Lexical Summary philagathos: Lover of good, loving what is good Original Word: φιλάγαθος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance love of good From philos and agathos; fond to good, i.e. A promoter of virtue -- love of good men. see GREEK philos see GREEK agathos HELPS Word-studies 5358 philágathos (from 5384 /phílos, "a friend" and 18 /agathós, "inherently good") – properly, personal affection for what is intrinsically good, referring to "a lover (friend) of what God loves." 5358 /philágathos ("a lover of God's good") only occurs in Tit 1:8 where it is listed as an essential quality for the elder-overseer. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom philos and agathos Definition loving that which is good NASB Translation loving what (1), loving what is good (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5358: φιλάγαθοςφιλάγαθος, φιλάγαθον (from φίλος and ἀγαθός), loving goodness: Titus 1:8. (Sap. vii. 22; Plutarch, praec. conjug. c. 17; also compound Thes. c. Rom c. 2; (φιλάγαθος οὐ φίλαυτος, Aristotle, magn. mor. ii. 14, p. 1212b 18; Polybius 6, 53, 9; Philo de vit. Moys. ii., § 2).) Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning in Scripture and Wider Greek Usage While φιλάγαθος appears only once in the New Testament, it belongs to a family of “phil-” compounds (φιλάδελφος, φιλόξενος, φιλάνθρωπος) that pair “love” with a desirable quality. Outside Scripture, Greek moralists applied the term to civic leaders who fostered public virtue. Within biblical thought it conveys active affection for whatever God Himself calls “good,” encompassing works, people, and principles that conform to His character. Placement in the Elder Qualifications (Titus 1:8) Paul directs Titus to appoint elders who are “hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined” (Titus 1:8). The term functions as the hinge between outward hospitality and inward self-mastery, ensuring that an overseer’s goodness is not theoretical but relationally expressed. It guards the church against leaders whose orthodoxy lacks moral warmth and safeguards against utilitarian hospitality divorced from genuine delight in righteousness. Integration with the Pastoral Epistles’ Ethical Vision 1 Timothy and Titus anchor church order in transformed character. The single occurrence of φιλάγαθος resonates with adjoining commands: Thus the love of good is not an isolated trait but the wellspring of discernment, exhortation, and doctrine. Theological Significance 1. Reflecting God’s Nature: The Father is repeatedly called “good” (Matthew 19:17). Loving good is therefore tethered to loving God Himself (cf. Psalm 73:28). Historical and Patristic Reflection Early church manuals (Didache; Apostolic Tradition) echo Titus by requiring bishops to be “friends of all goodness.” Chrysostom highlights that loving good surpasses merely doing good: “He who delights in virtue will pursue it unweariedly, even when unobserved.” Reformers likewise treated φιλάγαθος as a core pastoral grace; Calvin remarks that pastors must “love goodness itself lest they weary in well-doing.” Practical Ministry Implications • Discipleship: Mentors cultivate in others an affection, not just compliance, for righteousness (Hebrews 10:24). Related Biblical Virtues Love of good is interwoven with: – φιλοξενία (hospitality) – embraces people who are good gifts from God. – ἀγαθωσύνη (goodness) – the quality loved. – ἁγιωσύνη (holiness) – the sphere in which goodness flourishes. Concluding Observation Though occurring only once, φιλάγαθος crystallizes the moral heartbeat of Christian leadership: delight in God-defined goodness that radiates through teaching, relationships, and conduct, ensuring that the church’s overseers mirror the Shepherd who “loved righteousness and hated wickedness” (Hebrews 1:9). Forms and Transliterations φιλαγαθον φιλάγαθον philagathon philágathonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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