Eusebeia
Encyclopedia
Eusebeia is a Greek word abundantly used in Greek philosophy as well as in the New Testament
, meaning inner piety, spiritual maturity, or godliness. The root seb- (σέβ) is connected to danger and flight, and thus the sense of reverence originally described a healthy fear of the gods.
The first recorded usage of the word dates to Homer
, circa 1000 BCE.
The word was used in Classical Greece
where it meant "personal piety in the fulfillment of human relationships". It also expressed the act of concretely and outwardly fulfilling worshiping acts towards Greek gods (gifts, sacrifices, public devotions), and by extension to honor the gods by showing proper respect to elders, masters, rulers and everything under the protection of the gods.
For Platonists, "Eusebeia" meant "right conduct in regard to the gods.” For the Stoic
s, “knowledge of how God should be worshiped."
Progressively, and within the wider Hellenistic world, or koine, Eusebeia came to designate "inner piety", or spirituality, a duty inwardly due to God.
In Greek mythology
, the concept of Eusebeia is anthropomorphized as the daemon
of piety, loyalty, duty and filial respect. According to one source, her husband is Nomos
(Law), and their daughter is Dike
, goddess of justice and fair judgment. In other tellings, Dike is the daughter of the god Zeus
and/or the goddess Themis
(Order).
The Indian emperor Ashoka
in his 250 BCE Edicts
used the word "eusebeia" as a Greek translation for the central Buddhist concept of "dharma
".
"Eusebeia" was adopted by Christianity
to describe the awesome respect due to God and his worship. It is often translated as "godliness" in the New Testament
.
Zodhiates says that:
The word εὐσέβεια as it is used in the Greek New Testament carries the meaning of "godliness", and is distinct from θρησκεία (thrēskeia), "religion". Eusebeia relates to real, true, vital, and spiritual relation with God, while thrēskeia relates to the outward acts of religious observances or ceremonies, which can be performed by the flesh. The English word "religion" was never used in the sense of true godliness. It always meant the outward forms of worship. In 1Ti 3:16, the Mystery, or secret connected with true Christianity as distinct from religion. It is the Genitive of relation. (This specific meaning occurs only in Act 3:12.)] This word arises in the Greek New Testament in 1Ti 2:2, 1Ti 3:16, 1Ti 4:7, 1Ti 4:8, 1Ti 6:3, 1Ti 6:5, 1Ti 6:6, 1Ti 6:11, 2Ti 3:5, Tit 1:1, 2Pe 1:3, 2Pe 1:6, 2Pe 1:7, 2Pe 3:11.
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, meaning inner piety, spiritual maturity, or godliness. The root seb- (σέβ) is connected to danger and flight, and thus the sense of reverence originally described a healthy fear of the gods.
The first recorded usage of the word dates to Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
, circa 1000 BCE.
The word was used in Classical Greece
Classical Greece
Classical Greece was a 200 year period in Greek culture lasting from the 5th through 4th centuries BC. This classical period had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire and greatly influenced the foundation of Western civilizations. Much of modern Western politics, artistic thought, such as...
where it meant "personal piety in the fulfillment of human relationships". It also expressed the act of concretely and outwardly fulfilling worshiping acts towards Greek gods (gifts, sacrifices, public devotions), and by extension to honor the gods by showing proper respect to elders, masters, rulers and everything under the protection of the gods.
For Platonists, "Eusebeia" meant "right conduct in regard to the gods.” For the Stoic
STOIC
STOIC was a variant of Forth.It started out at the MIT and Harvard Biomedical Engineering Centre in Boston, and was written in the mid 1970s by Jonathan Sachs...
s, “knowledge of how God should be worshiped."
Progressively, and within the wider Hellenistic world, or koine, Eusebeia came to designate "inner piety", or spirituality, a duty inwardly due to God.
In Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, the concept of Eusebeia is anthropomorphized as the daemon
Daemon (mythology)
The words dæmon and daimôn are Latinized spellings of the Greek "δαίμων", a reference to the daemons of Ancient Greek religion and mythology, as well as later Hellenistic religion and philosophy...
of piety, loyalty, duty and filial respect. According to one source, her husband is Nomos
Nomos (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nomos is the daemon of laws, statutes, and ordinances. By one account, Nomos' wife is Eusebia , and their daughter is Dike ....
(Law), and their daughter is Dike
Dike (mythology)
In ancient Greek culture, Dikē was the spirit of moral order and fair judgement based on immemorial custom, in the sense of socially enforced norms and conventional rules. According to Hesiod In ancient Greek culture, Dikē (Greek: Δίκη, English translation: "justice") was the spirit of moral...
, goddess of justice and fair judgment. In other tellings, Dike is the daughter of the god Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
and/or the goddess Themis
Themis
Themis is an ancient Greek Titaness. She is described as "of good counsel", and is the embodiment of divine order, law, and custom. Themis means "divine law" rather than human ordinance, literally "that which is put in place", from the verb τίθημι, títhēmi, "to put"...
(Order).
The Indian emperor Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
in his 250 BCE Edicts
Edicts of Ashoka
The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls, made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty during his reign from 269 BCE to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Bangladesh, India,...
used the word "eusebeia" as a Greek translation for the central Buddhist concept of "dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
".
"Eusebeia" was adopted by Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
to describe the awesome respect due to God and his worship. It is often translated as "godliness" in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
.
Zodhiates says that:
- "When eusébeia is applied to the Christian life, it denotes a life that is acceptable to Christ, indicating the proper attitude of the believer toward Christ who has saved him. It is both an attitude and a manner of life." Spiros ZodhiatesSpiros ZodhiatesDr. Spiros Zodhiates was a Greek-American Bible scholar, author, and ministry innovator. He was best known for his work in developing AMG International, a Christian missions and relief agency with operations in over 40 countries, and for publishing The Hebrew-Greek KeyWord Study Bible, which...
- "Divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness (eusébeia), through the true (full, personal, experiential) knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and excellence." PeterSaint PeterSaint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
(2 Pet 1:3)
The word εὐσέβεια as it is used in the Greek New Testament carries the meaning of "godliness", and is distinct from θρησκεία (thrēskeia), "religion". Eusebeia relates to real, true, vital, and spiritual relation with God, while thrēskeia relates to the outward acts of religious observances or ceremonies, which can be performed by the flesh. The English word "religion" was never used in the sense of true godliness. It always meant the outward forms of worship. In 1Ti 3:16, the Mystery, or secret connected with true Christianity as distinct from religion. It is the Genitive of relation. (This specific meaning occurs only in Act 3:12.)] This word arises in the Greek New Testament in 1Ti 2:2, 1Ti 3:16, 1Ti 4:7, 1Ti 4:8, 1Ti 6:3, 1Ti 6:5, 1Ti 6:6, 1Ti 6:11, 2Ti 3:5, Tit 1:1, 2Pe 1:3, 2Pe 1:6, 2Pe 1:7, 2Pe 3:11.