Bible Dictionaries
Obedience, Obedient, Obey

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"obedience" (hupo, "under," akouo, "to hear"), is used (a) in general, Romans 6:16 (1st part), RV, "(unto) obedience," AV, "(to) obey;" here "obedience" is not personified, as in the next part of the verse, "servants ... of obedience" [see (c)], but is simply shown to be the effect of the presentation mentioned; (b) of the fulfillment of apostolic counsels, 2 Corinthians 7:15; 10:6; Philemon 1:21; (c) of the fulfillment of God's claims or commands, Romans 1:5; 16:26 , "obedience of faith," which grammatically might be objective, to the faith (marg.), or subjective, as in the text. Since faith is one of the main subjects of the Epistle, and is the initial act of obedience in the new life, as well as an essential characteristic thereof, the text rendering is to be preferred; Romans 6:16 (2nd part); 15:18, RV "(for) the obedience," AV, "(to make) obedient;" Romans 16:19; 1 Peter 1:2,14 , RV, "(children of) obedience," i.e., characterized by "obedience," AV, "obedient (children);" 1 Peter 1:22 , RV, "obedience (to the truth)," AV, "obeying (the truth);" (d) of "obedience" to Christ (objective), 2 Corinthians 10:5; (e) of Christ's "obedience," Romans 5:19 (referring to His death; cp. Philippians 2:8 ); Hebrews 5:8 , which refers to His delighted experience in constant "obedience" to the Father's will (not to be understood in the sense that He learned to obey).

subjection (hupo, "under," tasso, "to order"), is translated "obedience" in 2 Corinthians 9:13 , RV (AV, "subjection"). See SUBJECTION.

"to listen, attend" (as in Acts 12:13 ), and so, "to submit, to obey," is used of "obedience" (a) to God Hebrews 5:9; 11:8; (b) to Christ, by natural elements, Matthew 8:27; Mark 1:27; 4:41; Luke 8:25; (c) to disciples of Christ, Luke 17:6; (d) to the faith, Acts 6:7; the Gospel, Romans 10:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Christian doctrine, Romans 6:17 (as to a form or mold of teaching); (e) to apostolic injunctions, Philippians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; (f) to Abraham by Sarah, 1 Peter 3:6; (g) to parents by children, Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; (h) to masters by servants, Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; (i) to sin, Romans 6:12; (j) in general, Romans 6:16 .

"to persuade, to win over," in the Passive and Middle Voices, "to be persuaded, to listen to, to obey," is so used with this meaning, in the Middle Voice, e.g., in Acts 5:36-37 (in Acts 5:40 , Passive Voice, "they agreed"); Romans 2:8; Galatians 5:7; Hebrews 13:17; James 3:3 . The "obedience" suggested is not by submission to authority, but resulting from persuasion.

"Peitho and pisteuo" 'to trust,' are closely related etymologically; the difference in meaning is that the former implies the obedience that is produced by the latter, cp. Hebrews 3:18,19 , where the disobedience of the Israelites is said to be the evidence of their unbelief. Faith is of the heart, invisible to men; obedience is of the conduct and may be observed. When a man obeys God he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. Of course it is persuasion of the truth that results in faith (we believe because we are persuaded that the thing is true, a thing does not become true because it is believed), but peitho, in NT suggests an actual and outward result of the inward persuasion and consequent faith." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 254,255.] See ASSURANCE , B, No. 3.

"to obey one in authority" (No. 2, and arche, "rule"), is translated "obey" in Acts 5:29,32; "to be obedient," Titus 3:1 , RV (AV, "to obey magistrates"); in Acts 27:21 , "hearkened." See HEARKEN.

"to disobey, be disobedient" (a, negative, and No. 2), is translated "obey not" in Romans 2:8; 1 Peter 3:1; 4:17 . See DISOBEDIENT.

Note: In 1 Corinthians 14:34 , AV, hupotasso, "to be in subjection" (RV), is translated "to be under obedience;" so Titus 2:5 , RV, "being in subjection" (AV, "obedient"); and Titus 2:9 , RV (AV, "to be obedient"). See SUBJECTION.

"obedient" (akin to A, No. 1), "giving ear, subject," occurs in Acts 7:39 , RV, "(would not be) obedient," AV, "(would not) obey;" 2 Corinthians 2:9; Philippians 2:8 , where the RV "even" is useful as making clear that the "obedience" was not to death but to the Father.