On Goodness

agathosyne

The Koine Greek word for goodness is agathosyne. It means uprightness of heart and life, and kindness.

“A man who is ruled by and aims at what is good, namely, the quality of moral worth.”[1]

We might think of this in terms of someone who is highly ethical.

“‘Goodness’ has the idea of the development of character that is truly good, upright, dependable, and yet still generous and good to others. This is what makes us God’s noblemen.”[2]

This is a characteristic of a gentleman, a nobleman, someone who acts or reacts with honor.

inward goodness

David Lim says, “‘goodness,’ is generosity that flows out of a holy righteousness given by God.”[3]

It is an inner righteousness that drives us outward, drives us to take action.

It is truly a motivating factor.

outward goodness

Gentleness and goodness are similar in meaning. Gentleness refers to an attribute of our personality, our “sweet spirit” or disposition. Goodness refers to the driving force behind our actions, our Kingdom activity.

Joshua Bayes says, “goodness . . . shows itself in a readiness to do good to all as we have opportunity.”[4]

“Goodness, or generosity, brings a practical, down-to-earth caring about people where they are. The Early Church knew how to care for one another. If anything, it erred on the side of generosity.”[5]

This is where the Early Church remained, in truth that is lived out, embodied truth. It took hundreds of years to form church doctrines because the great thinkers were busy making disciples, busy fighting, heresies, and busy being Pastors. Goodness is practical theology. It is the Word lived out.

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notes:

1. Kenneth S. Wuest, “Galatians,” in Mark-Romans-Galatians-Ephesians and Colossians,  vol. 1 of Wuest’s Word Studies From The Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1973), 160.
2. Stanley M. Horton, What the Bible Says About the Holy Spirit, Rev. ed. (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2005), 160.
3. David Lim, “Spiritual Gifts,” in Systematic Theology, ed. Stanley M. Horton (Springfield, MO: Logion Press, 2002), 481.
4. Joshua Bayes, “Galatians,” in Acts to Revelation, vol. 6 of Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell, Public Domain), 677.
5. Lim, 481.