2:17

See also

4019  life, believers' experience
5078  Abraham, significance
6257  unbelievers
6610  adoption, descriptions
6705  peace, experience
7020  church, the
7120  Christians
7155  saints
7512  Gentiles, in NT
7620  disciples
8020  faith
9315  resurrection of believers