2150. εὐσέβεια eusébeia Strong's Greek #2150
noun from eusebḗs (2152), devout, godly.
Devotion, piety toward God (Acts 3:12; 1 Tim. 2:2; 2 Pet. 1:6, 7).
Godliness or the whole of true religion, so named because piety toward God is the foundation and principal part of it (1 Tim. 4:7, 8; 6:6, see Matt. 22:37, 38; Heb. 11:6).
Although eusébeia in the NT is translated “godliness” (1 Tim. 2:2; 3:16; 4:7, 8; 6:3, 5, 6, 11; 2 Tim. 3:5; Titus 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:3, 6, 7; 3:11), the word “God” is not in it.
It is actually an externalized piety.
When Paul came to Athens and spoke to the Athenians who certainly were not believers, but worshiped idols, he used the verb eusebeíte (2151), to show piety, respect (Acts 17:23).
It is in this manner that 1 Tim. 4:7 says, “Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
In 1 Tim. 6:11, we are urged to “follow after righteousness, godliness [eusébeia].”
In 2 Tim. 3:5, we are told that it is possible to fake eusébeia, “having a form [mórphōsis {3446}] of godliness,” an appearance and not the real thing.
In Titus 1:1, we are encouraged to have epígnōsin (1922), acknowledgment or knowledge of the truth, equivalent to revelation, which, however, does not make us proud, but “according to godliness” (a.t.).
This is the reason why the translators have usually translated it “godliness.”
This differentiation between eusébeia (our attitude toward God) and our attitude toward man, as indicated by other words, is shown in 2 Pet. 3:11, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved [speaking of the termination of this world and the ushering in of the new earth and heaven {Rev. 21:1}], what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?”
Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
 |
| Page 326 of BAGD |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please only leave comment If you are interested in the topic discussed above. No spam will be tolerated so don't even try to spam my readers.