Just Say “No”
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12 NASB
Deny ungodliness – arnéomai is the Greek verb of refusal. “‘To say no’ in answer to a question; ‘to refuse’ in relation to a claim or demand.”[1] What is it that we are to refuse? Asébeia. Generally, impiety, the opposite of eusébeia. But for this Greco-Roman audience, the words have a particularly traumatic consequence. First, it means refusing to worship the ethnic, city, and family gods. Second, it means refusing to participate in the cultic rituals of those gods. In other words, it means turning your back on your family, tribe, and country. It means being a no-man as far as your past is concerned. And in the Greco-Roman world, this was the equivalent of treason (cf. Paula Fredriksen’s work on the subject).
There’s more.
The LXX makes common use of the group, especially asebḗs. It always denotes action and not just attitude, nor is it restricted to the cultic sphere. Objective fact rather than subjective disposition is at issue (Am. 1:2). All deeds that transgress the law are asébeiai. The opposite of asebḗs in Proverbs is díkaios; a life is either contrary to God and the law or oriented to them.[2]
Notice, if you will, that asebḗs here is not the opposite of eusébeia, but rather of díkaios. This is important. It’s not enough to be a pious person, that is, someone of good reputation and respect. It’s worth noting that eusébeia is very rare in the LXX and, except for Peter and the Pastorals, is never used in the apostolic writings to refer to Messianic life and faith. What matters is díkaios—keeping the Law! What law? The only one, of course. The Torah. This is why re-education is essential. In the Greco-Roman world eusébeia was enough. Good living, humility, sterling reputation, kindness toward others, getting along—that’s what counts. Don’t upset things. Mind your own business. Be a law-abiding citizen (with the emphasis on “citizen”). Don’t we embrace the same view? Even in the Church, piety is almost never connected to Moses. Luther and Calvin are our prophets.
Paul demands re-education. The kind of eusébeia that was idolized in the Greco-Roman world is inadequate and insufficient. It misses the point. God doesn’t care about eusébeia, at least not in this iteration. He cares about Torah—His way. Refusing ungodliness means refusing to be governed by society’s definition of respectable. Moses matters. The rest is miscalculated.
But that’s not all. Tomorrow.
Topical Index: eusébeia, piety, asebḗ, ungodliness, díkaios, arnéomai, refusal, Titus 2:11-12
[1] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 79). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
[2] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 1013). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
