σέβασμα

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 2:4

Range of meaning

An object of reverence or worship: a sacred image, shrine, altar or anything treated as holy. It comes from σέβομαι, "to revere".

Against the English

KJV and WEB turn it into a verb clause, "that is worshipped". That keeps the sense but hides the fact that Paul means concrete objects. "Object of worship" (BSB, ESV, NASB) is closer.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 17:23: in Athens Paul looks at the city's σεβάσματα, its shrines and objects of worship, and finds the altar "to an unknown god". Wisdom of Solomon 14:20 and 15:17 use it for idols. The same root gives Σεβαστός, "Revered One", the Greek form of the imperial title Augustus. Thessalonica honoured Rome and the emperors with cult.

From the study of Acts 17:23

Range of meaning

Both come from σέβομαι, "to revere, stand in awe of." σέβασμα means an object that receives reverence: an image, altar or shrine. εὐσεβέω means to show proper reverence or carry out religious duty. Toward the gods this meant correct worship, and toward parents and city it meant loyal respect. The same root gives Σεβαστός, the Greek title of the emperor ("Augustus," "the revered one").

Against the English

BSB, WEB, ESV and NIV give "objects of worship" for σεβάσματα, which is accurate. KJV's "devotions" originally meant objects of devotion, but modern readers hear private prayer habits. For εὐσεβεῖτε, "worship" is fine, but it loses the Greek note of dutiful, respectable piety that the Athenians were proud of.

How it drifted

In 1611 "devotions" could mean the things devoted to a god. Since then the English word has narrowed to personal religious exercises.

Used elsewhere in the period

σέβασμα appears in 2 Thess 2:4 ("every god or object of worship") and in Wisdom 14:20 and 15:17 of idols, and in Josephus (Antiquities 18.344) of images. εὐσεβής/εὐσέβεια is very common in Greek civic inscriptions praising benefactors, and in 4 Maccabees as the central virtue.