πῐθᾰνο-λογία G4086
persuasive speech, plausible but potentially deceptive rhetoric
A noun meaning persuasive speech or plausible-sounding argument, often with a hint of deception. Paul uses it in Colossians 2:4 to warn: 'that no one may delude you with persuasive speech' (πιθανολογίᾳ). The term emphasizes rhetoric that sounds convincing but may lack substance or truth. Paul contrasts such human eloquence with the solid truth of the gospel, warning against being led astray by clever but empty philosophy.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Persuasive or plausible speech that may deceive. Paul's warning in Colossians alerts believers to the danger of being swayed by eloquent but false teaching, which sounds convincing but leads away from Christ. The multilingual evidence ('persuasive-speech,' 'palabras-persuasivas') emphasizes rhetorical skill that can mask error, highlighting the need for discernment and grounding in apostolic truth. 1×
AR["كَلامٍ-مُقنِعٍ"]·ben["প্রলোভনীয়-বাক্যে"]·DE["schoenreden"]·EN["persuasive-speech"]·FR["πιθανολογίᾳ"]·heb["דִּבְרֵי-פִּתּוּי"]·HI["लुभअवनि-बअतोन-से"]·ID["kata-kata yang meyakinkan"]·IT["pithanologia"]·jav["tembung-ingkang-manis"]·KO["그럴듯한-말로"]·PT["palavras-persuasivas"]·RU["убедительной-речи"]·ES["palabras-persuasivas"]·SW["maneno-ya-kushawishi"]·TR["ikna-edici-konusmayla"]·urd["حیلہ-سازی"]
Related Senses
G4102 1. faith, trust, belief (239×)G4100 1. believe / have faith in (233×)H0982 1. trust in, rely on (105×)H3988a 1. reject, refuse (56×)G4103 1. faithful, trustworthy, reliable (54×)H0530 1. faithfulness, fidelity, reliability (47×)H0539 1. believe, accept as true (42×)H3985 1. refuse, be unwilling (41×)H0539 2. faithful, trustworthy, sure (39×)H8582 1. lead astray, cause to err (22×)H2623 1. faithful ones / saints (community) (21×)G0571 1. unbelieving, unbeliever (20×)G3982 1. be persuaded or convinced (19×)H8582 2. go astray, err morally (19×)G4105 1. to deceive, lead astray (18×)G3982 2. trust or have confidence in (17×)H2186a 1. reject, spurn (Qal) (16×)H3988a 2. despise, scorn (14×)G3982 3. persuade or convince someone (13×)G4103 2. believing, a believer (13×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πῐθᾰνο-λογία, ἡ, use of probable arguments, opposed to demonstration (ἀπόδειξις), NT+5th c.BC+