The concept of faithfulness, encapsulated in the phrase Semper Fidelis, meaning "always faithful," is central to understanding God's character. The Greek word *pistis* (G4102), often translated as "faith," is closely related to *pistos*, which can carry both active and passive senses. In the active sense, *pistos* means trusting or believing, as seen in descriptions of individuals like Abraham who exemplified belief. More frequently, in a passive sense, it describes God as trustworthy, reliable, and faithful. This distinction highlights the difference between human trust in others and the inherent trustworthiness of God, who is always dependable, sure, and unmovable. The word *pistos* also conveys various nuances such as being sure, like a solid foundation that cannot be shaken, and believable, as in the credibility of Jesus Christ as the faithful witness in Revelation 1:5. His testimony is utterly reliable due to who He is and what He has done. Additionally, *pistos* implies fidelity and faithfulness in duty, as seen in Colossians 4:9 where Onesimus is described as a faithful brother, reliable in completing tasks entrusted to him. These shades of meaning—dependable, reliable, trustworthy, true, sure, believable, loyal, devoted, and committed—collectively reflect the essence of Semper Fidelis as applied to God's unwavering character. God's faithfulness, as expressed through *pistis* and its cognates, assures His commitment to His promises and His people. He will confirm them to the end, blameless, as stated in I Corinthians, because He is faithful. This reliability extends to His determination to bring His called ones into the Kingdom of God, never wavering or going back on His word. Paul emphasizes this in I Thessalonians 5, affirming that God is faithful and will fulfill His purpose for those He has called into fellowship with His Son. Thus, God's character, defined by *pistis*, serves as the bedrock of trust and assurance for all who follow Him.

TheThe Greek word underlying faith, *pistis* (4102), as defined by Strong's Concordance, signifies a moral conviction or belief in the truth of something. For Christians, it represents a deep conviction and reliance on the truth that God exists, is actively engaged with humanity, and will grant eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. Derived from the verb *peitho* (3982), which means to convince by argument, to persuade, to pacify, to agree, to believe, to trust, and to yield, *pistis* embodies a profound trust in God's reality. This belief inspires confidence in His power and wisdom, affirming that creation testifies to His unchanging and faithful character, upon which we can depend for salvation in this life and beyond. The connection between *pistis* and *peitho* also suggests that genuine faith produces tranquility or contentment, as *peitho* can mean to tranquilize, bringing calm and stillness. A Christian can find contentment through faith and trust in the supreme power and trustworthiness of God, knowing that He has everything planned with a fantastic purpose in mind."}

The Greek word for faith, *pistis* (G4102), is found in Luke 18:8 and Galatians 5:22, where it is transliterated as trustworthiness or reliability, encompassing faith, belief, trust, confidence, fidelity, and faithfulness. This term, as noted by William Barclay, is common in secular Greek for trustworthiness, describing the characteristic of a reliable person. Greg Ebie adds that faithfulness, as an expression of *pistis*, is love-proving, a persistent love that endures and proves itself repeatedly through consistent dependability. Richard Ritenbaugh further nuances *pistis* by linking it to a sure foundation, meaning it is trustworthy, solid, firm, and unmovable. Matthew Baker distinguishes between faith and faithfulness, asserting that faith is a gift from God, sufficient in amount, while faithfulness is our response to that faith, demonstrated through loyalty to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Baker emphasizes that feelings of disconnect in our walk with God stem not from a lack of faith, but from a lack of faithfulness. Doug Winnail highlights that growing in faith, or *pistis*, comes from trusting God and following His instructions, leading to increased steadfastness and determination in belief. Lyle Welty reinforces that faith grows by doing what God commands, and without obedience, faith is a counterfeit, lacking the true essence of *pistis*. The call is to focus on faithfulness through obedience to God's commandments, trusting His purpose, rather than seeking to increase faith alone. Christian Cheong notes that faithfulness, as tied to *pistis*, is inspired by God's absolute reliability, providing a foundation for us to aspire to be faithful. Chris Benjamin underscores that faithfulness reflects God's character, evident in His consistent treatment of all creation, even when we falter in our expression of *pistis*.