Worship and Reverence

You may have asked:

who or what do I worship?
when do I worship?
where do I worship?
why do I worship?
how do I worship?

The English word "worship" is used in the King James Version (KJV) as a translation for various Greek words.

This article takes a look at the following Greek words and provides verses and study material from the True Bible Study (TBS) translation and studies.

Greek Words	TBS Translation	TBS Explanation
Verb: proskuneo	to worship	to pay homage to, to be obeisant towards
Noun: proskunetes	worshippers	people who pay homage, who are obeisant
Verb: sebo	to reverence	to treat with reverential respect
Verb: sebazomai	to reverence	to treat with reverential respect on a frequent basis, to demonstrate respect
Noun: sebasma	object-of-reverence	that-which is reverenced, treated with respect
Verb: asebeo	to not-reverentially-perform	to do something in a manner that is not being reverential or respectful in service towards/for God – emphasizing the lack of reverence
Noun: asebeia	lack-of-reverence	the state of not being reverential towards God, not being respectful in service towards/for Him
Adjective: asebes	not-reverential	not respectful toward God, without reverential respect for God, not having reverence to/for God)
Verb: eusebeo	to reverence	to demonstrate good reverential respect
Adverb: eusebos	reverentially	with good/well service being respectfully reverential of/towards God
Adjective: theosebes	reverential-towards-God	being respectful towards God, having reverence to/for God
Verb: latreuo	to render-service	to perform or carry-out service as hired servants

Matthew 2:11 - verb: proskuneo

Matthew chapter 2 contains the record of the magi worshipping the young child - Jesus - not as God but as the promised king and savior!

Matthew 2:9-11:

^.9The (magi) having heard the king journeyed and look!, the star which they saw in the rising was leading them forth until, having come, it was caused-to-stand over where the young-child used-to be, ^.10and having seen the star they vehemently joyed great joy, ^.11and having gone into the house they saw the young-child with Mary his mother, and having fallen they worshipped him, and having opened their treasures they offered to him free-gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh;

The magi continued their journey and – behold – the star (Jupiter) which they had previously perceived in their own country was again visible in the eastern sky and was traveling (moving) when seen from where they were. It was going in front of them until it came to a certain point and then it reached its highest level up-above where the young child was living at that time.

When the magi perceived the star they rejoiced to a great extent with a large amount of joy. Then the magi went into the house – and by this time (over one year and three months after Jesus' birth) Joseph and Mary and Jesus lived in a house, they were not still living in the stable where Jesus was born.

When the magi came into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and they fell to the ground kneeling and paying homage to Jesus.

And when they opened the treasures fit for the king and the Christ (which they had brought with them) they offered him free-gifts of: gold and frankincense and myrrh (valuable quality items produced in the east where these men came from).

The word translated "free-gifts" emphasizes the fact that the gifts were freely given, even though the actual gifts were valuable quality items. As a result of receiving these valuable gifts, Jesus and Joseph and Mary would have had plenty to be able to provide Jesus with appropriate housing, clothing, education, etc, as he was going into manhood.

Matthew 4:9 and 10 - verb: proskuneo and verb: latreuo

Matthew chapter 4 records Jesus speaking with the devil regarding worship and service.

Matthew 4:8-11:

^.8Again the devil takes him beside (himself) into a very high mountain and points-out to him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, ^.9and said to him, "All these-things I will give to you if-ever having fallen you may worship me."

^.10Then Jesus says to him, "You must go, satan, for it was written², 'You will worship (the) Lord your God and you will render-service only to Him.'" ^.11Then the devil leaves him; and look!, angels came-towards (Jesus) and used-to minister to him.

The devil took Jesus beside himself into a very elevated hill and indicated to him (as pointing out with the finger) all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. The devil had received these from the first man Adam as recorded in Genesis chapter 3.

After the devil had pointed-out these-things to Jesus, he said to him: all these-things I will give to you if it should happen that after you fall down in the position of homage you would worship me (pay homage to me).

This was the condition in which the devil offered Jesus his way for him to gain back what Adam had lost regarding dominion over what God had originally given to Adam but which he had willingly given to the devil. All he would have to do was to fall down in the position of homage and directly worship the devil/satan. However, this way of doing things was contrary to the way that the only true God wanted Jesus to accomplish this task.

What was Jesus' reaction – did he tell the devil that he was lying or bluffing? No. Jesus knew it was true that the devil now had control over the kingdoms of the world.

Then Jesus says to the devil: you must go, satan…. Notice that Jesus uses the name "satan" here, not "devil" or "tempter." The name "satan" emphasizes his adversarial attributes. Jesus commanded satan to go:

You must go (actively lead yourself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else, go and cease being near me),
- satan,
for it was written and is still written,
- 'You will worship the Lord your God (singular individual you will pay homage to, be obeisant toward, Jehovah your Elohim)
- and you will render service only to Him (you will perform or carry-out service to Him alone, nobody or nothing else).'

Then the devil leaves Jesus. The devil didn't argue with Jesus, nor did he say "no" to him, but he did what Jesus wanted him to do. He obeyed him and went away from Jesus.

And look (behold, see)! – angels came-towards Jesus and spent time ministering to him. These spirit-beings served to benefit Jesus, they were doing work to bring him profit, taking care of him as regards what he needed at that time.

Matthew 8:2 - verb: proskuneo

Matthew chapter 8 shows how a man addressed Jesus as his Lord thereby worshipping him - not as God but as his Lord/Master!

Matthew 8:1-3:

^8:1(After) his having descended from the mountain many crowds followed him. ^.2And look!, a leper having come-towards (him) used-to worship him saying, "Lord, if-ever you may intend you are able to clean me." ^.3And having stretched-out the hand he touched him saying, "I intend – you must be cleaned," and immediately his leprosy was cleaned.

When Jesus came down away from the mountain (mount, hill) big throngs of people came after him. And look! (see, behold, calling attention to what happened next)...

a leper having come towards Jesus used-to worship him (was worshipping, spent time paying homage to him, being obeisant towards him)
saying,
- "Lord (Master),
- if it should happen that you would intend (will)
- you are able (you have the able-power, you are capable)
- to clean me (to make me free from all mixture, cause me not to be mixed with something else, i.e. clean me from my leprosy)."

Jesus stretched-out (extended) his hand and touched the leper (he applied himself to him) saying...

"I intend (I presently and actively will) –
- you must be cleaned."

And immediately (straightaway, directly) his leprosy was cleaned (caused to be clean, made clean – he didn't have leprosy anymore).

John 4:20-24 - verb: proskuneo (9 times) and noun: proskunetes

John chapter 4 records Jesus talking about worship and about the giving of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost which was still future to when he was speaking at that time.

John 4:20-24 (KJV):

²⁰ Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

²¹ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Acts 10:25 - verb: proskuneo

Acts chapter 10 records Cornelius, who was a Gentile at that time, worshipping Peter - not as God but as a man who was speaking on God's behalf!

Acts 10:24-26:

^.24And on the morrow they went into Caesarea, and Cornelius was expecting them having called-together with-himself his family-kinsmen and constrained friends; ^.25and as the coming-in (of) Peter came-to-pass, Cornelius, having met him (and) having fallen on (Peter's) feet, worshipped (him), ^.26but Peter caused him to rise saying, "You must stand-up (for) also I myself am a man."

Peter and those with him came to Cornelius' house and Cornelius was watching for their arrival. He had invited his relatives and his necessary and close friends into his house in preparation for what Peter was going to say.

As soon as Peter arrived, Cornelius came out to meet together with him and fell-down at Peter's feet and worshipped him (paid him homage, was obeisant towards him). But Peter made him get-up telling him that he must stand-up because emphatically Peter himself was also a man physically as Cornelius was.

Revelation 7:11 - verb: proskuneo

Revelation chapter 7 contains the words of worship spoken by angels towards God.

Revelation 7:11 and 12:

^.11And all the angels had stood circling-round the throne and the elders and the four living-beings, and they fell before the throne on their faces and worshipped God ^.12saying, "With-certainty, the blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thankfulness and the honor and the ability and the strength (are) to our God into the ages of the ages, with-certainty."

The angels fell down flat in the sight and presence of the throne on their faces (demonstrating complete submission and recognition of their superior) and they worshipped (paid homage to, were obeisant towards) God saying...

"With-certainty (amen, truly, surely!),
- the blessing (the good word spoken, the speech that is well)
- and the glory (the importance, splendor, renown)
- and the wisdom (the skillful and expert application of personal knowledge, what to do as the most appropriate action concerning a specific situation or circumstance)
- and the thankfulness (the expression of gratitude for the reception of grace, the thanks for bestowed unmerited or undeserved favor)
- and the honor (the estimation of being valuable, deemed to be worthy of price)
- and the ability (the able-power, capability)
- and the strength (the inherent strength, the strength which God is)
are to/with our God
- into the ages of the ages (the durations of lifetimes for/throughout the durations of lifetimes – not only one age or a group of ages, but emphatically for all the durations of life, the entirety, for eternity, forever),
with-certainty (by repeating this word the angels give added emphasis to what they were saying - emphatically amen, truly, surely!)."

Revelation 9:20 - verb: proskuneo

Revelation chapter 9 shows that some people will continue to refuse to worship the only true God but instead they worship the devil and idols.

Revelation 9:20 and 21:

^.20And the remaining-people of the men, the (remaining-people) not killed in these strokes, neither repented out-from the works of their hands in order that they will not worship the devils and the idols - the golden and the silver and the copper and the stony and the wooden (idols), which neither are able to observe nor to hear nor to walk - ^.21and they did not repent out-from their murders neither out-from their sorceries nor out-from their fornication nor out-from their thefts.

The remaining-people of the men...

emphatically and specifically the remaining people who were not killed in these strokes (strikes),

...neither repented (they did not change their minds from bad to good regarding God and the things of God after re-thinking what God said)...

out-from the works of their hands (from the things that are wrought by themselves, the deeds, the end-products, the effects-produced with/by them having acted expending their energy, doing things themselves by their own authority and power - they did not move in motion from their own handiwork)

...for the purpose and resulting fact that (if they would repent then they would not do the following)...

they will not worship (they will not pay homage to, be obeisant towards)
- the devils
  - [The word translated "devils" is the Greek word daimonion, which was used in Greek mythology (falsehoods) to describe supernatural intermediary beings between false-gods and men. In reality, these are the lower-ranking demons, evil spirits like 'privates' which take their direction from the higher-ranking evil spirits (daimon) in the devil's "army" which take their orders and direction from the chief or top-ranking devil-spirit himself who is the devil/satan.]
- and the idols
  - [An idol is an image or something that a person places ahead of God in his/her mind and therefore he/she worships or serves that thing/idol as "god" instead of worshipping and serving the only true God. An idol may or may-not have form and substance. Examples of idols are: books, the people themselves, famous people, devil-spirits, icons, statues, perhaps some agricultural endeavor, the environment, the sun, moon or stars, the web or some other computer-related program, software or hardware, television, video games, eating some particular food, or whatever a person puts above or estimates to be higher in his/her mind and living than the only true God and what He says and does. Anything or anybody placed in higher esteem in the whole of a person’s heart and soul and mind process than God is an idol to/for that person.]
- - the golden (made of/with gold, overlaid or covered with gold)
- and the silver (made of/with silver, overlaid or covered with silver )
- and the copper (made of/with bronze, brass, or any metal)
- and the stony (made of/with stone)
- and the wooden (made of/with wood)
  - idols,
- which neither are able (the handmade idols of gold or silver or copper or stone or wood do not have the ability, the able-power, the capability)
  - to observe (to look-at something so as to see it, to mentally envision, be mentally aware of, contemplate an object, someone or something)
  - nor to hear (to listen to the end of understanding an object, someone or something)
  - nor to walk (to go on foot, to move around on their feet)

...and they did not repent (as verse 20 above)...

out-from their murders (the wrongful killings of men, women, or children from God’s viewpoint)
neither out-from their sorceries (the preparation and use of medicines, drugs, potions, poisons, like pharmacy but used in the bad sense of the magical arts of enchantment, incantations, spells, witchcraft, wizardry, etc)
nor out-from their fornication (committing wrongful sexual activity or relations)
nor out-from their thefts (actions of stealthily stealing what is not rightfully theirs to take, kleptomania, things stolen by fraud or in secret).

Matthew 15:9 - verb: sebo

Matthew chapter 15 records Jesus quoting a scripture from Isaiah the prophet regarding the lack of reverence by some people towards God.

Matthew 15:1-11:

^15:1Then Pharisees and scribes come-towards Jesus from Jerusalem saying, ^.2“Because-of-what do your learning-disciples step-aside-from the tradition of the elders? – for they do not wash the hands whenever they may eat bread.”

^.3But the (one) having answered said to them, “Because-of-what do you also step-aside-from the commandment of God because-of your tradition? – ^.4for God said, ‘You must honor the father and the mother,’ and, ‘The (person) speaking-badly-of father or mother must complete (his life) with death.’ ^.5But you say, ‘He-who ever may say to the father or to the mother, ‘(It is) a free-gift, that-which if-ever you may be profited from me,’ ^.6he will never honor his father,’ and you unconfirm the word of God because-of your tradition.

^.7Hypocrites, Isaiah prophesied beautifully concerning you saying, ^.8‘This people honor Me with the lips but their heart has far away from Me. ^.⁹But futilely they reverence Me teaching teachings (which are) commandments of men.’”

^.10And having called the crowd towards-himself he said to them, “You must hear and understand: ^.11not the-thing going into the mouth makes the man common but the-thing journeying out-from the mouth this makes the man common.”

In verse 9, Jesus said to the Pharisees and scribes...

“Hypocrites,
Isaiah prophesied beautifully concerning you (Isaiah spoke-forth God's words being revealed to him with a manifested decorous, harmonious and acceptable goodness)
saying,
- ‘This people honor Me with the lips but their heart has (holds itself) far away from Me.
- But futilely they reverence Me (uselessly, meaninglessly, in a manner that is empty as to results they treat Me with reverential respect)
- teaching teachings which are commandments of men (instructions, doctrines which are commandments issuing-from men, not from God).’”

Acts 16:14 - verb: sebo

Acts chapter 16 tells us regarding a woman who reverenced God.

Acts 16:13-15:

^.13and on the day of the sabbaths we went outside of the gate beside a river where we regarded-it-as-customary (for there) to be prayer. And having sat-down we uttered-forth to the women having come-together. ^.14And some woman, Lydia by-name, a seller-of-purple-cloth of (the) city of Thyatira, reverencing God, heard, whose heart the Lord throughly-opened to have-attention to the (words) being uttered-forth by Paul, ^.15and as she was baptized, and her house, she encouraged (us) saying, "Since you have judged² me to be believing the Lord, having come into my house you must remain," and she compelled us.

Paul and those with him came outside the gate of that city alongside the river where they expected it was the custom (being lawfully and legally allowed) that people would be praying to God. When they sat-down they spoke to the women gathered there.

One of the women was named Lydia and she was reverencing God (treating God with reverential respect), who had come to Philippi from the city of Thyatira which is in Asia Minor. As Paul was speaking God's Word to the women, Lydia was listening because the Lord had thoroughly or fully opened her heart to have attention (to hold or turn her mind, her thoughts) towards these words. The words didn't go in one ear and out the other! She heard them, paying attention and holding onto them.

As she was baptized (with holy spirit-life – the baptism that was first made available on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter 2)
- plus her household (those belonging to her house),
she exhorted Paul and those with him saying that
since they had decided that she was believing (faithful, she had become a believer)
- with respect to the Lord,
they could stay in her house.

The way that they could have judged that Lydia was believing relative-to the Lord was either to physically hear her speaking with tongues with her holy spirit-life, or they received the information from God or from the Lord Jesus Christ via their-own holy spirit-life.

Romans 1:18 - noun: asebeia; Romans 1:25 - verbs: sebazomai and latreuo

Romans chapter 1 tells us that part of the good-message is to let people know what the consequence is presently, and what it will be in the future, for those people who refuse to believe what God has given to be believed regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:18, 24 and 25:

^.18For (the) wrath of God is revealed from heaven on all lack-of-reverence and unrighteousness of men, the (people) holding-down the truth in unrighteousness –

Paul writes: In truth…

God’s wrath (the lasting angry vengeance of God, like the heat of a burning fire, not a spur-of-the-moment thing on God’s part)
- is presently revealed (uncovered, as removing a veil and exposing what was previously hidden from view)
  - away from heaven (‘heaven’ literally is anywhere above the earth, and it is used metaphorically referring to God Himself and His spirit realm)
down on all/every lack-of-reverence (the state of not being reverential towards God, not being respectful in service towards/for Him)
and unrighteousness (unjustness, injustice, what is not right/just but is wrong)
- of men (belonging-to, pertaining-to, and emanating-from men, mankind, referring to the natural/physical category),
  - emphatically and specifically the people holding-down (having fast or firm in the sense of suppressing)
  - the truth of the good-message within unrighteousness (putting it on a par with injustice) –

Continuing in verses 24 and 25:

^.24On-which-account God gave them in the intense-yearnings of their hearts over into uncleanness, their bodies to be dishonored among them, ^.25the-people-who exchanged the truth of God in the lie and reverenced and rendered-service to the creation against the (One) having created – Who is blessed into the ages, with-certainty.

On account of this, God gave over (handed over, delivered alongside or beside another, handed along into the power of another)…

the people living their lives within the sphere of action of the intense-yearnings of their hearts (the lusts, here used in the bad sense, the strong-desires that attach or fix upon certain objects other-than God and the things of God, which belong-to, pertain-to, issue or proceed from their own hearts)
- into uncleanness (their direction was into the state of not being free from mixture of that-which is against God, resulting in them being mixed with something else, having impurity from God's viewpoint mixed with them),
  - for the purpose of their bodies being dishonored among them (their physical bodies esteemed as being without honor, of no value or worth while interacting with one-another),
specifically these are the people who actively exchanged (altered one thing with another, replaced something with what they preferred to take its place, they substituted)
- the truth of God (God’s essential reality, the inherent verity pertaining-to and issuing-from God)
  - within the lie (in its place they put the lie; instead of God’s truth they put the lie on a par with it as though the lie was truth; they replaced the truth with the lie)
  - [What lie? The lie emanating from the devil (satan, serpent) which is that he is God, and as such he is the one who gives and maintains life etc to all, and all must reverence, worship and serve him and whom he designates! This lie began in Genesis chapter 3, and continues being repeated throughout the centuries by the devil and those who decide to follow him as their god in the place of the only true God. Refer also to John 8:44; Ephesians 4:25; II Thessalonians 2:11.]
- and reverenced (on a frequent basis they treated with reverential respect, their respect was demonstrated)
- and rendered-service (they performed, carried-out service as hired servants)
  - to the creation (towards that-which was created, brought into being, the created-thing, such as themselves, other people, animals, stars, etc, which ultimately ends in worshipping and serving the devil/satan)
against (contrary-to, to the exclusion of)
the One having created (Who created the creation; God is the One Who created the creation; God is the Creator)
- – Who is blessed (God is blessed. The adjective "blessed" means: good-worded, well-spoken. The spoken-account of God's inner-thoughts is good/well. The words that come from God are good/well. God is in the continuing and lasting standing and state of blessedness. God - blessed, and this truth does not change. God is the One Who bestows His blessings to others, and of course, we are to speak well of Him also.)
  - into the ages (for/throughout the durations of lifetimes),
  - with-certainty (amen, truly, surely!).

People have freedom of will to make their own decisions regarding how they live their lives. The only true God does not control, force, or make a person to behave in a certain manner! Those who refuse to do what God says are no-longer under God's protection during this life, which God affords to those who honestly endeavor to do His will. They open themselves up to the influence of satan (the devil) by their own choice in the walk/behavior category in the fleshy realm. They bring to themselves the consequences of their chosen behavior.

Acts 17:23 - noun: sebasma and verb: eusebeo; Acts 17:25 - verb: therapeuo

Acts chapter 17 contains the record of what Paul spoke regarding the only true God.

Acts 17:22 and 23:

^.22But Paul, having been caused-to-stand in (the) midst of Mars' Hill, said, "Adult-males, Athenians, I view you with-attention as (being) more-afraid-of-devils according to all-things, ^.23for going-through and viewing-up your objects-of-reverence with-attention I found also an altar in which had been written, '(To the) Unknown God' – therefore that-which unknowing you reverence – this (object of reverence) I message to you:

Standing in the middle of those present, Paul brought to light saying...

"Adult-males (grown men), people of Athens,
I view you with attention (contemplate in/with my mind)
that you are more afraid of devils (comparatively more fearful, in-awe-of daimon)
in everything that you say and do....”

The verb that Paul uses has its root in “fear/awe” and “daimon”. These Athenians would have taken this statement as a compliment as being more religious about their ‘gods’ than other people.

Paul continues:

“In fact while I was passing-through and eagerly-viewing and contemplating in my mind about your objects of reverence (the things you are reverential towards, you treat with respect),
I also found an altar (an elevated place)
within which had been written (inscribed on it)
- that it was to the 'Unknown God' – (a God that you do not know about)!
Therefore the object of reverence that you are unknowing of (you are ignorant of, unaware of)
even though you reverence (you demonstrate good reverential respect),
this is what emphatically I message to you (I bring the message pertaining to this One to you)….”

We ought to note how Paul had noticed his surroundings and how he remembered what was engraved on this altar and was able to use it to help these people hear about the only true God.

Verses 24-27:

^.24the God, the (God) having made the world and all the-things in it, this-(God) being-from-the-beginning Lord of heaven and of earth does not dwell-down in handmade interior-temples, ^.25nor is He attended-to by menly hands (as though He is) supplicating-for something.

He (is the God) giving life and blowing and all-things to all-people, ^.26and He made out-from one-(man) every nation of men to dwell-down on all (the) face of the earth – having marked-out-definitely (the) times having been arranged-towards² (them) and the marked-boundaries of their dwelling-down-place – ^.27to seek-after God if consequently indeed they may touch-after Him and they may find (Him), and indeed being-from-the-beginning not distant from each one of us;

Paul continues: "The God, emphatically and specifically the God Who has made the world (the ordered-arrangement of the whole universe) and all the-things within it (not only a certain portion of it like the gods you have who only represent some phase of human life or nature or something else)…

this God
- from the beginning, the start, originating being Lord (Master)
- of heaven (everything above the earth)
- and of earth (everything on or in the earth),
does not permanently dwell (settle-down, fixedly house or inhabit)
within handmade interior-temples (the holiest temple areas made by the hands of mankind like your idols fit inside your shrines and grottos),
nor is He attended-to (treated therapeutically, taken care of as necessary, as to heal Him and make Him better)
by the power of menly (human) hands,
- as though this God is in need of something and is expressing His lack towards mankind so that they would provide it for Him.
Emphatically He (He Himself, this same God)
is the One giving (presenting in an unforced manner, yielding)
- life (referring to physical life, which is the antithesis to death)
- and blowing (referring to the action of breathing air in and out by mankind; refer to Genesis 2:7 and Acts 2:2)
- and all-things (everything),
to all people (not just a certain nation or race, or something else which may be used by mankind as a criteria of separation),
and He made out-from one man (originating from one single man [some Greek texts have the word “blood” here and this would also refer to the first man, Adam])
every nation of men (this includes all Judeans / Israelites and all the Gentiles / different ethnic groups)
to permanently dwell on all the face of the earth (to settle-down, to fixedly house or inhabit the whole earth, not only portions of it)
- having marked out definitely (set or separated the boundary, horizon, limits, the limited-area relative to)
  - the specific times (the seasons, occasions, the opportune times)
  - which He arranged (put/set in order)
  - towards/with all of mankind,
  - these specific times have not changed since He marked them out
  - and the marked boundaries of their dwelling-down-place (the definite limits, horizons, limited areas of their permanent dwelling place, their habitat, habitation – God did not do this arbitrarily or haphazardly!)
to seek after God (for the purpose that they would look for Him)
if in correspondence to seeking after Him,
they would touch after Him (feel after Him as though with their hands stretched-out searching for God)
and they would then find Him,
and indeed being-from-the-beginning not distant from each one of us (emphatically from the start God is not far away from any one of us; in other words, people would not have to spend their whole lifetime looking for God because they would find Him quickly since God makes Himself known).”

God has given mankind freedom of will – it is up to each individual to seek after God.

II Thessalonians 2:4 - noun: sebasma

II Thessalonians chapter 2 refers to some of what will occur after all of today's holy-people (true Christians) will be gathered together with the Lord Jesus Christ away from the earth.

II Thessalonians 2:3(b) and 4:

…^.3(b) and the man of the lawlessness, the son of the destruction, may be revealed, ^.4the (one) adversarying and super-lifting-himself on all being said (to be) a god or an object-of-reverence so-as-for him to sit-down into the interior-temple of God pointing himself out that he is God!

After the day of the Lord begins…

the man of the lawlessness, the son of the destruction
- would be revealed (caused to be uncovered, as removing a veil and exposing what was previously hidden from view),
and being adverse (opposing, is in opposition, figuratively putting himself in the position of lying/laying against or being "anti" God and the Lord Jesus Christ and all who are in God's kingdom)
and super lifting himself (taking himself up and carrying himself above and over)
- whereby he will be exerting downward pressure on (upon)
- all (everything) being said to be (called, addressed)
  - as god
  - or an object of reverence.

God has very clearly made it known by His revealed Word all throughout the years that He is the only true God and that He is the only One Who is to be reverenced in this manner. However, in the earth today there are many different religions and cults which have devil-spirits and idols and icons and people, etc, which they call their "god" and their "object of reverence" and influencing other people to bow-down and reverence this or that as their god. This "man of the lawlessness, the son of the destruction" will lift himself up, he will exalt himself above all of these "gods" using and exercising the unholy spirit-power of the devil/satan.

The consequence or result of this one adversarying and super lifting himself on all being said to be a god or an object-of-reverence is that…

he will actively sit-down into
the interior-temple of God
- pointing-out (demonstrating, exhibiting, indicating as pointing-out with the finger away-from some other object towards a particular object – in this case: away-from the only true God towards himself)
  - that he himself is God and therefore he is the one to be reverenced!

The 'interior-temple' refers to the innermost-part of God's temple, as the most sacred area within the temple in Jerusalem, where God's presence was manifested-forth, called the "Holy of Holies."

This one's objective is to replace God with himself thus attempting to make the devil/satan the supreme spirit! He will go into that area or place in the temple where the only true God's presence was manifested-forth, the Holy of Holies, in his attempt to usurp God's position by trying to make himself "holy" or "sanctified" through/by the fact of being there in that physical place.

Jude 1:15 - noun: asebeia, verb: asebeo, and adjective: asebes

Jude chapter 1 includes prophecy of events still future to us today regarding what will happen to people who lack reverence towards God.

Jude 1:14 and 15:

^.14But Enoch, seventh from Adam, prophesied also to these-people saying, “Look!, (the) Lord came in His holy ten-thousands ^.15to make judgment against all and to refute every soul concerning all of their works of lack-of-reverence which they not-reverentially-performed and concerning all the hard-things which not-reverential sinners uttered-forth against Him.”

Enoch, who was the seventh generation from Adam (the original man), prophesied also to/for these-people (refer to Jude 1:4, 8, 10, and 12) saying...

“Look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
the Lord came (referring prophetically to a future one-time occurrence when God will accomplish the following)
within the sphere of action of His holy ten-thousands (myriads of sanctified ones, including God’s spirit-being angels which are messengers in official service via words and/or actions, plus all the holy-people, the true Christians, who will at that time be together with the Lord Jesus Christ carrying-out God’s will)
- to make judgment against all (to perform the action of pronouncing sentence against every one of these people, passing judgment regarding their wrong behavior, which will result in their death at the final judgment time)
- and to refute every soul (“soul” refers to the life of a person’s physical body which is evidenced by breathing, their soul/breath life, what allows them to move and work, etc, living in the physical category, and figuratively referring to their beings, including their character and disposition – to prove all of them wrong, to convict and convince all/every one of them of their error)
  - about all of their works of lack-of-reverence (every one of the deeds that they carried-out having the quality of not being reverential towards God, the un-reverential effects produced with/by their actions expending their energy)
    - which they not-reverentially-performed (they did them in a manner that was not being reverential or respectful in service towards and for Him – emphasizing the lack of reverence)
  - and about all the hard-things (harsh, as a leaf becoming hard/stiff having detached itself from the tree that was to be its source of water and nourishment to give and maintain life, the tough things)
    - which not-reverential sinners spoke against Him (the people who are not reverential or respectful toward God and who miss the mark of God's Word, who err from what God says, spoke against Him).”

II Timothy 2:16 - noun: asebeia

II Timothy chapter 2 is a record of Paul teaching Timothy regarding behavior including the subject of reverence.

II Timothy 2:14-18:

^.14These-things you must remind (people), throughly-witnessing before God, not to word-fight on nothing useful on (the) down-turning of the (people) hearing. ^.15You must be earnestly-diligent to present yourself to God an approved-person, an unashamed worker cutting-uprightly the word of the truth. ^.16But the profane empty-sounds you must stand-around (from), for they will advance on more-than lack-of-reverence ^.17and their word will have a feeding-pasture as gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, ^.18the-people-who failed concerning the truth saying resurrection to have already come-to-pass² and they overturn the belief of some-people.

Paul writes: You must remind people of these things (cause those who have previously been taught to remember these things, to recollect, call these things to their minds)…

while you are throughly-witnessing before God (fully affirming, testifying through the entire subject, thoroughly making known the information and knowledge that you have regarding these things in the sight and presence of God [some Greek texts have the word ‘Lord’ here instead of ‘God’]),

…not to word-fight on nothing useful (not to battle, not to be in combat about words, what is spoken, and using words as instruments to fight-with, actively moving in a downward direction on not-one useful thing, nothing functional, nothing benevolent or usable, something that has no suitable purpose in service)...

eventually resting on the down-turning of the people hearing (the overturning, the catastrophe of those who are hearing these word fights taking place).

You must be earnestly-diligent (have speedy application or performance, assiduity, endeavor with earnestness)...

to present yourself to God (to cause yourself to stand beside God, near-by Him)
- an approved person (a person who has been proved by testing or examination and thereby approved regarding your behavior, the way you conduct yourself during your everyday living),
- an unashamed worker (a person who expends your energy and effort without shame, a worker who does not feel shame, has no cause to have the feeling or emotion of disgrace and guilt being sorry for what you are doing as though your work was improper, ignominious or dishonorable)
  - cutting-uprightly the word of the truth (cutting a straight and direct way without allowing any obstacles to twist or turn you off the right course/path on which you are proceeding, which is the word of the truth, the spoken account of the inner thoughts of God which is true).

In order to present yourself to God being an approved person and an unashamed worker, the course/path that you are to walk-on and keep level is the word of God – cutting the path uprightly so that others can follow you walking on the same path. The word that belongs-to and issues-from God, God’s Word, includes...

the previously revealed spoken and written words from God,
and this letter which Paul was writing to Timothy,
and what God may reveal to a holy-person (Christian) via your holy spirit-life at any time regarding specific circumstances or situations.

But – the profane empty-sounds you must stand-around from (stand about on the perimeter aloof from the sounds/voices that are empty of contents, vain, and adjectively described as: desecrated, trampled, polluted, violated, having crossed the threshold from what is holy and entered-into what is unholy, not sacred or initiated)…

for the truth is that these profane empty-sounds
- will advance on more-than lack-of-reverence (they will beat or drive forward cutting down everything out of their way so that nothing can impede their progress, their advancement on comparatively more than not being reverential towards God, not being respectful in service towards and for Him)
and the word of/from those who speak such things
- will have a feeding-pasture as gangrene (that spoken account will have an area to feed on, eating its way ahead spreading in the bad sense as illustrated by gangrene gnawing and putrefying, causing death to the area affected because of the lack of supply of blood which is the life needed for that part of the body to stay alive – this is in complete contrast to the word of truth in verse 15 above),
of whom is Hymenaeus (refer to I Timothy 1:20) and Philetus,
- the people who failed concerning the truth (they have actively aimed off course, deviated from the mark, have not aimed at or endeavored to reach the goal around, about, with reference to the truth)
- – what is their word? –
  - they are saying that resurrection has already come-to-pass and continues to be (they lay out before people that the standing-up alive of people who died has previously happened, already occurred; as though there was no bodily resurrection so as to receive our new spiritual bodies, etc)
- and they overturn the belief of some-people (they turn up, subvert, upset some holy-people’s faith, trust relative to God and the things of God, which includes our belief of the hope of Christ coming to gather us together and still-future resurrections including judgments, etc).

Titus 2:12 - noun: asebeia and adverb: eusebos

Titus chapter 2 shows us that lack of reverence towards God is not the correct behavior for holy-people (Christians).

Titus 2:11-14:

^.11for the salvational grace of God was brought-to-light-upon all men, ^.12training us in order that we, having denied the lack-of-reverence and the worldly intense-yearnings, may live sound-thinkingly and righteously and reverentially in the present age ^.13waiting-for the happy hope and shining-light of the glory of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, ^.14who gave himself on behalf of us in order that he may redeem us away-from all lawlessness and he may clean with himself a present people, a zealot of beautiful works.

Paul writes: In truth, the salvational grace of God (God’s unmerited favor that pertains to salvation, His saving grace, what is willingly and freely given by God to the recipients making them safe)…

was brought to light upon all men (this grace was caused to have its light shone upon all mankind, and so it has been made evident to all, it is visible shining this light forth upon everyone),
training us (this grace is presently training us who have willingly received it, not everyone; ‘training’ means teaching as to children, which not only includes instruction but also discipline and correction and education)
for the purpose and result that we,
- having denied (disowned, negated, rejected)
  - the lack-of-reverence (the state of not being reverential towards God, not being respectful in service towards/for Him)
  - and the worldly intense-yearnings (the strong-desires attached or fixed upon certain objects other-than God and the things of God, lusts pertaining to the world),
may live (be alive, living in the following manner/mode)
- sound-thinkingly (having thoughts in our minds that are sound, safe in God’s viewpoint, with prudence, thoughts in alignment with our salvation)
- and righteously (justly, rightly, with justice, with righteousness)
- and reverentially (with good/well service being respectfully reverential of/towards God)
in the present age (during the now age, the duration of life that is currently in progress)

…waiting-for the happy hope and shining-light of the glory of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:6 - adjective: asebes

Romans chapter 5 tells us that Christ died on behalf of the people who are not reverential - sinners.

Romans 5:6-8:

^.6For (during) our yet being weak, Christ yet died according to time on behalf of not-reverential-people, ^.7for with-difficulty on behalf of a righteous-person someone will cause-himself-to-die, for on behalf of the good-person quickly someone also dares to die, ^.8but God commends the love¹ of Himself into us because Christ died on behalf of us (during) our yet being sinners.

Paul writes: In truth…

while we were still continuing to be weak (without strength, feeble from God’s viewpoint),
- Christ still died in accordance with the specific time (the opportune or precise period, occasion, season, according to God’s timetable)
  - in the interests of not-reverential people (those without reverential respect for God, who did not have reverence to/for God),
- in fact considering the topic of someone dying for someone else, someone will find it difficult (a hard thing to do, it will take labor)
  - to put himself in the situation of dying
  - in the interests of a righteous (just) person,
- for also someone quickly (speedily, swiftly) ventures to die
  - in the interests of the good person (one who is actively being perfectly admirable from God's viewpoint exercising the goodness that issues from God),

…but (aside from what people might normally consider worth dying for)…

God commends the love¹ of Himself into us (God causes His love proceeding from Himself to stand in conjunction with us, as favorably introducing it directed to/for us so that it is together with us who have become holy-people)
- because Christ died
  - in the interests of us while we were still continuing to be sinners (people who miss the mark of God's Word, who err from what God says).

I Timothy 1:9 - adjective: asebes

I Timothy chapter 1 contains details on why God gives people His law to adhere to.

I Timothy 1:8-11:

^.8But we knew² that the law (is) beautiful if-ever someone lawfully may use it ^.9having known² this that law is not laid for a righteous-person but for lawless-people and unsubjected-people, not-reverential-people and sinners, unholy-people and profane-people, father-beaters and mother-beaters, murderers-of-men, ^.10fornicators, homosexuals, men-traffickers, liars, perjurers, and if some different-thing is adverse to the teaching being sound ^.11according to the good-message of the glory of the Happy God which I was trusted-with.

Paul writes: We knew and still know (perceive, see)…

that the law is beautiful (God’s law has a manifested decorous, harmonious and acceptable goodness)
if-ever someone lawfully may use it (if it should ever happen that someone would deem the law to be needful for a purpose, make use of it in a lawful manner, according to the law, the way it says that it should be used, i.e. according to what God says)
having known and still knowing (perceiving, seeing) this –
- that law is not laid for a righteous-person (God does not make law lie-down in position ready for action for a just-person in the walk/behavior category, one who behaves in a justified manner)
but law is laid for:
- lawless-people (those who do not abide by God’s law, who do not obey what God says and so their behavior is unlawful, who are in the state of being without God's law, being in violation-of, non-observance or transgression of the law of God)
- and unsubjected-people (those who are not in subjection to God’s law, who do not submit themselves, who do not arrange themselves in the position of being under the authority of what God says),
- not-reverential-people (those who are without reverential respect for God, who do not have reverence to/for God)
- and sinners (those who miss the mark of God's Word, who err from what God says),
- unholy-people (those who do not practice holiness which is pure-Godliness free from all crime, those who are not in the state of constantly observing all God says, who do not practice every duty and function and thereby do not fulfill every obligation which God has given to be believed and carried-out)
- and profane-people (those who desecrate, trample, pollute, violate, cross the threshold from what is holy and enter-into what is unholy, not sacred or initiated),
- father-beaters (those who beat their fathers, treading on them as cattle thresh grain, trampling all over them so that their words and actions are quashed, even to the degree of killing them)
- and mother-beaters (those who beat their mothers, treading on them as cattle thresh grain, trampling all over them so that their words and actions are quashed, even to the degree of killing them),
- murderers-of-men (those who wrongfully kill adult-males, generally refers to murdering God’s people both male and female),
- fornicators (those who carry-out wrongful sexual activity/relations),
- homosexuals (males who go to bed having sexual relations with other men, specifically those who are the active male-like partner in a homosexual relationship, and generally also includes females with females, lesbians),
- men-traffickers (those who deal/trade adult-males as animals, tyrants putting grown men under their feet controlling them like animals with two feet instead of four),
- liars (those who speak and live lies, falsifiers),
- perjurers (those who make an oath on/against an oath already made and thus falsely swear, commit perjury),
and if some different-thing is adverse to (any other different thing that opposes, is in opposition to, figuratively puts itself in the position of lying/laying against)
the teaching being sound according to the good-message of the glory of the Happy God (this word ‘teaching’ includes the teaching itself and the action of teaching it, the instruction being healthy, in good health, well, in accordance with the gospel, evangel, of the importance, splendor, renown, belonging-to and emanating-from the felicitous God, He is in the continuing and lasting standing and state of happiness)
- which good-message emphatically I was trusted-with (entrusted with).

God entrusted Paul with the good-message - what a great privilege and responsibility had been entrusted to him!

John 9:31 - adjective: theosebes

John chapter 9 contains a word translated "worshipper of God" in the King James Version - but it means: reverential towards God - a person who reverences God.

John 9:31 (KJV):

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

God hears those who reverence Him.

Acts 24:14 - verb: latreuo

Acts chapter 24 records some of Paul's speech in defense of his behavior.

Acts 24:14 and 15:

^.14but I express-agreement (regarding) this to you that according to the way which they say (is a) sect thus I render-service to (my) father's God, believing all the-things according to the law and the-things in the prophets having been written², ^.15having hope into God, which (hope) also these-people themselves wait-for – a resurrection to be about to be (in the future) both of righteous-people and of unrighteous-people;

Paul speaks to Felix the leader (procurator):

...but I agree regarding/with this (I say the same thing, speak the same words, speak agreement with, assent to the same spoken thing, the same words)
- to you
- that
in accordance with the way (figuratively referring to the manner of action, method of proceeding)
- which they call a sect (heresy, choice, opinion or chosen-way which is different to the traditional way of thinking)
in this manner I render-service to my father's God (I perform, carry-out service as a hired servant to the God of my father, the same God passed down to me by my father),
- believing (having faith, trusting)
  - all the-things according to the law (of Moses)
  - and the-things in the prophets having been written and continuing written (in the old covenant writings),
- having hope directed to God,
- which hope also these-people themselves wait-for –
  - a resurrection (standing up)
  - to be about to be at a future time
  - both of righteous people and of unrighteous people (refer to Revelation 20:12-15)....

Romans 1:9 - verb: latreuo

Romans chapter 1 informs us that Paul rendered service in his spirit in the good-message of God's son.

Romans 1:8-12:

^.8Firstly indeed I thank my God by means of Jesus Christ concerning all of you because your belief is messaged in the whole world, ^.9for God is witness of me, to Whom I render-service in my spirit in the good-message of His son, as-that unceasingly I make remembrance to-myself of you ^.10always on my prayers supplicating if by-some-manner at-some-time I will be prospered already in the intention of God to go towards you, ^.11for I earnestly-long to see you in order that I may sharingly-give to you some spiritual gracious-gift with-a-view-for you to be set-fast, ^.12and this is: to be encouraged-together among you by means of the belief among one-another both yours and mine.

In verse 9 Paul writes: In truth...

God is witness of/regarding me (a witness is one who has information or knowledge of that-which he is attesting to, and can therefore confirm it on the strength of his-own authority - here Paul says: God is my witness - and of course God's authority is supreme)
- to Whom I render-service (it is to/for God that I presently and actively perform, carry-out service as a hired servant)
  - within the sphere of action of my spirit (the holy spirit-life in me)
- in the good-message of His son (the gospel, evangel pertaining to God’s son who is our Lord Jesus Christ),
as to how unceasingly (without ceasing, assiduously)
- I make remembrance to-myself of you (I bring to my own mind, my memory, and so I make mention of you)
- constantly on the occasion of my prayers (during my communications to/with God, the general speaking towards/with God)
supplicating (expressing my lack of something specific and my need of help, communicating my needful-request, which is)
- if by any means (somehow) at some future time I will be prospered already (be led having a good journey, a way that is well)
- within the intention of God (His active volition and desire)
- to go towards you,
for I earnestly-long (have a real longing, desire on-top of what I already had)
- to see you (not just the mere act of seeing but to see to the end of perceiving and knowing you in my mind)
for the purpose and result that I would sharingly-give to you (impart, freely give something in company and association with you who have a need; this giving is to benefit both parties involved)
– share what? –
- some spiritual gracious-gift (this gracious-gift was to be spiritual – it was to emanate from the holy spirit-life within Paul, and therefore what Paul wanted to sharingly-give to them was to be in the holy spirit category, not originating from the fleshy/physical category)
- with-a-view-for you to be set-fast (for the purposed objective of firmly fixing you),
- and this is:
  - to be encouraged together among you (to be exhorted in conjunction with you during that time, all of us being exhorted by one another, as a father and mother calls/invites their children near them to help them to do that-which is right; a two-way benefit, not one-sided)
  - by means of the belief among one-another both yours and mine (through the faith, the trust that each one of us has relative to God and the things of God).

Philippians 3:3 - verb: latreuo

Philippians chapter 3 shows us again that God's people today are to render service to Him with the holy spirit-life within us.

Philippians 3:2 and 3:

^.2You must observe the dogs, you must observe the bad workers, you must observe the mutilation – ^.3for we are the circumcision, the (people) rendering-service with spirit and boasting in Christ Jesus and not having been persuaded² in flesh.

What does Paul mean by writing about "dogs"? He is not referring to the canine pets that many people have in their homes today. He is using a figure of speech whereby he emphasizes the characteristics, activities and mode of operation of some people who were opposing the good-message that he teaches.

You holy-people must observe (look-at, be mentally-aware and able to contemplate, and thus in this context you must be circumspect, wary, and cautious of):
- the people who behave as dogs (using their natural instincts), who either oppose you head-on with the intent to stop and kill you or who wait until you have passed-by a little and then run-up and viscously attack you from behind,
- the people who are bad workers (workers who behave badly from God's point of view, who work those things which do not issue from God; yes, they expend their energy, they put effort into it, but what they work and the result of their work is bad),
- the mutilation (which literally means cutting-down or cutting-off, but figuratively this word emphasizes the group of people who rely on the fleshy and fleshly circumcision, the physical cutting of the flesh, as their basis for acquiring righteousness before God).
  - [These people are the Judeans/Israelites who continue to promulgate the law of Moses regarding circumcision even though since the day of Pentecost when the gift of holy spirit was first made available the law, including circumcision, is no longer in force because the Lord Jesus Christ has completed it, he fulfilled it entirely, there is nothing else left to do concerning it.]

The people who were still promulgating that circumcision was the criteria to become righteous to/with God are called the "mutilation" by Paul in this letter.

He explains further:

in truth, we (all of us holy-people together)
are the circumcision (figuratively, we are the group of people who have been circumcised with Christ's circumcision)
because "circumcision" since the day of Pentecost truly refers to us who are the people who are:
- rendering-service with spirit (performing or carrying-out service to God with/by/in/via our holy spirit-life),
- and boasting (speaking justifiably loudly) within the sphere of action of Christ Jesus,
- and not having previously been persuaded and still not being actively persuaded (convinced) within the sphere of action of flesh (that fleshy part of man which may either be physically circumcised or not physically circumcised, flesh excluding holy spirit-life).

We holy-people render-service with the holy spirit-life within us; this is the only way we can render-service towards our Lord Jesus Christ and God, our Father. Any so-called "service" outside-of or without the involvement of our holy spirit-life and adherence to it is not service from God's point of view!

We must listen to our holy spirit-life, be receptive to our holy spirit-life, and obey what God and the Lord Jesus Christ communicate to our holy spirit-life and which it communicates to our minds and bodies. If we ignore and refuse that information then we cannot and do not render any service towards our Lord Jesus Christ or towards God our Father.

We boast in Christ Jesus; any other boasting in front of people is empty from God's point of view. Our boast is within everything that Christ Jesus has done for us and everything that Christ Jesus is to/for us today because we have the spirit of Christ in us, that holy spirit-life which has all the power and authority of the resurrected Christ available to us to use as directed by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

We were not persuaded and we continue not persuaded in flesh. Our flesh, anything we can do with and to our physical bodies, does not give us the basis or source of our persuasion regarding our standing or our state before the only true God and the Lord Jesus Christ.