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Pistis (lexical form) [noun], Pisteos (possessive version of pistis) – Pistis in most translations is rendered as faith but instead should probably be rendered as vow to faithful relationship as the truer understanding of the word in the early church. It probably could just be rendered as vow (or pledge) and it stems from the idea of covenant loyalty. It is therefore probably best linked to a covenant (think like a wedding vow or a pledging of allegiance) but faithful relationship (or covenant loyalty) could be added for emphasis and further clarification considering the English world’s vast misunderstanding of the word.
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https://thelogosofagape.wordpress.co...ek-word-study/
The idea that faith in the NT could be understood as a kind of "allegiance" to the god you worship is consistent with the mark of the beast being the ultimate test for faith. A Protestant can go to church every Sunday and tithe and a Catholic can attend mass every week, recite the rosary, do confession etc but when presented with the choice of dying as a martyr or saving their own life to take the mark what will they do? Their choice will depend on the real god they worship.
Luke 17:33
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
There was probably a similar test during Elijah's time in Israel. Jezebel like Nebuchadnezzar may have created an environment where anyone who did not worship Baal was at risk of being put to death. Only 7,000 out of a nation of hundreds of thousands had never bent their knee to Baal.
1 Kings 19:18
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.