True Godliness: A Study of the Greek Word Eusebeia

by Natalie Pappas

   "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment." -- 1 Tim 6:6 (NAS)

   "for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." --1 Tim 4:8-9 (NAS)

   Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people -- Proverbs 14:34 (TLB)

   I wonder when I first noticed that it is not popular in Christian circles to strive to be godly? I have seen this trend over the last few years and lately have stopped to ponder this. I'm not talking about getting one’s own finger into another's life and demanding that person live a more godly Christian life.

   I'm talking about personally attempting to model oneself after Christ and being criticized for this by other Christians. For example, my daughter has decided to remain pure until marriage and the ridicule she has put up with from actual Christians astounds me. How about supporting her instead of making crude remarks at her expense? When did we lose our understanding of what it means to be godly and all that which we ought to strive for in our lives pertaining to God?

   And why do ‘Christians’ put down Christians who try?

   We get the word "godliness" from the compound Greek word: eusebeia, which are the two words GOOD and DEVOUT. Vines defines this as someone with a Godward attitude who does that which is well-pleasing to God. A Godward attitude. … imagine a Christian not desiring a Godward attitude.

   It doesn’t fit, does it?

   What is so strange nowadays about wanting to be well-pleasing to God? Does it make you feel guilty because you simply aren't trying? The conclusion I'm slowly coming to realize is that 'Christians' don't try, or care to try, BUT because they feel guilty when they come across a Christian who is trying or cares enough to try -- they decide to persecute them.

   My my how satan gets a foothold in their lives through their own sin of loving themselves rather than Christ!

   One of my favorite missionaries is Amy Carmichael. This woman, though imperfect, strove her entire life to be Godly, and the legacy she left behind shaped me in such a way that years later I can look back at my life and see how her exhortations and encouragement to live a godly life still affect me today. I now notice the same thing Amy noticed in her lifetime: Many 'Christians' do not care about Godliness. They don't find it profitable and they scoff at those who do -- and the distain in which one Christian can treat the other with should stop surprising me -- and yet I always remain surprised. And yet this is nothing new. I shouldn’t be so shocked.

   The Greek lexicon says that this word "eusebeia is used in the LXX as the "duty which man owes to God". In other words, it doesn't save us or keep us saved or add to our salvation in anyway. It is owed, but not required -- and yet the Bible says that "it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim 4).

   Vines says this word "promise" is primarily a law term, denoting a summons. It "signifies a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation." This is a heartfelt spiritual issue that Christians ought to really spend time thinking about. The benefit of encouraging Christians to put God first, to please Him when it is not convenient or easy, to subdue our flesh in order to be less selfish and more loving toward others brings a satisfaction that equals nothing less than great contentment -- even when circumstances are less than desirable, especially when circumstances are less than desirable.

   The opposite of godliness is ungodliness. In attempts to express concern or sympathy I’ve seen Christians “okay” each other in sin. Human nature, being what it is, is going to fail and when it does we ought not to congratulate each other in our own failures. We should, instead, in godliness, lift up the fallen person, encourage them in the love of Christ, remind them to have an Godward type of attitude, and to repent of their sin.

   1st John chapter one says to restore our fellowship with God that we should confess our sins. Instead I see people refusing to admit their sins and in doing that they cut their fellowship with God (if it was ever there in the first place). Such a shame not to try to have a Godward attitude. What kind of reward will there be for one who is a Christian who hasn't a Godward atttiude? And if that 'Christian' really isn't, I sure feel sorry for him or her in eternity.