Topical Encyclopedia
The term "godly" refers to a manner of living that reflects the character and nature of God as revealed in the Scriptures. It encompasses attitudes, behaviors, and actions that are in alignment with God's will and purpose. The concept of godliness is central to the Christian faith, as believers are called to emulate the holiness and righteousness of God in their daily lives.
Biblical FoundationThe Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of godliness. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "godly" is "chasid," which denotes kindness, piety, and devotion to God. In the New Testament, the Greek word "eusebeia" is used, which conveys reverence and respect towards God, manifesting in a life that honors Him.
Key Scriptures1.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 : "But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness. For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come." This passage highlights the enduring value of godliness, contrasting it with temporary physical pursuits.
2.
2 Peter 1:3 : "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." Here, godliness is presented as attainable through divine empowerment and knowledge of God.
3.
Titus 2:11-12 : "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age." This passage underscores the transformative power of God's grace, which teaches believers to live godly lives.
Characteristics of GodlinessGodliness is characterized by a deep reverence for God and a commitment to living according to His commandments. It involves:
·
Holiness: A separation from sin and dedication to God's purposes (
1 Peter 1:15-16).
·
Righteousness: Living in a manner that is just and upright, reflecting God's moral standards (
Proverbs 21:21).
·
Love: Demonstrating selfless love towards God and others, as love is the fulfillment of the law (1
John 4:7-8).
·
Humility: Recognizing one's dependence on God and submitting to His will (
James 4:10).
The Role of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in cultivating godliness within believers. Through the Spirit's indwelling presence, Christians are empowered to overcome sin and grow in Christlikeness. The fruit of the Spirit, as described in
Galatians 5:22-23, includes attributes that are essential to a godly life, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Godliness in PracticePractically, godliness is expressed through regular prayer, study of the Scriptures, worship, and service to others. It involves a continual process of spiritual growth and transformation, as believers seek to align their lives more closely with God's will. The pursuit of godliness is not merely an individual endeavor but is fostered within the community of faith, where believers encourage and hold one another accountable.
Challenges to GodlinessIn a world that often promotes values contrary to those of the Kingdom of God, maintaining a godly life can be challenging. Believers are called to resist the temptations of the flesh and the influences of secular culture, standing firm in their faith and commitment to God's truth. The apostle Paul warns of those who have "a form of godliness but deny its power" (
2 Timothy 3:5), urging Christians to be discerning and steadfast.
Eternal PerspectiveGodliness holds promise not only for this life but also for the life to come. It is a reflection of the eternal nature of God's kingdom and a preparation for the believer's ultimate destiny with Him. As such, the pursuit of godliness is a lifelong journey, marked by continual reliance on God's grace and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.
ATS Bible Dictionary
GodlyThat which proceeds from God, and is pleasing to him. It also signifies conformity to his will, and an assimilation to his character,Psalm 12:1Malachi 2:1521 Corinthians 1:2Titus 2:12. Godliness is the substance of revealed religion,1 Timothy 3:16 4:82 Peter 1:6.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Pious; reverencing God, and his character and laws; obedient to the commands of God from love for, and reverence of, his character; conformed to God's law; devout; righteous; as, a godly life.
2. (adv.) Piously; devoutly; righteously.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
GODLINESS; GODLYgod'-li-nes, god'-li (eusebeia, eusebes, eusebos): In the Old Testament the word rendered "godly" inPsalm 4:3;Psalm 32:6 (chacidh) is literally, "kind," then "pious" (the Revised Version, margin renders it in the former passage, "one that he favoreth"). Sometimes in both the Old Testament and the New Testament a periphrasis is employed, "of God," "according to God" (e.g. "godly sorrow,"2 Corinthians 7:10). Godliness, as denoting character and conduct determined by the principle of love or fear of God in the heart, is the summing up of genuine religion. There can be no true religion without it: only a dead "form" (2 Timothy 3:5). The term is a favorite one in the Pastoral Epistles. The incarnation is "the mystery of godliness" (1 Timothy 3:16).
James Orr
Greek
1719. emphobos -- terrible, in fear (used ofgodly fear)... terrible, in fear (used of
godly fear). Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
emphobos Phonetic Spelling: (em'-fob-os) Short Definition: full of fear
...2153. eusebos -- piously
... Word Origin adverb from eusebes Definition piously NASB Word Usagegodly (2).godly.
Adverb from eusebes; piously --godly. see GREEK eusebes. 2152, 2153....
2316. theos -- God, a god
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition God, a god NASB Word Usage divinely
(1), God (1267), god (6), God's (27), God-fearing (1),godly (2),godly* (1...
2152. eusebes -- pious
... See 2150 (). Word Origin from eu and sebo Definition pious NASB Word Usage
devout (1), devout man (1),godly (1). devout,godly....
2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... 2), conforming (1), contrary (1), daily* (10), down (4), each (2), effect (1), every
(10), every* (1), exactly* (1), excessively* (1),godly* (1), how* (1...
2124. eulabeia -- caution
... Cognate: 2124 (from 2126 , "reverent,godly fear") -- properly, "a taking hold of
what God calls good"; "holy caution," inducing behavior. See 2126 ()....
2150. eusebeia -- piety
... 2150 (from 2095 "well" and 4576 , "venerate, pay homage") -- properly, someone's
inner response to the things of God which shows itself ingodly ()....
3741. hosios -- righteous, pious, holy
... holy. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hosios Phonetic Spelling:
(hos'-ee-os) Short Definition: holy, pious Definition: holy, pious,godly, beloved...
2317. theosebeia -- fear of God
... piety. Cognate: 2317 -- properly, God-fearing (veneration);godly respect,
reverence (used only in 1 Tim 2:10). See 2318 (). Word...
516. axios -- worthily
... worthily. Adverb from axios; appropriately -- as becometh, after agodly sort,
worthily(-thy). see GREEK axios. (axios) -- 6 Occurrences. 515, 516. axios. 517...
Strong's Hebrew
2623. chasid -- kind, pious... Word Origin from chasad Definition kind, pious NASB Word Usage
godly (2),
godly man (3),
godly ones (20),
godly person (1), gracious (1), Holy One (1), kind (3
...430. elohim -- God, god
... of eloah Definition God, god NASB Word Usage divine (1), divine being (1), exceedingly
(1), God (2326), god (45), God's (14), goddess (2),godly (1), gods (204...
Library
Godly Living.
...GODLY LIVING.... Likewise, when some one is spoken of as living agodly life, it is
meant that he lives in agodly manner, or in a manner like God....
God and theGodly
... VOLUME II: PSALMS LI to CXLV GOD AND THEGODLY.... The general idea that runs
through them is the likeness of thegodly man to God....
AGodly Reformation
... THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES AGODLY REFORMATION. 'Hezekiah began to reign
when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned...
The Touchstone ofGodly Sincerity
... The Touchstone ofGodly Sincerity. A Sermon (No.985). Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,.
At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "Will he...
TheGodly are in Some Sense Already Blessed
... 3. Thegodly are in some sense already blessed. I proceed now to the second aphorism
or conclusion, that thegodly are in some sense already blessed....
An Appeal to Children ofGodly Parents
... An Appeal to Children ofGodly Parents.... Dear son, if thou hast agodly father believe
that the religion upon which he has fixed his faith is true....
Godly Sorrow Arising from the Sufferings of Christ.
... Hymns. Book 2. Composed on Divine Subjects. Hymn 2:9.Godly sorrow arising
from the sufferings of Christ. 1 Alas! and did my Saviour...
Godly Fear and Its Goodly Consequence
...Godly Fear and its Goodly Consequence. A sermon (No.1290) delivered at the
Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by CH Spurgeon. "In...
How Albinus Succeeded to theGodly Abbot Hadrian, and Acca to...
... BOOK V CHAP. XX. How Albinus succeeded to thegodly Abbot Hadrian, and
Acca to Bishop Wilfrid. [709 AD]. THE next year after the...
ForGodly Sorrow Worketh Repentance to Salvation, not to be...
... Forgodly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of; but the
sorrow of the world worketh death.... They sorrowed after agodly sort....
Thesaurus
Godly (50 Occurrences)... character and laws; obedient to the commands of God from love for, and reverence
of, his character; conformed to God's law; devout; righteous; as, a
godly life
...Godliness (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) Careful observance of, or conformity to, the laws
of God; the state or quality of beinggodly; piety. Int.... GODLINESS;GODLY....
Sort (143 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 7:9 I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made
sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after agodly sort, that ye...
Nephthar
... Latin, Nephi; Swete, following Codex Alexandrinus, gives Nephthar twice): According
to 2 Maccabees 1:19-36, at the time of the captivity thegodly priests took...
Nephthai
... Latin, Nephi; Swete, following Codex Alexandrinus, gives Nephthar twice): According
to 2 Maccabees 1:19-36, at the time of the captivity thegodly priests took...
Poor (276 Occurrences)
... 3. TheGodly Poor: The chief words given above all mean poor, literally, but `ani
(rendered also "afflicted") may also denote Israel as a nation in its...
Sorry (27 Occurrences)
... to repentance. For you were made sorry in agodly way, that you might suffer
loss by us in nothing. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NIV). 2...
Sorrowed (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed
to repentance: for ye were made sorry after agodly manner, that ye might...
Simplicity (12 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version (British and American) "liberality," margin "Greek: `singleness' ";
2 Corinthians 1:12, "in simplicit andgodly sincerity," the Revised...
Fear (970 Occurrences)
... translated (Hebrews 5:7) "(of Christ) who was heard in that he feared," the Revised
Version (British and American) "having been heard for hisgodly fear"; so...
Resources
What does it mean to be a godly mother? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to be a godly wife? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being a godly woman? | GotQuestions.orgGodly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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