Bible Strands
Luke 17:5
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostles address Jesus immediately after He commands repeated forgiveness for a repentant offender. They make this request at the moment they recognize the human impossibility of fulfilling His standard.
The words — The Greek verb πρόσθες (prosthes) literally means "do add" or "increase," functioning as a direct petition for divine augmentation. The apostles use this imperative to acknowledge their need for God to supply what they cannot generate.
The thread — The text places this plea alongside Luke 17:6, which contrasts the request with Jesus’ teaching that faith’s power depends on its object rather than its quantity. This dynamic echoes Mark 9:24’s confession of belief mixed with unbelief and aligns with Hebrews 12:2’s identification of Jesus as faith’s author and perfecter.
Why it lands — The verse states a factual need for increased trust before drawing any theological conclusion about its source. It requires readers to abandon self-reliance and actively petition Christ for spiritual capacity, as affirmed in Philippians 4:13.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Cross-references
- Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
- Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.
- Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
- 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.