Bharatwiki Socrates at 05:24, 24 November 2023

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{{Short description|Greek-language term}}
{{other uses}}
'''Eusebeia''' (Greek: {{lang|grc|εὐσέβεια}} from {{lang|grc|εὐσεβής}} "pious" from {{lang|grc|εὖ}} ''eu'' meaning "well", and {{lang|grc|σέβας}} ''sebas'' meaning "reverence", itself formed from ''seb-'' meaning sacred awe and reverence especially in actions) is a Greek word abundantly used in Greek philosophy as well as in the [[New Testament]], meaning to perform the actions appropriate to the gods. The root ''seb-'' ({{lang|grc|σέβ-}}) is connected to danger and flight, and thus the sense of reverence originally described fear of the gods.<ref name="burkert">[[Walter Burkert|Burkert, Walter]]. ''Greek Religion''. trans. by John Raffan. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1985. (Originally published as ''Griechische Religion der archaischen und klassichen Epoche''. Stuttgart: Verlag K. [[Kohlhammer Verlag]], 1977.) 272-275.</ref><ref name="mikalson">Mikalson, Jon. "Piety and Honor." ''Honor Thy Gods: Popular Religion in Greek Tragedy''. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1991. 165-202.</ref>

==Classical Greek usage==
The word was used in [[Classical Greece]] where it meant behaving as tradition dictates in one's social relationships and towards the gods. One demonstrates eusebeia to the gods by performing the customary acts of respect (festivals, prayers, sacrifices, public devotions). By extension one honors the gods by showing proper respect to elders, masters, rulers and everything under the protection of the gods.<ref>[https://www.worldhistory.org/article/54/ World History Encyclopedia, 2012]</ref>

For [[Platonist]]s, "eusebeia" meant "right conduct in regard to the gods". For the [[Stoicism|Stoics]], "knowledge of how God should be worshiped".<ref>{{cite book
| last = Barclay
| first = William
| author-link = William Barclay (theologian)
| title = New Testament Words
| publisher = Westminster John Knox Press
| year = 2000
| pages = 107
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ngnOdquk9DUC&q=eusebeia&pg=PA106
| isbn = 0-664-24761-X}}</ref> The Epicureans (in Vatican Saying 32) teach that a pious attitude towards a person of wisdom benefits the one who does the honoring.

In [[Religion in ancient Greece|ancient Greek religion]] and [[Greek mythology|myth]] the concept of eusebeia is anthropomorphized as the ''[[Daemon (mythology)|daimon]]'' of piety, loyalty, duty and filial respect. According to one source, her husband is [[Nomos (mythology)|Nomos]] (Law), and their daughter is [[Dike (mythology)|Dike]], goddess of justice and fair judgment. In other tellings, Dike is the daughter of the god [[Zeus]] and/or the goddess [[Themis]] (Order).<ref name="theoi">"[http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Eusebia.html Eusebia: Greek goddess or spirit of piety, duty & filial respect]." ''[http://www.theoi.com/ Theoi Greek Mythology].'' ed. by Aaron J. Atsma. Accessed on 2007-12-11.</ref> The Roman equivalent is [[Pietas]].

The opposite of eusebeia is [[asebeia]], which was considered a crime in Athens. The punishment could have been death or being [[exile|exiled]]. Some philosophers, such as [[Anaxagoras]], [[Protagoras]] and [[Socrates]] were accused and trialed by the [[Heliaia]].

[[Dyssebeia]] was considered the opposite ''daimon'' to eusebeia.

==In ancient India==
The Indian emperor [[Ashoka]] in his 250 BCE [[Edicts of Ashoka|Edicts]] used the word "eusebeia" as a Greek translation for the central [[Buddhist]] concept of "[[dharma]]" in the [[Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription]].<ref name="hacker">Hacker, Paul. ''Dharma in Hinduism'', Journal of Indian Philosophy, 2006, 34:479-496</ref>

==New Testament usage==
"Eusebeia" enters the New Testament in later writings, where it is typically translated as "godliness," a vague translation that reflects uncertainty about its relevant meaning in the [[New Testament]]. For example, "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" (2 Pet 1:3) [[Saint Peter|Peter]]. As the following quotation from [[E. W. Bullinger|Bullinger]] demonstrates, interpreters adapt the meaning of eusebeia to fit the idea appropriate to Christian practice (and not on philological grounds):

{{quote|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 1 Tim 2:2, 1 Tim 3:16, 1 Tim 4:7, 1 Tim 4:8, 1 Tim 6:3, 1 Tim 6:5, 1 Tim 6:6, 1 Tim 6:11, 2 Tim 3:5, Tit 1:1, 2 Pt 1:3, 2 Pt 1:6, 2 Pt 1:7, 2 Pt 3:11.<ref>Bullinger, E. W., ''A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament'', Kregel Publications, 1877 {{ISBN|0-8254-2096-2}}</ref>}}

==References==
<references/>

{{Greek religion}}
{{Greek mythology (deities)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Greek goddesses]]
[[Category:Society of ancient Greece]]
[[Category:New Testament Greek words and phrases]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Concepts in ancient Greek ethics]]

Eusebeia - Revision history

Bharatwiki Socrates at 05:24, 24 November 2023