die Sittsamkeit – modesty, (sobriety)

1. Timotheus 2,15 Sie wird aber gerettet werden in Kindesnöten, wenn sie bleiben in Glauben und Liebe und Heiligkeit mit Sittsamkeit.

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

I could not really find a lot of information about the word Sittsamkeit. There is an entry in Duden, but no information about the etymology.

However, a few synonyms are given:

• Keuschheit (chastity)
• Reinheit (purity; chastity)
• Tugend (virtue)
• Unberührtheit (virginity; unspoiled state)
• Unschuld (innocence; virginity)

Perhaps that is a good thing, because this word isn’t easy to translate. I don’t think that the words above really convey the intention. It’s best to look at the original.

The word in the original Greek is σωφροσύνη (sóphrosuné or sophrosyne). This is perhaps better understood as “self-restraint” or “self-discipline”.

It is derived from σώφρων (sóphrón).

The “sound mind” in 2 Timothy 1:7 – σωφρονισμός (sóphronismos) – is also derived from the same word. (This is a masculine noun; σωφροσύνη is the feminine.)

Sophrosyne is an ancient Greek concept. There’s a Wikipedia article on it.

Charity, Holiness, and Sobriety

Why not only faith? Aren’t we saved through faith? Why is there a mention of charity (love), holiness, and sobriety (self-discipline)?

First, I believe it is because the others are signs of a true faith.

Jakobus 2,26 Denn wie der Leib ohne Geist tot ist, also ist auch der Glaube ohne die Werke tot.

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Next, God is holy and commands us to be holy. (1 Pet 1:15-16; cf. Lev. 11:44)

He also asks us to love Him and our neighbours (Matt. 22:37-39), including our enemies (Matt. 5:44).

God promises believers a spirit of love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

This is the last part of the series of words taken from 1 Timothy 2:11-15. I recently studied these verses in detail as they were something that I shared during Sunday School just a few weeks ago. I thought I could do something slightly different.

Many of the ideas were taken from the messages by John Piper on these verses: Manhood, Womanhood, and the Freedom to Minister and Affirming the Goodness of Manhood and Womanhood in All of Life, as well as the article How Are Women Saved Through Childbearing?

It’s New Year’s Eve… Happy (early) New Year! Hard to believe that the year has gone by. I haven’t written about goals in a while, but perhaps it’s time to think about those again.