Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8200 The character of the believer » 8265 godliness
Reverence for or devotion to God, producing a practical awareness of God in every aspect of life.
Examples of godliness in the OT
Genesis 5:24 Enoch; Genesis 6:9 Noah; 1 Kings 18:3-4 Obadiah; 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 Hezekiah; Job 1:1 Job
Examples of godliness in the NT
Luke 2:25 Simeon; Luke 2:37 Anna; John 1:47 Nathanael
Jesus Christ:
John 8:29; Hebrews 5:7 Acts 2:5; Acts 8:2
Cornelius and his family:
Acts 10:2,7 Acts 11:24 Barnabas; Acts 22:12 Ananias
God has a special concern for the godly
Psalm 4:3 “the godly” (sometimes translated “the saints”) is often used in the OT to refer to God's people. See also Psalm 32:6; John 9:31
Godly living
Godliness should be seen in the lives of believers
2 Peter 3:11 See also 1 Timothy 2:2; Timothy 6:11; Titus 2:12
Jesus Christ is the beginning and end of godliness
1 Timothy 3:16 The model and the power for godly living derives from the incarnate Christ. See also Hebrews 5:7; 2 Peter 1:3
The basis for godly living is true teaching about Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 6:3-4 See also Titus 1:1
Godly living demands self-discipline
1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Sorrow for sin is a sign of godliness
2 Corinthians 7:10-11
The benefits of godliness
Its value in both this world and the next
1 Timothy 4:8
Its present blessings
Deuteronomy 4:40; 1 Timothy 6:6 See also Isaiah 3:10; Titus 3:8
The promise of future blessing
Titus 2:11-13 See also 2 Peter 3:11-12
Godliness does not guarantee escape from suffering
Psalm 12:1 See also Micah 7:2; 2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Peter 2:9
Apparent godliness may not be genuine
1 Timothy 6:5; 2 Timothy 3:4-5
See also
5499 reward, divine 6169 godlessness 6744 sanctification 8154 righteousness 8201 blamelessness 8206 Christlikeness 8225 devotion 8266 holiness 8333 reverence 8361 wisdom 8476 self-discipline 8846 ungodliness
