ὁσίως (hosiōs)
hosiōs
devoutly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb hosios means to act in a way that is pious or holy. It describes conduct that reflects deep reverence for God and moral integrity. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in 1 Thessalonians 2:10.
Paul uses it alongside other terms like "righteously" and "blamelessly" to describe his own behavior among the believers. The sources note a distinction between these synonyms, suggesting that hosios specifically emphasizes the religious or devotional aspect of that conduct. It points to a life lived with proper awe and respect for the divine.
This single occurrence highlights how early Christian leaders viewed their ministry not just as teaching, but as a form of worshipful service. The word connects ethical living directly to spiritual devotion, showing that true piety is visible in daily actions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ὁσίως appears only once in the New Testament, found in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. He uses it to describe his own conduct among believers as devout or pious. This term goes beyond general moral goodness; it points specifically to a life marked by deep reverence for God and spiritual devotion.
Paul combines this word with others meaning 'righteously' and 'blamelessly' to paint a full picture of his ministry. While the other terms highlight ethical integrity in human relationships, ὁσίως emphasizes the vertical dimension: how he stood before God. It reminds us that true service is not just about doing what is right, but doing it with a heart that honors the divine.
For your faith life, this word offers a gentle invitation to check the motive behind your actions. Are you serving out of duty, or from a place of genuine awe and love for God? Let this single verse encourage you to live in a way that reflects both moral integrity and deep spiritual devotion, knowing that God sees the heart behind every act of service.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- holily1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁσίως1×