…continued from The Path To True HOLINESS (part 1).

In the New Testament the word holiness  occurs 13 times being translated from 5 different Greek words.

I. The Greek ὁσιότης (hosiotēs) (Strong’s G3742) occurs 2 times in 2 verses and refers to piety towards God and fidelity in observing the obligations of piety. We are commanded in Ephesians 4:

22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Here we are told that the new man,  that is your inner being who has been born again in Christ Jesus, is created in righteousness and true holiness, so, we should be renewed in the spirit of our minds and put off the old man who is corrupt. This is something we have to do and we can only do it with the strength and power that Christ gives through the Holy Spirit in our spirit.

II. The Greek εὐσέβεια (eusebeia) (Strong’s G2150) is translated holiness in 1 verse and godliness in 14 other verses. It refers to reverence, respect and piety towards God. We are encouraged in 2 Peter 1:

2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Here we are told that through the precise and correct knowledge [epignosis (Strong’s G1922)] of God, Jesus Christ’s divine power has given us all things having to do with life and godliness/holiness. Its also says that through this epignosis we are given great and precious promises and these promises enable us to become partakers of God’s divine nature, once we escape the corruption that comes from lust.

III. The Greek ἁγιωσύνη (hagiōsynē) (Strong’s G42) is translated holiness in 3 verses. It refers to majesty and moral purity. We are encouraged in 2 Corinthians 7:

1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Here we are told WE MUST clean, cleanse, purge and purify ourselves from actions that cause defilement of both body and spirit. WE must perform or accomplish majesty and purity (holiness) in the reverential fear of God.

To be continued in The Path To True HOLINESS (part 3).