Pursuing and Training for Godliness in Christian Life
Paul's instruction to Timothy contrasts bodily training with godliness, noting that while physical discipline has limited value, "godliness, for all things is profitable,—having, promise, of life—the present and the coming" [3]. This comparison establishes godliness not as passive piety but as something requiring intentional cultivation. The term encompasses "the whole of practical piety," involving "knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience" [7].
Biblical Foundation for Training
Scripture presents godliness as both commanded and cultivated through deliberate effort. Believers are called to diligence in "cultivating Christian graces" and "striving after perfection" [1], with Christ himself serving as the pattern. Conformity to his example is required across multiple dimensions: holiness, righteousness, purity, love, humility, meekness, obedience, and self-denial [4]. This conformity is not instantaneous. Personal holiness "is a work of gradual development" carried on "under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance" [5].
The grace that saves also trains. In Titus 2:12, grace is described as "training us in order that, denying impiety and worldly desires, we may live self-controlled and righteously and godly in the present age" [2]. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes that this grace "exercises discipline, and is imparted in connection with disciplining chastisements," functioning as an education "often trying to flesh and blood" [8]. The Christian receives formation through a discipline that teaches denial of ungodliness and the cultivation of sober, righteous, and godly living in a world whose spirit opposes such discipline [8].
Practical Dimensions
The pursuit of godliness requires specific practices: diligence in seeking God, obeying him, hearkening to him, keeping the heart, guarding against defilement, seeking to be found spotless, making one's calling sure, and self-examination [1]. Matthew Henry observes that Christianity is "a doctrine according to godliness, designed to make us not only wiser, but better" [9]. The apostolic exhortations frame the Christian life as active endeavor—"a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do" [9].
Peter's exhortation that believers should be holy "in all manner of conversation" because God is holy establishes divine character as the standard [6]. This standard, mediated through Christ's example, shapes the believer's gradual conformity through grace-enabled discipline in the present age.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- Titus “Titus 2:12 (LEB) — training us in order that, denying impiety and worldly desires, we may live self-controlled and righteously and godly in the present age,”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:8 (Rotherham) — For, the bodily training, for little, is profitable, whereas, godliness, for all things is profitable,—having, promise, of life—the present and the coming.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Godliness — The whole of practical piety (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:6). "It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience." In 1 Tim. 3:16 it denotes the substance of revealed religion.”
- Titus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Titus 2:12: Teaching--Greek, "disciplining us." Grace exercises discipline, and is imparted in connection with disciplining chastisements (Co1 11:32; Heb 12:6-7). The education which the Christian receives from "the grace" of God is a discipline often trying to flesh and blood: just as children need disciplining. The discipline which it exercises teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Greek, "age," or course of things) where such self-discipline is needed, seeing that its spirit is oppos”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 1:13: Here the apostle begins his exhortations to those whose glorious state he had before described, thereby instructing us that Christianity is a doctrine according to godliness, designed to make us not only wiser, but better. I. He exhorts them to sobriety and holiness. 1. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, etc., Pe1 1:13. As if he had said, "Wherefore, since you are so honoured and distinguished, as above, Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveller, the racer, the”