Topical Encyclopedia
Piety, in the biblical context, refers to a deep reverence and devotion to God, characterized by a life of holiness, obedience, and worship. It encompasses both an inward attitude of the heart and outward expressions of faith. Piety is often associated with godliness, righteousness, and the fear of the Lord, and it is a central theme throughout Scripture.
Old Testament UnderstandingIn the Old Testament, piety is closely linked with the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (
Proverbs 9:10). This fear is not a terror of God but a profound respect and awe for His majesty and holiness. The Hebrew word often translated as "piety" or "godliness" is "chasidut," which implies loyalty and faithfulness to God's covenant.
The Psalms frequently highlight the characteristics of a pious person.
Psalm 1:1-2 describes the blessedness of the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. This delight and meditation are expressions of piety, reflecting a heart devoted to God's Word.
The life of Job is another example of piety in the Old Testament. Job is described as "blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil" (
Job 1:1). His steadfast faith and integrity, even amidst severe trials, exemplify true piety.
New Testament PerspectiveIn the New Testament, piety is often expressed through the Greek word "eusebeia," which denotes reverence and respect towards God. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of piety in the life of a believer. In
1 Timothy 4:7-8 , Paul instructs Timothy to "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."
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ provide the ultimate model of piety. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father, demonstrating piety through His prayer life, His compassion for others, and His unwavering commitment to God's will. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that true piety is not about outward appearances but about the sincerity of the heart (
Matthew 6:1-18).
Expressions of PietyPiety manifests in various ways in the life of a believer. It includes regular prayer, study of Scripture, worship, and participation in the sacraments. Acts of charity and service to others are also expressions of piety, as they reflect the love and compassion of Christ.
The Apostle James highlights the practical aspect of piety, stating, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and undefiled is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (
James 1:27). This underscores that true piety involves both devotion to God and ethical conduct towards others.
Challenges to PietyThroughout Scripture, there are warnings against false piety or hypocrisy. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their outward displays of religiosity that lacked genuine devotion (
Matthew 23:27-28). True piety is not about external rituals but about a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Believers are encouraged to pursue piety with sincerity and humility, recognizing that it is God who works in them to will and to act according to His good purpose (
Philippians 2:13). The pursuit of piety is a lifelong journey, marked by growth in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lat. pietas, properly honour and respect toward parents (
1 Timothy 5:4). In
Acts 17:23 the Greek verb is rendered "ye worship," as applicable to God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being, and love of his character; loving obedience to the will of God, and earnest devotion to his service.
2. (n.) Duty; dutifulness; filial reverence and devotion; affectionate reverence and service shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PIETYpi'-e-ti: Only in1 Timothy 5:4: "Let them learn first to show piety toward their own family," where "let them show piety" represents a single Greek verb (eusebeo), in its only other occurrence (Acts 17:23) being rendered "worship." In Elizabethan English "piety" (like the Latin pietas) could be used of devotion to one's parents (as still in the phrase "filial piety"), as well as of devotion to God. Hence, there is no explicit statement here that filial devotion is one form of divine worship.
Greek
2151. eusebeo -- to showpiety towards... to show
piety towards. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eusebeo Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-seb-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am dutiful, pious Definition: I am
...2150. eusebeia --piety
...piety. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eusebeia Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-seb'-i-ah) Short Definition:piety, godliness Definition:piety (towards...
3742. hosiotes --piety, holiness
...piety, holiness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hosiotes Phonetic
Spelling: (hos-ee-ot'-ace) Short Definition: holiness, godliness,piety...
1479. ethelothreskia -- self-willed (arbitrary and unwarranted)...
... self-willed (arbitrary and unwarranted)piety. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: ethelothreskia Phonetic Spelling: (eth-el-oth-race-ki'-ah) Short...
2124. eulabeia -- caution
... caution. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eulabeia Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-lab'-i-ah) Short Definition: reverence,piety Definition: reverence...
2317. theosebeia -- fear of God
... theosebeia Phonetic Spelling: (theh-os-eb'-i-ah) Short Definition: reverence for
God Definition: reverence for God, fear of God, godliness,piety....
4748. stoicheo -- to be in rows, fig. to walk by rule
... a derivative of steicho (to range in regular line); to march in (military) rank
(keep step), ie (figuratively) to conform to virtue andpiety -- walk (orderly...
2153. eusebos -- piously
... Cognate: 2153 (from 2152 , "inwardpiety") -- venerably, inwardly pious (devout).
Word Origin adverb from eusebes Definition piously NASB Word Usage godly (2)....
2428. hiketeria -- supplication
... of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and (2428 ) with loud crying and tears
to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of Hispiety...
1578. ekklino -- to deviate, to turn away (from someone or...
... From ek and klino; to deviate, ie (absolutely) to shun (literally or figuratively),
or (relatively) to decline (frompiety) -- avoid, eschew, go out of the way...
Strong's Hebrew
2617. checed -- goodness, kindness... From chacad; kindness; by implication (towards God)
piety: rarely (by opposition)
reproof, or (subject.) Beauty -- favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly
...Library
The Practice ofPiety
The Practice ofPiety. <. The Practice ofPiety Lewis Bayly. Table of Contents.
Title Page. BIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE. THE PRACTICE OFPIETY. CONTENTS....
WhetherPiety is a Gift?
... OFPIETY (TWO ARTICLES) Whetherpiety is a gift? Objection 1: It seems that
piety is not a gift. For the gifts differ from the virtues...
Piety.
... CHAPTER XI.PIETY. Most appropriately indeed was the namepiety given by our fathers
in the faith to the sentiment which elevates the mind and heart to God....
Meditations for HouseholdPiety.
The Practice ofPiety. <.... THE PRACTICE OFPIETY. MEDITATIONS FOR
HOUSEHOLDPIETY. 1. If thou be called to the government...
Of the Practice ofPiety in Fasting.
The Practice ofPiety. <.... THE PRACTICE OFPIETY. OF THE PRACTICE
OFPIETY IN FASTING. There are divers kinds of fasting...
Unity of virtue andPiety.
... THE PERSON OF CHRIST. UNITY OF VIRTUE ANDPIETY....Piety was the soul of his morality,
and lifted it far above the sphere of legality or conformity to law....
The Practice ofPiety at Meals, and the Manner of Eating.
The Practice ofPiety. <.... THE PRACTICE OFPIETY. THE PRACTICE OF
PIETY AT MEALS, AND THE MANNER OF EATING. Before dinner...
The Practice ofPiety at Evening.
The Practice ofPiety. <.... THE PRACTICE OFPIETY. The Practice ofPiety
at Evening. At evening when the due time of repairing...
OfPiety (Four Articles)
... OFPIETY (FOUR ARTICLES). After religion we must considerpiety, the
consideration of which will render the opposite vices manifest....
The Practice ofPiety; Directing a Christian How to Walk that He...
The Practice ofPiety. <.... THE PRACTICE OFPIETY. THE PRACTICE OFPIETY;
DIRECTING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO WALK THAT HE MAY PLEASE GOD....
Thesaurus
Piety (21 Occurrences)... shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia.
PIETY. pi'-e-ti: Only in 1 Timothy 5
...Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... The place of his death and burial is, however, unknown. "He resembled Ezra in his
fiery zeal, in his active spirit of enterprise, and in thepiety of his life...
Godliness (16 Occurrences)
... The whole of practicalpiety (1 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 1:6). "It supposes knowledge,
veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience." In...
Religious (13 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A person bound by monastic vows, or sequestered from secular concern, and
devoted to a life ofpiety and religion; a monk or friar; a nun....
Pity (165 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.)Piety.... PITY. pit'-i (chamal, chuc; eleeo): "Pity," probably contracted from
"piety," is tender feeling for others in misery or distress....
Hypocrite (10 Occurrences)
... winning approbation of favor, puts on a fair outside seeming; one who feigns to
be other and better than he is; a false pretender to virtue orpiety; one who...
Abstinence (2 Occurrences)
... years. But Isaiah illustrates how soon even the most outraged feelings of
piety or patriotism may grow cold and formal. `Wherefore...
Pig (4 Occurrences)
Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... In Ruth, the converted Moabitess, the royal ancestress of David and of Jesus, we
have an unrivaled example of filialpiety, moral beauty and self-sacrificing...
Ruth (19 Occurrences)
... Thepiety and fidelity of Ruth are thus early exhibited in the course of the narrative,
in that she refused to abandon her mother-in-law, although thrice...
Resources
What is the definition of piety? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is conditional security? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about impiety? What does it mean to be impious? | GotQuestions.orgPiety: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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