PART 2 · A NEW STUDY BUILT ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINE
Godliness — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
Godliness is great gain, and the power for it has already been given. That is the foundation set before us; now we go further, with fresh witnesses to the same truth. The Greek word is eusebeia (G2150, godliness), which means piety — a life that is truly pleasing to God; and there is eusebos (G2153, godly), the way it is lived out — to LIVE in a godly way. Note this well: godliness is not an outward form put on for other people, because a person can keep the form while denying its power. It is rooted in a mystery: God came in human flesh. And because he came, a person can walk in his presence and please him. Godliness has a teaching; it must be pursued; with contentment it is great gain; and although everyone who will live in a godly way will suffer, the Lord knows how to rescue the godly. This walk is old: one man walked with God, and God took him. Its end is glory, and a day the godly look forward to. So be careful how you walk. Search it out.
THREE QUESTIONS THIS STUDY ANSWERS:
1. Where does godliness begin, and what is its mystery?
2. How is godliness pursued, and what does a person gain from it?
3. What will those who live in a godly way suffer, and what do the godly look forward to?
THE FOUNDATION ALREADY LAID — GODLINESS
THE FOUNDATION → HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS (2 PETER 1:3).
THE FOUNDATION → ADD TO PATIENCE GODLINESS + TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS (2 PETER 1:6-7).
THE FOUNDATION → GIVE DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE (2 PETER 1:10).
THE FOUNDATION → EXERCISE THYSELF RATHER UNTO GODLINESS + GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THINGS (1 TIMOTHY 4:7-8).
THE FOUNDATION → GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS = GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH (1 TIMOTHY 3:16).
THE FOUNDATION → GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN (1 TIMOTHY 6:6).
THE FOUNDATION → LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY + LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE (TITUS 2:12-13).
This Part 2 confirms the same truth from a fresh set of witnesses.
(My personal thoughts — notice the words, because they are closely related but not the same. eusebeia (G2150, godliness) is piety, the thing itself; eusebos (G2153, godly) is the way a life is lived — to LIVE in a godly way. A person can name the first and never do the second. And one word appears only once in the book: theosebeia (G2317, godliness) — reverent toward God, a worshipper of God — godliness that looks not to other people but to God. God chose the action word wherever the living of it is in question, and that choice teaches us something.)
(My personal thoughts — Strong's says chaciyd (H2623, godly) properly means kind, pious — a saint; and it is closely related to chesed (H2617, mercy). The godly person of the old covenant is a person of mercy, and the LORD has set him apart for himself. And tamiym (H8549, perfect) means complete, whole, without blemish — the same word required of the offerings. The walk God asked of Abram was a whole walk, nothing missing, nothing held back.)
OPENING ANCHOR
1 Timothy 3:16Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS = GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH.
(My personal thoughts — godliness has a root, and the root is not a rule but a person. musterion (G3466, mystery) is a secret — something kept silent until God reveals it; and the secret is now spoken plainly: God was revealed in human flesh. eusebeia (G2150, godliness) begins here. No one climbs up to God by his own goodness; God came down to people, and godliness is the life that responds to him.)
1. THE DOCTRINE WHICH IS ACCORDING TO GODLINESS
1.2 Peter 1:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS + THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM.
(My personal thoughts — notice the giving: HAS GIVEN, not WILL GIVE. The power is his, and the giving is already done. Everything that belongs to life and godliness comes through knowing him. No one who has come to know him lacks the power to live in a godly way.)
2.1 Timothy 6:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
WHOLESOME WORDS = THE WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST + THE DOCTRINE WHICH IS ACCORDING TO GODLINESS.
(My personal thoughts — godliness has a teaching, and the teaching has words — sound words, the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach something different, and what is taught is not godliness. The teaching and the life stand together, or fall together.)
2. THE WITNESS OF OLD — WALK BEFORE ME, AND BE THOU PERFECT
2.Hebrews 11:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
BEFORE HIS TRANSLATION HE HAD THIS TESTIMONY = THAT HE PLEASED GOD.
(My personal thoughts — set the two side by side. Moses says Enoch WALKED with God; the letter says what that walking was — HE PLEASED GOD. There is the whole matter of eusebeia (G2150, godliness) in one man's life: to walk with God, and to please him. And notice the end of that walk: God took him.)
3.Genesis 17:1Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
I AM THE ALMIGHTY GOD + WALK BEFORE ME, AND BE THOU PERFECT.
4.Psalm 4:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
THE LORD HATH SET APART HIM THAT IS GODLY FOR HIMSELF + THE LORD WILL HEAR.
(My personal thoughts — tamiym (H8549, perfect) means complete, whole — a whole walk in his presence. And chaciyd (H2623, godly) — the LORD has SET APART the godly person for himself, and hears him when he calls. The godly walk is nothing new; it was there from the beginning.)
3. FLEE THESE THINGS, AND FOLLOW AFTER GODLINESS
1.1 Timothy 6:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
FLEE THESE THINGS + FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, MEEKNESS.
2.1 Timothy 6:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH + LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE.
(My personal thoughts — two movements in one person: FLEE, and FOLLOW AFTER. eusebeia (G2150, godliness) stands among the six things to pursue — it is not waited for, it is pursued. And the pursuit is a fight — the good fight of faith — and the end of the fight is to take hold of eternal life.)
4. THE GREAT GAIN — GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT
1.1 Timothy 6:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
SUPPOSING THAT GAIN IS GODLINESS → FROM SUCH WITHDRAW THYSELF.
(My personal thoughts — set the two scriptures side by side and notice the turn. People with corrupt minds say gain is godliness — godliness used as a way to get money, since porismos (G4200, gain) means a source of profit, a way of making money. The word turns it around: godliness IS the great gain — with contentment. autarkeia (G841, contentment) means sufficiency, being content. The person who has godliness, along with food and clothing, has more than the one who has all possessions but no God.)
5. THE WARNING — A FORM OF GODLINESS, AND THE SORROW OF THE WORLD
1.2 Timothy 3:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
A FORM OF GODLINESS + DENYING THE POWER THEREOF → FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.
2.2 Corinthians 7:10Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE TO SALVATION + THE SORROW OF THE WORLD WORKETH DEATH.
(My personal thoughts — the form can be kept while the power is denied: a show of godliness with no life in it. The command is not to fix such people, but to TURN AWAY. And the two kinds of sorrow teach the same thing: two things can look alike and end up opposite. Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation; the sorrow of the world produces death. Test them by what they produce.)
6. ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY SHALL SUFFER — AND THE LORD DELIVERETH THE GODLY
1.2 Timothy 3:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION.
2.2 Peter 2:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
THE LORD KNOWETH HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY OUT OF TEMPTATIONS.
(My personal thoughts — he does not say some who live in a godly way — he says ALL. eusebos (G2153, godly) is the way of living, and the world hates that way. But set the second witness beside the first: the Lord KNOWS HOW to rescue the godly out of temptations. The suffering is certain, and the rescue is certain. Count on both, and do not be afraid.)
7. THE HOPE — LOOKING FOR THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD
1.2 Peter 3:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE DISSOLVED → WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YE TO BE IN ALL HOLY CONVERSATION AND GODLINESS.
2.2 Peter 3:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
LOOKING FOR AND HASTING UNTO THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD.
(My personal thoughts — since all these things will be dissolved, what lasts? Holy conduct and godliness. The godly person does not store up his treasure where everything will melt; he looks for the day of God, and hurries toward it.)
MOUTH OF TWO
1 Timothy 3:16Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH.
John 1:14Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH + DWELT AMONG US + WE BEHELD HIS GLORY.
1 John 4:2Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSETH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH = OF GOD.
Ecclesiastes 4:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
TWO SHALL WITHSTAND HIM + A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.
(My personal thoughts — set the three side by side. Paul says God was MANIFEST in the flesh; John says the Word was MADE FLESH, and lived among us; and John says again, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has COME IN THE FLESH is from God. Three sayings, one mystery: God came in a body — a body you have prepared for me. This is the basis of all godliness, and it is the test of every spirit: this is how you know the Spirit of God. By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established, and a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.)
THE SHADOW AND THE FULFILLMENT
3.Isaiah 7:14Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL GIVE YOU A SIGN → A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE, AND BEAR A SON + SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL.
4.Matthew 1:23Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL = GOD WITH US.
(My personal thoughts — Isaiah gave the sign: the virgin's son, and his name Immanuel. Matthew says it was done, so that what the Lord spoke through the prophet would be fulfilled — and he opens the name: GOD WITH US. Paul gives the same witness: God was revealed in human flesh — great is the mystery of godliness. The mystery was promised in a name, and carried out in a person.)
CLOSING
2 Peter 3:13Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE → WE LOOK FOR NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, WHEREIN DWELLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1 Timothy 3:16Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS → RECEIVED UP INTO GLORY.
(My personal thoughts — here is the conclusion of the whole matter. Godliness begins in a mystery — God was revealed in human flesh — and everything that belongs to it is already given, through knowing him. It has a teaching, the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ. It must be pursued and fought for; with contentment it is great gain; and a form of it without the power is nothing. Those who will live in a godly way will suffer, and the Lord knows how to rescue them. The walk is old — Enoch walked with God, and pleased him, and God took him. And its end is glory: the one who was revealed in human flesh was taken up into glory, and the godly look for his day, and for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness lives.)
GREEK KEYWORDS
These are the keywords for this study. Tap any dotted word in the verses above to see its meaning here.
“godliness” — G2150 eusebeia — piety, godliness
all things that pertain to life and godliness
“godly” — G2153 eusebos — piously, godly
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
“godliness” — G2317 theosebeia — devoutness, piety toward God
women professing godliness with good works
“mystery” — G3466 musterion — a secret, a mystery
great is the mystery of godliness
“gain” — G4200 porismos — furnishing, money-getting, gain
“perfect” — H8549 tamiym — entire, whole, without blemish, upright
walk before me, and be perfect
PRACTICE QUIZ
1. 1 Timothy 3:16 — And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was:
a) seen of angels
b) manifest in the flesh
c) received up into glory
2. 2 Peter 1:3 — According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto:
a) life and godliness
b) glory and virtue
c) the world to come
3. 1 Timothy 6:6 — But godliness with contentment is:
a) profitable unto all things
b) the crown of life
c) great gain
4. 2 Timothy 3:5 — Having a form of godliness, but denying:
a) the Lord that bought them
b) the power thereof
c) the faith which was once delivered
5. 2 Corinthians 7:10 — For godly sorrow worketh:
a) patience
b) death
c) repentance to salvation
6. Genesis 17:1 — I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou:
a) perfect
b) upright
c) holy
7. Hebrews 11:5 — Before his translation he had this testimony, that he:
a) walked with God
b) pleased God
c) feared God
ANSWER KEY: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-b, 5-c, 6-a, 7-b
HOW THIS STUDY BRANCHES
→ How the mystery has its match: great is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16), and the mystery of iniquity does already work (2 Thessalonians 2:7) — the one set against the other, ready for its own study.
→ How the words matter: the word godliness in 1 Timothy 2:10 is theosebeia (G2317, godliness) — reverent of God, a worshipper of God — and it stands but once; mark which word stands in which place, and why.
→ How to apply your heart to it: godliness stands in the ladder of 2 Peter 1:5-7 — add to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness — every step of that ladder leans upon this one.
→ How the exercise profits: exercise yourself rather to godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8) — 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.
→ How it reaches to eternity: so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11) — and the godly look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).
