Godliness does not necessarily mean what we tend to think of
the greek word means "devout"
The word eusébeia literally means well-directed reverence, but does not imply an inward, inherent holiness. It is actually an externalized piety. Paul uses it only in the pastoral epistles....
When Paul came to Athens and spoke to the Athenians who certainly were not believers, but worshiped idols, he used the verb eusebeíte (G2151), to show piety, respect (Act_17:23). An unbeliever in the NT may be eusebḗs, pious, or may be asebḗs (G765), impious. However, neither condition is díkaios (G1342), righteous, just, nor dikaiōthḗs (G1344), one justified or having God's righteousness imputed to him by Jesus Christ, nor pistós (G4103), a believer who is characterized by the exercise of pístis (G4102), saving faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the opposite of eusébeia is asébeia (G763), ungodliness, or, better still, impiety. ...
The Complete Word Study Dictionary
NET bible commentary. Grk "great is the mystery of [our] religion," or "great is the mystery of godliness." The word "mystery" denotes a secret previously hidden in God, but now revealed and made widely known (cf. Rom_16:25; 1Co_2:7; 1Co_4:1; Eph_1:9; Eph_3:3; Eph_3:4; Eph_3:9; Eph_6:19; Col_1:26-27; Col_4:3). "Religion" (εὐσέβεια, eusebeia) is a word used frequently in the pastorals with a range of meanings: (1) a certain attitude toward God-- "devotion, reverence"; (2) the conduct that befits that attitude-- "godliness, piety"; and (3) the whole system of belief and approach to God that forms the basis for such attitude and conduct-- "religion, creed." See BDAG 412-13 s.v.; 2Ti_3:5; 4Ma_9:6-7; 4Ma_9:29-30; 4Ma_15:1-3; 4Ma_17:7. So the following creedal statements are illustrations of the great truths that the church is charged with protecting (1Ti_3:15).
Robertson's Word Pictures
The mystery of godliness (to tēs eusebeias mustērion). See 1Ti_3:9 “the mystery of the faith,” and 1Ti_2:2 for eusebeia. Here the phrase explains “a pillar and stay of the truth” (1Ti_3:15). See in particular 1Co_1:27. “The revealed secret of true religion, the mystery of Christianity, the Person of Christ” (Lock).
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
I was going by the use of the term since 1 Tim 1 in the overall epistle.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
I was going by the use of the term since 1 Tim 1 in the overall epistle.
But the term is defined by what the word actually means.
Paul is speaking of the Mystery of our religion. Godliness is not a mystery.
NET 1Ti 3:16 And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
BBE 1Ti 3:16 And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory.
GNB 1Ti 3:16 No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit, and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven.
The term Godliness, as used by the translators, is not what we tend to think of the term (being godly)
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
BTW does the GNB rock here or what?
1Ti 3:16 No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit, and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven.
AMP 1Ti 3:16 And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He [[2] God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory.
Later
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
BTW does the GNB rock here or what?
1Ti 3:16 No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit, and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven.
AMP 1Ti 3:16 And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He [[2] God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory.
Later
AMEN
__________________
Sam also known as Jim Ellis
Apostolic in doctrine
Pentecostal in experience
Charismatic in practice
Non-denominational in affiliation
Inter-denominational in fellowship
Hybrid Mode
