Definition and Etymology
Godliness, in the biblical context, refers to a life that is devoted to the reverence and worship of God, characterized by a pious and devout lifestyle. The term is derived from the Greek word "eusebeia," which signifies piety, reverence, and a God-centered life. It encompasses both an inward devotion and an outward expression of that devotion through righteous living.

Biblical References
Godliness is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, emphasizing the importance of living a life that reflects the character and holiness of God. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently addresses the concept of godliness in his epistles, urging believers to pursue it as a vital aspect of their faith.

1. 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." Here, Paul contrasts physical exercise with spiritual training, highlighting the eternal value of godliness.

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." This verse underscores that godliness is attainable through the divine power and knowledge of God, who equips believers for a life that honors Him.

3. 1 Timothy 6:6: "Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain." Paul emphasizes that godliness, when coupled with contentment, leads to true spiritual wealth and fulfillment.

Characteristics of Godliness
Godliness is marked by several key characteristics that reflect a life aligned with God's will:

· Reverence for God: A deep respect and awe for God's majesty and holiness, leading to worship and obedience.
· Moral Integrity: Living a life that is consistent with biblical principles, demonstrating honesty, purity, and righteousness.
· Devotion to Prayer and Scripture: Regular engagement in prayer and study of the Bible, seeking to know God more intimately and align one's life with His Word.
· Love and Compassion: Exhibiting Christ-like love and compassion towards others, serving and caring for those in need.
· Self-Control and Discipline: Exercising restraint and discipline in one's actions and thoughts, avoiding sinful behaviors and temptations.

The Role of Godliness in the Christian Life
Godliness is not merely an optional aspect of the Christian life but is integral to spiritual growth and maturity. It is both a gift from God and a responsibility of the believer. Through the Holy Spirit, Christians are empowered to live godly lives, reflecting the character of Christ to the world.

· Spiritual Growth: Godliness is a sign of spiritual maturity, as believers grow in their relationship with God and become more like Christ.
· Witness to the World: A godly life serves as a powerful testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel, drawing others to Christ.
· Preparation for Eternity: As believers cultivate godliness, they are preparing for eternal life with God, where holiness and righteousness will be fully realized.

Challenges to Godliness
While godliness is a noble pursuit, it is not without challenges. Believers face opposition from the world, the flesh, and the devil, all of which seek to undermine their devotion to God. The Bible warns of false teachings and ungodly influences that can lead believers astray.

· 2 Timothy 3:5: "Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!" Paul warns against those who appear godly outwardly but lack the true power of a transformed life.

In conclusion, godliness is a central theme in the Christian faith, calling believers to live lives that honor and reflect the holiness of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Scripture, Christians are equipped to pursue godliness, bearing witness to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel.1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Topicalbible.org

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Topicalbible.org

2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Topicalbible.org

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Topicalbible.org

Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Topicalbible.org

The whole of practical piety (1 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 1:6). "It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience." In 1 Timothy 3:16 it denotes the substance of revealed religion. (n.) Careful observance of, or conformity to, the laws of God; the state or quality of being godly; piety.GODLINESS; GODLY

god'-li-nes, god'-li (eusebeia, eusebes, eusebos): In the Old Testament the word rendered "godly" in Psalm 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

2150. eusebeia -- piety
... piety. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eusebeia Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-seb'-i-ah) Short Definition: piety, godliness Definition: piety (towards ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2150.htm - 7k

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. ... godliness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2317.htm - 6k

3742. hosiotes -- piety, holiness
... holiness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hosiotes Phonetic Spelling:
(hos-ee-ot'-ace) Short Definition: holiness, godliness, piety Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3742.htm - 7k

2158. euschemon -- comely
... 2158 ("comely") focuses on the outward of godliness, ie as being (encouraging)
to others which attracts attention in a positive way. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2158.htm - 7k

Godliness
Godliness. <. Godliness Catherine Booth. Produced by Avinash Kothare,
Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the Online ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/

The Great Gain of Godliness
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS THE GREAT GAIN OF GODLINESS. 'And Judah and Israel
dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the great gain of godliness.htm

Religion not Godliness
... RELIGION NOT GODLINESS. ... That comes of thinking more of religion than we do of
godliness"in plain words, more of our own souls than we do of Jesus Christ. ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon ii religion not godliness.htm

Religion or Godliness? December 15.
... Religion or Godliness? December 15. This is the especial curse of our
day, that religion does not mean, as it used, the service ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /religion or godliness december 15.htm

Summary and Conclusory --Concerning Godliness.
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter LXII."Summary
and Conclusory"Concerning Godliness. Concerning the things ...
/.../chapter lxii summary and conclusoryconcerning godliness.htm

Godliness, not Gain, the True Riches.
... The Second Epistle of Clement. Chapter XX."Godliness, Not Gain, the True
Riches. But let it not even trouble your mind, that we ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xx godliness not gain the.htm

"Doctrine According to Godliness. "
... Homily IV. Chapter XIV.""Doctrine According to Godliness.". "This doctrine,
even if it also be mythical, being pious, would not ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xiv doctrine according to godliness.htm

Godliness
... Title Page. GODLINESS. BEING. REPORTS OF A SERIES OF ADDRESSES DELIVERED AT JAMES'S
HALL, LONDON, W., During 1881,. BY. MRS. CATHERINE BOOTH. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/title page.htm

Knowing, My Beloved Marcianus, Your Desire to Walk in Godliness...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 1 Knowing, my beloved
Marcianus, your desire to walk in godliness? Knowing ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 1 knowing my beloved.htm

1 Timothy ii. 4-Feb
... thessalonians. Homily VII. 1 Timothy ii. 2-4. 1 Timothy ii.2-4 "That we may lead
a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For ...
/.../homily vii 1 timothy ii.htm

Godliness (16 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GODLINESS; GODLY. ... The incarnation is "the mystery
of godliness" (1 Timothy 3:16). James Orr. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/g/godliness.htm - 12k

Exercise (35 Occurrences)
... 8; Ecclesiasticus 50:28); (3) "to train" or "discipline," gumnazo, "to use exercise,"
"to train up" (1 Timothy 4:7, "Exercise thyself unto godliness"; Hebrews 5 ...
/e/exercise.htm - 22k

Godly (50 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GODLINESS; GODLY. ... The incarnation is "the mystery
of godliness" (1 Timothy 3:16). James Orr. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/g/godly.htm - 21k

Faithful (136 Occurrences)
... 3. The Third "Saying": The third saying is that godliness has an influence that
is world-wide; it consists, not merely in holiness and in that fellowship and ...
/f/faithful.htm - 69k

Sayings (134 Occurrences)
... 3. The Third "Saying": The third saying is that godliness has an influence that
is world-wide; it consists, not merely in holiness and in that fellowship and ...
/s/sayings.htm - 41k

Gain (142 Occurrences)
... the knowledge of Christ"); porismos, "gain," "a source of gain" (1 Timothy 6:5,
6, where the apostle asserts, not "gain" (earthly) is godliness, but godliness...
/g/gain.htm - 39k

Useful (14 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 1 Timothy 4:8 Train yourself in godliness. Exercise for the body
is not useless, but godliness is useful in every respect ...
/u/useful.htm - 10k

Gravity (3 Occurrences)
... word is translated "honesty" (the Revised Version (British and American) "gravity"),
"that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity ...
/g/gravity.htm - 9k

Train (17 Occurrences)
... Give yourself training in religion: (Root in BBE RSV NIV). 1 Timothy 4:8
Train yourself in godliness. Exercise for the body is not ...
/t/train.htm - 14k

Endurance (31 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 1:7 along with power of endurance, godliness; along with godliness, brotherly
affection; and along with brotherly affection, love. (WEY). ...
/e/endurance.htm - 15k

What is the mystery of godliness? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6)? | GotQuestions.org

Is cleanliness next to godliness? | GotQuestions.org

Godliness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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