Ungodliness (ἀ σέβεια; the verb is ἀ σεβέω and the adj. ἀ σεβής)
ἀ σέβεια is the religious designation and estimate of impious and immoral conduct (Cremer, Bibl.-Theol. Lexicon of NT Greek, p. 523); cf. Romans 1:18, where it stands side by side with ἀ δικία. It appears also in Romans 9:26, where it is in the plural in an OT quotation translating פְשָׁצִים . Elsewhere it occurs only in the Pastoral Epistles (2 Timothy 2:16, Titus 2:12) and Jude (v. 15). The verb ἀ σεβέω occurs only in 2 P 2:6, Jude 1:15; ἀ σεβής is more frequent: Romans 4:5-6 (opp. δίκαιος) 5:6, 8 (synonymous with ἁ μαρτωλός), 1 Timothy 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:1 P 4:18, Jude 1:15 (joined with ἀ μαρτωλός); also in 2 P 2:5, 3:7, Jude 1:4 .
Cremer remarks interestingly on the rare use of ἀ σεβέω and the comparatively rare use of the whole group in the NT: ‘Generally the negative and strong terms ἀ δικε ῖ ν, ἀ σεβε ῖ ν, ἀ νόσια ποιε ῖ ν, which occur often in profane Greek, are met with in Scripture far more rarely than the positive ἀ μαρτάνειν, … which in profane Greek was far less morally, and still less religiously, estimated. Herein is manifest, on the one hand, the far deeper religious view of Scripture, which estimates “failings,” or sins of omission, so seriously, and, on the other, its deeper humanity, which does not resort to the strongest terms to designate whatever is actually sinful’ (op. cit., p. 524).
It is an interesting point in NT criticism that the ἀ σεβής group is not confined, like the opposed ε ὐ σεβής group, practically to the Pastoral Epistles and 2 Peter. As we have seen, St. Paul uses ἀ σεβής and ἀ σέβεια not infrequently in Romans. This furnishes an argument to those who maintain the Pauline authorship of the Pastoral Epistles. In opposition to the argument that the use of the word ε ὐ σέβεια, etc., in the Pastorals to express practical religion, both as faith and morals within the sphere of the Church, is un-Pauline and represents a stage of development entirely subsequent to the Apostle, it is argued that, even if there be a fresh emphasis on piety within the sphere of the Church in the Pastorals, the idea is one that might naturally have come to St. Paul in view of changing conditions, and that the linguistic argument from the absence of ε ὐ σεβής, etc., in the earlier Pauline Epistles proves nothing, since his use of the opposed group shows that it was mere accident (See Godliness). For ἀ σέβεια in the sub-apostolic writings See 2 Clem. xvi. 1, ‘flee impiety’; and for ἀ σεβής See 2 Clem. xviii. 1.
Literature.-H. Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon of NT Greek, Edinburgh, 1880, p. 523 f.
Robert S. Franks.