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; John 8:29; Hebrews 5:7; Acts 2:5, Acts 8:2; Acts 10:2, Acts 10:7; 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
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.
Godly living
Godliness should be seen in the lives of believers
2 Peter 3:11 See also 1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Timothy 6:11; Titus 2:12
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
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
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
The basis for godly living is true teaching about Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 6:3–4 See also Titus 1:1
If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
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
The benefits of godliness
Its value in both this world and the next
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.
Its present blessings
Deuteronomy 4:40; 1 Timothy 6:6 See also Isaiah 3:10; Titus 3:8
Keep His statutes and commandments, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
The promise of future blessing
Titus 2:11–13 See also 2 Peter 3:11–12
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Godliness does not guarantee escape from suffering
Psalm 12:1 See also Micah 7:2; 2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Peter 2:9
For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
Apparent godliness may not be genuine
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.