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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." In the Epistle to the Romans, he says somewhat on this wise, "Having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law" (Rom. ii. 20), where he speaks in commendation of it: but here he speaks of this sin as an evil beyond all other defects. And why is this? Because he does not use the words in the same signification. For an image is often taken to signify a likeness; but sometimes a thing without life, and worthless. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
That is, they accept only the form of piety and pretend, but by their deeds they reject it. Note that the power of piety, and as it were its sinews, is in deeds. Therefore it is rightly said that it is dead without works. The word "form" in another place (Rom. 2:20) the apostle uses in a good sense. The teacher has the form of knowledge, that is, he builds and forms knowledge in the students. If such people will exist in the last times, then how does he say: "from such turn away"? …
Oecumenius
Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from these turn away. having a form of godliness. From those who speak, they seem to be cultivators of godliness: but from those who act, they are found and convicted to be contrary to their words. And from these turn away. As for those, about whom Paul passed over without going into detail. But writing to Timothy, he advises those with Timothy to avoid such people. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
You heard just now, when that reading was read, that Simon Magus was baptized and yet did not lay aside his evil mind. He had the form of the sacrament, but the power of the sacrament he did not have. Listen to what the apostle says about the godless, "having," he says, "the form of godliness, while refusing its power." What is the form of godliness? The visible sacrament. What is the power of godliness? Invisible charity.
Thomas Aquinas
Then he mentions simulation, saying, having an appearance indeed of godliness: for such false apostles are deceitful women (2 Cor 11:13); but denying the power thereof, namely, the power of godliness, which is described in two ways here; hence he says, denying, i.e., not possessing the virtue: they profess to know God, but in their works deny him (Titus 1:16). In another way, because the power of a thing is that on which the whole thing depends. …
Bonaventure
Some are content to have exterior holiness, namely in word and gesture and outward conduct; but this is to adorn holiness outwardly, like a man who whitewashes himself outwardly and makes a sepulcher of the dead, which outwardly is whitewashed. But just as "feigned righteousness is not righteousness, but double iniquity," so feigned holiness is not holiness, but rather iniquity. …
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