19. agathosune

Lexical Summary

agathosune: Goodness

Original Word: ἀγαθωσύνη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: agathosune
Pronunciation: ag-ath-o-soo'-nay
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ath-o-soo'-nay)
KJV: goodness
Word Origin: [from G18 (ἀγαθός - good)]

1. goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

goodness.

From agathos; goodness, i.e. Virtue or beneficence -- goodness.

see GREEK agathos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 19 agathōsýnē (from 18 /agathós, "inherently good," see there) – properly, intrinsic goodness (especially as a unique quality and condition, note the -synē suffix); as relating to believers, the goodness that comes from God (Souter) and showing itself in spiritual, moral excellence (virtue).

19 (agathōsynē) occurs four times in the NT, and is apparently strictly a biblical term, i.e. it does not seem to appear at all in secular Greek/the papyri (see N. Turner, Christian Words, 89). See 18 (agathos).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 19: ἀγαθωσύνη

ἀγαθωσύνη, (ης, ἡ (on its formation see Winers Grammar, 95 (90); WHs Appendix, p. 152), found only in Biblical and ecclesiastical writings, uprightness of heart and life (A. V. goodness): 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Galatians 5:22 (unless here it denote kindness, beneficence); Romans 15:14; Ephesians 5:9. (Cf. Trench, § lxiii.; Ellicott and Lightfoot on Galatians, the passage cited.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Group and Semantic Field

This term belongs to the New Testament family that describes moral excellence and beneficent action. While other words in the group stress intrinsic virtue, this one highlights virtue actively expressed in generosity and righteous initiative toward others.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Galatians 5:22 – Identified as a facet of the Spirit’s fruit, inseparably joined to love, joy, and the other Spirit-produced qualities.
2. Ephesians 5:9 – Presented as a constituent of “the fruit of the light,” underscoring the contrast between the believer’s new life and the surrounding darkness.
3. Romans 15:14 – Paul affirms that the Roman believers are “full of goodness,” enabling mutual admonition within the body of Christ.
4. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 – Paul prays that God will “fulfill every desire for goodness,” linking believers’ aspirations for moral action with divine empowerment.

Theological Significance

The word captures the active outworking of divine character in redeemed humanity. It reflects the goodness of God revealed in creation (Genesis 1), in covenant faithfulness (Psalm 23:6), and climactically in the incarnation (Acts 10:38). In the epistles, it marks the believer as a visible sign of that same goodness, produced by the Holy Spirit and manifested through deeds that benefit others and honor God.

Relation to Divine Character

Because “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18), every genuine expression of this quality derives from Him. The Spirit internalizes and reproduces God’s goodness within believers, enabling them to serve as living testimonies to His moral perfection in everyday contexts.

Ethical and Pastoral Implications

• Discipleship: Teachers and mentors should cultivate environments where believers “instruct one another” (Romans 15:14), trusting that Spirit-given goodness equips the church for mutual edification.
• Holiness: Ephesians 5:9 places goodness alongside righteousness and truth, demonstrating that moral integrity is never optional but essential to walking as “children of light.”
• Intercession: 2 Thessalonians 1:11 guides pastoral prayer. Leaders petition God to translate congregational desires for benevolent action into Spirit-energized deeds.

Historical Usage in the Church

Early Christian writers viewed this quality as proof of genuine conversion, contrasting it with the civic virtue prized in Greco-Roman society. Reformers emphasized it as evidence of justifying faith, not the cause of it. Revival movements have repeatedly urged believers to display tangible goodness—care for the poor, integrity in commerce, and mercy in evangelism—as persuasive apologetics.

Application for Ministry Today

• Social Engagement: Congregations model the gospel by initiating acts of goodness—fostering adoption, disaster relief, and community development—as visible expressions of the kingdom.
• Preaching: Exposition of Galatians 5:22 should present goodness not as human effort but as Spirit-produced fruit, leading hearers to dependence on grace rather than moralism.
• Counseling: Remind counselees that God is committed to “fulfill every desire for goodness” (2 Thessalonians 1:11), encouraging perseverance when virtuous intentions encounter resistance.

Key Passages for Meditation and Teaching

Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:8–10; Romans 15:13–14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12; Psalm 23:6; Acts 10:38.

Forms and Transliterations

αγαθωσυνη αγαθωσύνη ἀγαθωσύνη ἀγαθωσύνῃ αγαθωσυνήν αγαθωσύνην αγαθωσυνης αγαθωσύνης ἀγαθωσύνης αγαλλίαμα αγαλλίαμά αγαλλιάματι αγαλλιάματος agathosune agathōsunē agathosunes agathōsunēs agathosyne agathosýne agathōsynē agathōsýnē agathosýnei agathōsýnēi agathosynes agathosýnes agathōsynēs agathōsýnēs

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 15:14 N-GFS
GRK: μεστοί ἐστε ἀγαθωσύνης πεπληρωμένοι πάσης
NAS: are full of goodness, filled
KJV: are full of goodness, filled with all
INT: full are of goodness being filled with all

Galatians 5:22 N-NFS
GRK: μακροθυμία χρηστότης ἀγαθωσύνη πίστις
NAS: kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
KJV: gentleness, goodness, faith,
INT: patience kindness goodness faithfulness

Ephesians 5:9 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ
NAS: [consists] in all goodness and righteousness
KJV: [is] in all goodness and righteousness
INT: in all goodness and righteousness

2 Thessalonians 1:11 N-GFS
GRK: πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης καὶ ἔργον
NAS: desire for goodness and the work
KJV: the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and
INT: every good pleasure of goodness and work

Strong's Greek 19
4 Occurrences

ἀγαθωσύνη — 2 Occ.
ἀγαθωσύνης — 2 Occ.