Do not obey (544) (apeitheo from a = without + peÃtho = persuade) literally describes one who refuses to be persuaded and who disbelieves willfully and perversely. Apeitheo in the present context in Romans means that these individuals possess an attitude of unbelief because they deliberately disobey, consciously resist and rebel against authority and finally manifest an obstinate rejection of the will (truth) of God. The present tense indicates that this is their lifestyle (i.e., disobedience to the Divine will), the way the carry on their life is in continual disobedience against God! To be sure, we all disobey from time to time. That is not what Paul is referring to here. Instead he is describing the individual with an unregenerate heart who habitually, continually disobeys (as a lifestyle) what he or she knows to be the truth. Apeitheo means not to allow oneself to be persuaded; not to comply with and to refuse or withhold belief (in the truth, but elsewhere in Christ, in the gospel) Apeitheo speaks of a stubborn, stiff-necked attitude. It speaks of disbelief manifesting itself in disobedience. It is opposed to pisteuo, the verb translated "believe". In studying apeitheo it is important to understand that the stem peith- (pith-, poith-) has the basic meaning of trust (cf. Latin fido, fides). Trust can refer to a statement, so that it has the meaning to put faith in, to let oneself be convinced, or to a demand, so that it gets the meaning of obey, be persuaded. The active meaning of the verb stem peith- then is to convince and persuade and is especially characteristic of Greek thought. In secular Greek it interesting to note that "Peitho" (art of persuading) was even regarded as a goddess! (see Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) Marvin Vincent in discussing apeitheo in John 3:36 writes that.. Disbelief is regarded in its active manifestation, disobedience. The verb peitho means to persuade, to cause belief, to induce one to do something by persuading, and so runs into the meaning of to obey, properly as the result of persuasion...Obedience, however, includes faith. (Ed Note: See discussion of phrase "obedience of faith" at Romans 1:5)." (Vincent, M. R. Word studies in the New Testament Vol. 2, Page 1-109) From the above comments, it should not surprise you to discover that in the New Testament the word group translated disobey, disobedience, etc (apeitheo and the related ) does not stand in contrast with obedience but in contrast with faith! Other words in this word group... Apeithes (adjective) - 6x in 6v - Luke 1:17; Acts 26:19; Ro 1:30; 2Ti 3:2; Titus 1:16; 3:3. = one who will not be persuaded to obey authority Apeitheia (noun) - 7x in 7v - Ro 11:30, 32; Eph 2:2; 5:6; Col 3:6; Heb 4:6, 11 = disobedience, obstinate opposition to the Divine will Apeitheo is used 34 times in the Septuagint (LXX), (Ex 23:21; Lv 26:15; Nu 11:20; 14:43; Dt 1:26; 9:7, 23, 24; 21:20; 32:51; Josh 1:18; 5:6; 2Ki 5:16; Neh 9:29; Ps 67:19; Pr 1:25; 24:21; Hos 9:15; Zec 7:11; Is 1:23, 25; 3:8; 7:16; 8:11; 30:12; 33:2; 36:5; 50:5; 59:13; 63:10; 65:2; 66:14; Je 13:25; Ezek 3:27) where it often translates the Hebrew verb "marah" a verb meaning to be rebellious and most often descriptive of rebellion against God to such a degree that it provoked Him to action. For example Moses warns Israel... Deut 9:7 "Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious (LXX translates with apeitheo) against the LORD. Below are the 14 uses of apeitheo. This verb makes a fascinating study. Go through the passages and make a simple list asking the questions who? what? why?, etc. You may need to examine the context (study them in context which you can do by clicking the link) to get an accurate sense (context is king ruling accurate interpretation) of the meaning of each use. Be sure and factor in the verb tenses remembering that present tense often conveys the sense that the action of the verb is as a lifestyle or is habitual. Aorist tense can refer to a definite completed action without specifying when this took place ("timeless"). Apeitheo is translated in the KJV as believe not, 8; disobedient, 4; obey not, 3; unbelieving, 1 Apeitheo is translated in the NAS as disbelieved, 1; disobedient, 10; do not obey, 1; obey, 2. The NAS renders apeitheo - disbelieved(1), disobedient(10), do not obey(1), obey(2). John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey (present tense) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Acts 14:2 But the Jews who disbelieved (aorist tense) (NLT "spurned God's message", NIV "refused to believe") stirred up the minds of the Gentiles, and embittered them against the brethren. Acts 19:9 But when some were becoming hardened (skleruno = hard, stubborn) and disobedient (imperfect tense = over and over), speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. Romans 2:8 (note) but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey (present tense) the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. Romans 10:21 (note) But as for Israel He says, "All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient (present tense) and obstinate (anti-lego = speaking against, contradicting = present tense) people." Romans 11:30 (note) For just as you (Gentiles) once were disobedient (aorist tense) to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their (the Jew's) disobedience (noun form = apeitheia), Romans 11:31 (note) so these also now have been disobedient (aorist tense), in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. Romans 15:31 (note) (Paul asked the Romans saints to pray...) "that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient (present tense) in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints" Hebrews 3:18 (note) And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient (aorist tense)? 19 And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief (apistia). (What equates with "disobedient" in this context? Clue: why could Israel not enter the promised land?) Hebrews 11:31 (note) By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient (aorist tense), after she had welcomed the spies in peace. 1 Peter 2:8 (note) and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient (present tense) to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 1 Peter 3:1 (note) In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient (present tense) to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 1 Peter 3:20 (note) who once were disobedient (aorist tense), when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 1 Peter 4:17 (note) For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey (present tense) the gospel of God? What is the essence of disobedience? Clearly unbelief, lack of faith, without which no man can be saved. The truth - not just truth in general but "the" specific truth about God and the way of salvation (the Gospel).