You've likely at least heard of the words piety and pious, but what do these actually mean for Christians? How do we live pious lives and why should we?
Definition of Piety, Pious
As generally defined today, Piety means "the quality of being religious or reverent." Piety means faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty. For Christians, this means trust and love for God, by following His commandments and faithfully praying to Him for mercy and strength.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the following definition for piety:
1: the quality or state of being pious: such as
a: fidelity to natural obligations (as to parents)
b: dutifulness in religion; Devoutness
Pious, as also defined by Merriam-Webster means "marked by or showing reverence for God and devotion to divine worship."
Bible Meaning of Piety
In the Bible, piety is used to mean proper honour and respect toward parents (1 Timothy 5:4). In Acts 17:23, the Greek verb is rendered "ye worship," as applicable to God.
According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, "This word occurs but once in the Authorized Version: "Let them learn first to show piety at home," better "toward their own household" or family. (1 Timothy 5:4) The choice of this word here instead of the more usual equivalents -of "godliness," "reverence," and the like, was probably determined by the special sense of pietas, as "erga parentes," i.e. toward parents."
Jesus' greatest commandment was a call for piety to His followers, saying "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
3 Biblical Examples of Piety
Here are three examples of piety from the Bible of people who demonstrated great devotion to God:
1. Anna
"And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." (Luke 2:36-37)
2. Cornelius
"There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." (Acts 10:1-2)
3. Daniel
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." (Daniel 6:10)
Why Is Piety Important?
Piety is the evidence of sincere faith. It is a devotion to God through our actions, not just thoughts and words. "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)
The importance of piety and living piously is seen in the virtue of faith for Christianity. It is a demonstration that our faith is alive and well, committing ourselves to worship and loving others.
"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26)
Piety is the reflection of our commitment to God, through prayer, worship, kindness, charity, love, humility and mercy. It displays our reverence for God, revealing our devotion to Him!
Scripture Quotes about Piety and Being Pious
1 Timothy 5:4 NKJV
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Ephesians 5:5
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
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