In this sense, the word “godliness” summarily includes all Christian striving and all those things that are called for in a holy and God-pleasing life, which St. Peter in 2 Pet. 3:11, summarily calls a holy sojourn and a godly essence. For this, it is not sufficient for one to boast about his faith in Christ; rather, one is also to publicly indicate the same with the testimony of good works, as James states in 2:18: Show me your faith with your works. And immediately before that in v. 17: Faith itself is dead if it does not have good works. But especially these golden chains, by which true faith and all Christian strivings are inextinguishably intertwined with each other and summarily belong to the golden treasure of true godliness, are indeed beautifully and artistically channeled together by St. Peter in 2 Pet. 1:5-7. He states there: Direct all your zeal towards this and thereby obtain your faith’s virtue—do not think that it is sufficient for godliness and true Christianity to boast of one’s faith; rather, in such a faith, true virtue must be achieved, for true, proper, living faith is active in love (Gal. 5:6). A person ushers this in through good works and all kinds of Christian virtues (Jam. 2:18) and with virtuous humility (Confession of the true God according to His essence and will—which confession is, at the same time, the light and guide for all Christian virtue, for as usual, zeal without the knowledge of God is not acceptable [Rom. 10:2]. Thus also, virtue without knowledge and humility cannot be acceptable.) and with humble moderation (Where there is true life-giving knowledge of God, there one also will find the ἐγκράτεια, i.e., maturity, so that a person refrains from fleshly lusts which fight against the soul [1 Pet. 2:11]).

(Schola Pietatus-Volume 1 by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p. 11-12)

Next, it is also used generaliter ac late (in general and broadly) when it encompasses obedience both towards the first and second table of the holy Ten Commandments and also the entire Law—indeed, also the font and source of this holy obedience; namely, true, proper, contrite repentance and the true living faith in Christ. It is used this way when it is plainly composed for such and there is no other word to be found alongside that would especially indicate obedience towards the second table of the holy Ten Commandments and the service which we are obligated to offer to our neighbor. Thus, in 1 Tim. 6:3, the entire Christian religion is briefly and skillfully described: that it is a doctrine of godliness; namely, in that we are instructed and correctly informed by it to conduct ourselves in holiness and righteousness towards God and our neighbor. Even in the very same chapter (6:6), the holy apostle says: It is a great gain for anyone who is godly, that is, anyone who rightly confesses God the Lord from His Word, fears Him, glorifies, loves, serves Him, calls upon Him, thanks Him, and offers Him grateful obedience. Along with this, that with his works he zealously practices his calling and shows Christian love to his neighbor. In Tit. 1:1, all of Christianity is comprehended as possessing faith and the knowledge of the truth for godliness. Along with this is immediately revealed in v. 2, the indescribable hope of eternal life which is promised to the person who does not disavow it. (Schola Pietatus-Volume 1 by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p. 10-11)