Is only God truly good?

Is Only God Truly Good?

1. The Nature of Goodness

Defining what it means to be “good” can be challenging, especially when we weigh our own moral achievements against a divine standard. Scripture, however, consistently presents true goodness as belonging uniquely to the Creator. While people perform acts that appear good, there remains a distinction between God’s perfect moral nature and humanity’s imperfect reflection of it.

2. Christ’s Declaration: “No One Is Good Except God Alone”

In Mark 10:17–18, a man approaches Jesus, calling Him “good Teacher.” Jesus responds: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” Although this appears puzzling at first, the statement underscores a central biblical truth: God’s moral perfection is incomparable. It invites the question of whether Jesus, being divine, is also fully good, thereby pointing to His transcendence beyond mere human goodness.

3. Old Testament Foundations of God’s Goodness

The Hebrew Scriptures anchor God’s character in perfect righteousness, mercy, and love:

• Psalm 25:8 conveys, “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.”

• Genesis 1:31 highlights that when God created the heavens and the earth, “God saw all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.”

The Creator stands as the source of all goodness, establishing a moral order that reflects His own impeccable character.

4. Humanity’s Condition and the Fall

Romans 3:10 reiterates our moral dilemma: “There is no one righteous, not even one.” This solemn pronouncement ties back to the first transgression in Genesis 3, where humanity’s capacity to mirror divine goodness became distorted. While individuals can and do make moral choices, these choices are inevitably marred by our fallen inclinations.

Romans 3:23 further records: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This universal condition supports the claim that while people may exhibit relative goodness, none measure up to God’s perfect holiness.

5. How Scripture Defines “Good”

To understand the nature of goodness, we look at passages describing God’s essence:

• Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

• James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.”

Biblically, “good” does not merely mean moral uprightness—it implies purity, love, generosity, and holiness united in the person of God. When we see kindness or virtue in the world, Scripture attributes it to God’s common grace or direct action in people’s hearts.

6. Philosophical and Apologetic Insights

Many defenders of the faith point out that the moral framework in nearly all cultures aligns with certain standards such as justice, compassion, and honesty. This phenomenon raises the question of a transcendent source—one that is truly good and provides an absolute foundation for moral values.

From an apologetics standpoint, the moral argument suggests that if there is an objective standard of good, then there must be a transcendent moral Lawgiver. This points back to the biblical affirmation that ultimate goodness resides in God alone.

7. Reliability of Scripture and Historical Witness

Down through the centuries, the reliability of biblical manuscripts has been continually affirmed through numerous findings and meticulous scholarly work. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the mid-twentieth century, confirm the remarkable preservation of Old Testament texts, reinforcing our confidence that what we read about God’s character has been faithfully transmitted.

Additionally, historical records outside Scripture, such as the writings of Flavius Josephus in the first century, support key events and figures in the biblical narrative, though they are not exhaustive spiritual documents. Combined with archaeological discoveries—like inscriptions confirming the existence of biblical kings or sites—these evidences demonstrate that the biblical portrayal, including God’s consistent character, remains well founded.

8. Jesus Christ: The Embodiment of Divine Goodness

Scripture proclaims that Jesus is fully God (John 1:1, 14) and thus shares the same nature as the Father. Although Mark 10:18 mentions “No one is good except God alone,” in the broader context Scripture identifies Jesus as God in the flesh (Colossians 2:9). His humble statement in Mark 10 points to the divine mystery of His identity: as the eternal Son, He is indeed good in the same way His Father is.

Through the historical event of the resurrection, attested by multiple ancient sources (1 Corinthians 15:3–8; the Gospels; outside corroboration from early church writings), Jesus displayed His supremacy over decay, confirming that He is not merely a teacher of good but the incarnate Lord of goodness. This reality underscores the claim that only God, revealed in Christ, embodies unblemished moral purity.

9. Implications for Believers and Seekers

If only God is truly good, then any goodness in humanity flows from the Creator’s grace. The apostle Paul explains that when someone believes in Christ and receives the Holy Spirit, a lifelong process of transformation begins (Galatians 5:22–23). The Spirit’s work produces virtues that reflect the goodness of God in a believer’s life.

For those seeking to understand what true goodness looks like, Scripture points them back to relationship with the God who is the very definition of goodness. This is why James 4:8 advises, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Drawing near involves trust, repentance, and discovery of the One who alone calms our restlessness with genuine moral light.

10. Conclusion

When we ask, “Is only God truly good?” Scripture summons us to consider the uniqueness of God’s nature, His untainted holiness, and our position as frail creatures deeply in need of that perfect goodness. Although we strive to do right, our actions, left to themselves, fall short of the infinite moral standard set by our Creator. Yet through faith in the risen Christ and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, we experience a share in God’s goodness and hope for ultimate restoration.

In every facet—historical, philosophical, and personal—God stands revealed as good in an absolute sense. This reality moves the faithful to worship and invites every seeker to behold the One who alone is worthy, the One who invites us into the goodness found only in Him.