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 Understanding

In 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 Perspective

In 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 Piety

Piety 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 Piety

Throughout 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.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. 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.

PIETY

pi'-e-ti: Only in 1 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.

2151. eusebeo -- to show piety 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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2151.htm - 7k

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

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

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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1479.htm - 7k

2124. eulabeia -- caution
... caution. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eulabeia Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-lab'-i-ah) Short Definition: reverence, piety Definition: reverence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2124.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. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2317.htm - 6k

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 and piety -- walk (orderly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4748.htm - 7k

2153. eusebos -- piously
... Cognate: 2153 (from 2152 , "inward piety") -- venerably, inwardly pious (devout).
Word Origin adverb from eusebes Definition piously NASB Word Usage godly (2). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2153.htm - 6k

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 His piety ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2428.htm - 7k

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 (from piety) -- avoid, eschew, go out of the way ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1578.htm - 7k

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 ...
/hebrew/2617.htm - 5k

The Practice of Piety
The Practice of Piety. <. The Practice of Piety Lewis Bayly. Table of Contents.
Title Page. BIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE. THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. CONTENTS. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/

Whether Piety is a Gift?
... OF PIETY (TWO ARTICLES) Whether piety is a gift? Objection 1: It seems that
piety is not a gift. For the gifts differ from the virtues ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether piety is a gift.htm

Piety.
... CHAPTER XI. PIETY. Most appropriately indeed was the name piety given by our fathers
in the faith to the sentiment which elevates the mind and heart to God. ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter xi piety.htm

Meditations for Household Piety.
The Practice of Piety. <. ... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. MEDITATIONS FOR
HOUSEHOLD PIETY. 1. If thou be called to the government ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations for household piety.htm

Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
The Practice of Piety. <. ... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. OF THE PRACTICE
OF PIETY IN FASTING. There are divers kinds of fasting ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/of the practice of piety.htm

Unity of virtue and Piety.
... THE PERSON OF CHRIST. UNITY OF VIRTUE AND PIETY. ... Piety was the soul of his morality,
and lifted it far above the sphere of legality or conformity to law. ...
/.../schaff/the person of christ/unity of virtue and piety.htm

The Practice of Piety at Meals, and the Manner of Eating.
The Practice of Piety. <. ... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. THE PRACTICE OF
PIETY AT MEALS, AND THE MANNER OF EATING. Before dinner ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/the practice of piety at.htm

The Practice of Piety at Evening.
The Practice of Piety. <. ... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. The Practice of Piety
at Evening. At evening when the due time of repairing ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/the practice of piety at 2.htm

Of Piety (Four Articles)
... OF PIETY (FOUR ARTICLES). After religion we must consider piety, the
consideration of which will render the opposite vices manifest. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of piety four articles .htm

The Practice of Piety; Directing a Christian How to Walk that He ...
The Practice of Piety. <. ... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. THE PRACTICE OF PIETY;
DIRECTING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO WALK THAT HE MAY PLEASE GOD. ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/the practice of piety directing.htm

Piety (21 Occurrences)
... shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. PIETY. pi'-e-ti: Only in 1 Timothy 5 ...
/p/piety.htm - 13k

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 the piety of his life ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Godliness (16 Occurrences)
... The whole of practical piety (1 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 1:6). "It supposes knowledge,
veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience." In ...
/g/godliness.htm - 12k

Religious (13 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A person bound by monastic vows, or sequestered from secular concern, and
devoted to a life of piety and religion; a monk or friar; a nun. ...
/r/religious.htm - 10k

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. ...
/p/pity.htm - 39k

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 or piety; one who ...
/h/hypocrite.htm - 10k

Abstinence (2 Occurrences)
... years. But Isaiah illustrates how soon even the most outraged feelings of
piety or patriotism may grow cold and formal. `Wherefore ...
/a/abstinence.htm - 25k

Pig (4 Occurrences)

/p/pig.htm - 8k

Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... In Ruth, the converted Moabitess, the royal ancestress of David and of Jesus, we
have an unrivaled example of filial piety, moral beauty and self-sacrificing ...
/w/woman.htm - 45k

Ruth (19 Occurrences)
... The piety 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 ...
/r/ruth.htm - 26k

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