16. agathopoiia

Lexical Summary

agathopoiia: Doing good, well-doing

Original Word: ἀγαθοποιΐα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: agathopoiia
Pronunciation: ag-ath-op-oy-EE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ath-op-oy-ee'-ah)
KJV: well-doing
NASB: doing what, doing what is right
Word Origin: [from G17 (ἀγαθοποιός - One who does good)]

1. well-doing, i.e. virtue

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

well-doing.

From agathopoios; well-doing, i.e. Virtue -- well-doing.

see GREEK agathopoios

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 16 agathopoiía (from 15 /agathopoiéō, "do what is intrinsically good") – properly, well-doing; what is constitutionally (inherently) good, i.e. what originates from faith (4102 /pístis, "God's inworked persuasion") and therefore is His work (used only in 1 Pet 4:19). See 18 (agathos).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from agathopoios
Definition
welldoing
NASB Translation
doing what (1), doing what is right (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 16: ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ

ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ (WH (see Iota)), (ας, ἡ, a course of right action, well-doing: ἐν ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ, 1 Peter 4:19 equivalent to ἀγαθοποιοῦντες acting uprightly (cf. xii. Patr. Jos. § 18); if we read here with L Tr marginal reading ἐν ἀγαθοποιΐαις we must understand it of single acts of rectitude (cf. Winers Grammar, § 27, 3; Buttmann, § 123, 2). (In ecclesiastical writings ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ denotes beneficence.)

Topical Lexicon

Concept Summary

ἀγαθοποιία denotes the sustained practice of beneficent action—habitual, deliberate “doing good” that reflects God’s own character and advances His purposes in the world.

Biblical Occurrence

Only once in the Greek New Testament, in 1 Peter 4:19, where Peter exhorts suffering believers to “entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good”.

Immediate Context in 1 Peter

Peter addresses Christians experiencing hostility for their allegiance to Christ. Instead of retreating or retaliating, they are to persevere in outward acts of goodness. The noun ἀγαθοποιία encapsulates the letter’s recurring theme: righteous conduct amid unjust suffering (see also the cognate verb in 1 Peter 2:15; 3:17). Persistent good works function as a testimony that silences slander (1 Peter 2:12) and evidences trust in God’s sovereign care.

Old Testament Roots

The call to “do good” echoes Israel’s Scriptures:
• Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the LORD and do good.”
• Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good; seek justice.”

Covenant faithfulness was always expressed through practical benevolence, especially toward the vulnerable. Peter, steeped in this heritage, transfers the mandate to the dispersion churches.

Christological Foundation

Acts 10:38 portrays Jesus “who went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” The Messiah’s ministry embodies ἀγαθοποιία, providing the pattern for disciples who “follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Good deeds therefore are not optional extras but participation in Christ’s ongoing work.

Apostolic Emphasis on Doing Good

Other apostolic writings reinforce the same ethic:
• Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good.”
• 2 Thessalonians 3:13 “Do not grow weary in doing good.”
• Titus 3:8 encourages believers “to devote themselves to good works.”

Though these verses employ different Greek terms, they converge on the lifestyle encapsulated by ἀγαθοποιία—energetic service fueled by grace.

Suffering and Good Deeds

In 1 Peter 4:19, ἀγαθοποιία is paired with “suffer according to the will of God.” The juxtaposition teaches:

1. Suffering is not incompatible with God’s favor.
2. Righteous action must not pause when adversity rises.
3. Good works become an act of entrusting—placing one’s vindication in the Creator’s hands rather than self-defense.

Theological Dimensions

• Sanctification: Good deeds arise from the new birth (1 Peter 1:3,23) and are empowered by the Spirit, not self-generated virtue.
• Witness: Observable goodness commends the gospel (1 Peter 2:12).
• Eschatology: “Doing good” looks ahead to final judgment, where deeds done in Christ will be honored (1 Peter 1:7).
• Sovereignty and Responsibility: God keeps the believer’s soul; the believer keeps on doing good.

Historical and Early Church Witness

Second-century apologists (e.g., Aristides, Justin Martyr) defended Christians by highlighting their charitable works—care for orphans, widows, and the poor. Such testimony shows that the apostolic command took tangible form in community life, distinguishing believers within pagan society.

Ministry and Discipleship Applications

Personal: Cultivate habits of generosity, hospitality, and mercy irrespective of approval or opposition.

Corporate: Congregations should structure ministries that relieve suffering, promote justice, and display the gospel’s power.

Leadership: Elders and teachers model ἀγαθοποιία, equipping saints “for works of service” (Ephesians 4:12).

Missions: Practical benevolence opens doors for verbal proclamation, reflecting the holistic pattern of Jesus.

Ethical, Social, and Evangelistic Implications

• Ethics: ἀγαθοποιία resists moral paralysis when society calls evil good.
• Social: Churches engage civic arenas (orphan care, poverty relief, ethical business) as extensions of gospel witness.
• Evangelism: Visible goodness authenticates spoken truth, drawing outsiders to inquire about the hope within (1 Peter 3:15).

Key Related Passages

Psalm 37:3; Isaiah 1:17; Acts 10:38; 1 Peter 2:12, 2:15, 3:17, 4:19; Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; Titus 3:8, 3:14.

Forms and Transliterations

αγαθοποιια αγαθοποιϊα ἀγαθοποιίᾳ ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ agathopoiia agathopoiíāi

Englishman's Concordance

1 Peter 4:19 N-DFS
GRK: αὐτῶν ἐν ἀγαθοποιίᾳ
NAS: Creator in doing what is right.
KJV: [to him] in well doing, as
INT: of them in well doing

Strong's Greek 16
1 Occurrence

ἀγαθοποιίᾳ — 1 Occ.