Godliness originated from Greek word eusebeia which used in the New Testament to express the idea of inner piety, spiritual maturity, or godliness. The first usage can be found in the Greek poet, Homer, in about 1000 BC. Then the word came into use in the classical Greek of Athens (Attic Greek) where it referred to personal piety in fulfilling the personal relationships. In Greek religion, it was also used to describe a person who was faithful in fulfilling his duties to various local gods where he lived. The Attic Greek always used this word for outward expression of piety, such as the giving of gifts to gods , participation in sacrifices and worship, or making a show of religion in public.
As the word eusebeia began to be used in the koine Greek, it came to mean "inner piety", or spirituality, a duty which the believer owes to God in the inner man. Accordingly, this word used in the Titus context can be referred as control by or filling of the Holy Spirit which produces godly qualities of conformity to Christ.
Following are scriptures containing the word eusebeia and have been translated as "godliness" in the King James Version.
ACTS 3:12
When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk(niv)?
彼得看見、就對百姓說、以色列人哪、為甚麼把這事當作希奇呢．為甚麼定睛看我們、以為我們憑自己的能力和虔誠、使這人行走呢。
1 TIM. 2:2
for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 為君王和一切在位的也該如此．使我們可以敬虔端正、平安無事的度日。
1 TIM. 3:16;
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
大哉、敬虔的奧秘、無人不以為然．就是 神在肉身顯現、被聖靈稱義、〔或作在靈性稱義〕被天使看見、被傳於外邦、被世人信服、被接在榮耀裡。
1 TIM.4:7,8;
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
只是要棄絕那世俗的言語、和老婦荒渺的話、在敬虔上操練自己。
for physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 操練身體、益處還少．惟獨敬虔、凡事都有益處．因有今生和來生的應許．
1 TIM.6:3-6
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
若有人傳異教、不服從我們主耶穌基督純正的話、與那合乎敬虔的道理．他是自高自大、一無所知、專好問難、爭辯言詞、從此就生出嫉妒、分爭、毀謗、妄疑、 並那壞了心術、失喪真理之人的爭競。他們以（外表的）敬虔為得利的門路．然而敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了．
1 TIM.6:11-12But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentlenes. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
但你這屬神的人、要..追求公義、敬虔、信心、愛心、忍耐、溫柔。你要為真道打那美好的仗、持定永生．你為此被召．也在許多見證人面前、已經作了那美好的見證。
2 TIM. 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
有敬虔的外貌(形式）、卻背了敬虔的實意（没有敬虔的實質能力）。這等人你要躲開。
2 PET. 1:3,6,7
1:3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 神的神能已將一切關乎生命和虔敬的事賜給我們、皆因我們認識那用自己榮耀和美德召我們的主。
2 PET.1:6-7：and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
有了知識、又要加上節制．有了節制、又要加上忍耐．有了忍耐、又要加上虔敬． 有了虔敬、又要加上愛弟兄的心．有了愛弟兄的心、又要加上愛眾人的心。
2 PET. 3:11-12
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly livesas you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.這一切既然都要如此銷化、你們為人該當怎樣聖潔、怎樣敬虔、切切仰望 神的日子來到．在那日天被火燒就銷化了、有形質的都要被烈火鎔化。
Spirituality is an absolute quality, depending on a believer's walk with the Lord, and particularly on his maintaining his fellowship with the Lord through confession. But none of this is visible.
How can we tell when true spirituality and maturity are present? Or, how do you know the difference between a godly man and one who is merely well educated and in control of himself? A carnal believer, the novice Christian, can be moral, can use the right vocabulary, can wear a suit and carry a Bible. He can fool some of the people some of the time.
But the godly believer is known by "his fruits" - the fruit of the Holy Spirit . Godliness is produced in the life of a Christian who is both learning doctrine and growing thereby through edification.
Godliness is the concept of the inward life and the outward appearance of the fruit of the Spirit.
For example, in the spiritual fruit of love we see genuine care and regard for people, an impersonal love for people who are different, even though they are enemies. This love results in the philozenos of TITUS 1:8. [See the notes on Characteristics of Impersonal Love]. Love is the absence of mental attitude sins and sins of the tongue. The negatives have been eliminated from the believer's life so that (1) he no longer hates, despises, disdains, or envies other people, (2) he no longer maligns or ridicules them, and therefore (3) he is free to have a ministry with others that is not hindered by offensiveness or bitterness.
Joy is the spiritual fruit which enables a Christian to have happiness that does not depend on the details of life. He has a stable mental attitude from looking to Jesus and trusting the Father for everything. He does not fall into moody depression when things go wrong or he is criticized of maligned. He does not fall into wide emotional swings. He does not depend on others to prop up his happiness. I TIM. 6:6, "Godliness (eusebeia) with contentment is great gain..."
A believer who has peace is a master of the Faith-Rest technique. He is nearly unflappable, because he has a lot of practice in placing every distress, every disaster, in the hands of the Lord. He is the most relaxed person in the neighborhood. He does not have chronic worry about the present or future. He knows that the Lord can handle everything. So he is not paranoid. Even if someone is really out to get him, he is relaxed and praying, even for the enemy who is plotting against him. He places great confidence in the Lord, especially regarding death, knowing and resting in the fact that "absent from the body" means "present with the Lord." So he is not one of those who "through fear of death are all their lifetime subject to bondage" (HEB. 2:15).
Well, for homework, you can make up your own descriptions for the remaining parts of the fruit of the Spirit: Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance. Just remember that God's plan for you is that you continue to be a godly Christian.
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