Explores the use of the words pistis and pisteuein as faith terminology by Josephus. This is the first major study of the pist- word group in the writings of Josephus.
The first part of the book examines the development of a religious understanding of the Greek word group. Special emphasis is given to the religious use of the pist- words in Classical and Hellenistic Greek, in the Septuagint, in Sirach and in Philo.
The second and main part of the book deals specifically with the use of the word group - both secular and religious - by Josephus. His use of this faith terminology is compared with that of the New Testament. This section includes a critical look at the thesis that 'faith' in the New Testament is primarily a Hellenistic concept.