Topical Bible: Character: Good

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Definition and Nature:
The concept of "good" in the Bible is deeply rooted in the nature and character of God Himself. Goodness is an attribute of God, and it is reflected in His creation, His actions, and His expectations for humanity. The term "good" encompasses moral excellence, virtue, righteousness, and benevolence.

Biblical Foundation:
The Bible begins with the affirmation of God's goodness in creation. In Genesis 1:31 , it is written, "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." This declaration underscores the inherent goodness of God's creation, reflecting His perfect nature.

God as the Source of Goodness:
God is the ultimate standard of goodness. In Mark 10:18 , Jesus states, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone." This highlights that true goodness originates from God and is intrinsic to His being. The Psalms frequently celebrate God's goodness, as seen in Psalm 34:8 : "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

Goodness in Human Conduct:
Humans are called to emulate God's goodness in their lives. The Bible provides numerous exhortations to pursue goodness as a reflection of God's character. In Micah 6:8 , it is written, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This verse encapsulates the moral and ethical dimensions of goodness expected from believers.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The New Testament emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in cultivating goodness within believers. Galatians 5:22 lists goodness as a fruit of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." This indicates that goodness is a result of the Spirit's work in a believer's life, transforming them into the likeness of Christ.

Good Works and Faith:
Good works are a natural outflow of genuine faith. Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." This verse affirms that believers are created for the purpose of doing good, aligning their actions with God's will.

The Reward of Goodness:
The Bible assures that those who pursue goodness will be rewarded. In Romans 2:6-7 , it is written, "God 'will repay each one according to his deeds.' To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life." This promise encourages believers to persist in goodness, knowing that it leads to eternal reward.

Challenges to Goodness:
While the pursuit of goodness is a divine calling, it is not without challenges. The presence of sin and evil in the world often opposes the practice of goodness. Romans 7:19 reflects the struggle: "For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do." This highlights the internal conflict believers face, necessitating reliance on God's grace and strength.

Conclusion:
The biblical concept of goodness is multifaceted, encompassing God's nature, human conduct, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. It is a divine attribute that believers are called to reflect in their lives, demonstrating the moral excellence and righteousness that align with God's will.

Nave's Topical Index

Proverbs 22:1
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Nave's Topical Index

Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Nave's Topical Index

Greek

2570. kalos -- beautiful, good
... good, worthy Definition: beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble,
honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2570.htm - 7k

2425. hikanos -- sufficient, fit
... akin to heko) (to arrive); competent (as if coming in season), ie Ample (in amount)
or fit (in character) -- able, + content, enough, good, great, large, long ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2425.htm - 8k

5544. chrestotes -- goodness, excellence, uprightness
... From chrestos; usefulness, ie Morally, excellence (in character or demeanor) --
gentleness, good(-ness), kindness. see GREEK chrestos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5544.htm - 7k

5010. taxis -- an arranging, order
... Word Usage good discipline (1), order (7), orderly manner (1). order. From tasso;
regular arrangement, ie (in time) fixed succession (of rank or character), ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5010.htm - 7k

Library

Ep. I. There is one Good Point in My Character, and I Will Boast ...
... Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. Ep. I. There is one good point in
my character, and I will boast myself of one? There is ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep i there is one.htm

After Much Discourse Concerning the Actually Existent, and ...
... concerning the actually existent, and ungenerate and good, and upon the
consubstantiality of the heavenly powers, showing the uncharted character of their ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 5 after much discourse.htm

Man's Own Character no Ground of Peace
... No man can quench his thirst with sand, or with water from the Dead Sea; so no man
can find rest from his own character however good, or from his own acts ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter ii mans own character.htm

Christ the Good Shepherd.
... I. CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD. It was announced by the prophets of old that the Messiah,
who was to come, should bear the character of a good shepherd. ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/i christ the good shepherd.htm

God's Character Our Resting-Place
... of himself, and so to reduce his estimate of his own character, that he ... Having altered
the sinner's good opinion of himself, the Spirit then alters his evil ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter iii gods character our.htm

Of the Character of the Unregenerate.
... Theou.) It is not, you see, the extraordinary attainment of a few more eminent
Christians; but it is an essential branch of every good man's character; for he ...
/.../doddridge/practical discourses on regeneration/discourse i of the character.htm

The Daily Walk with Others (ii. ).
... as possible. But the schemes announced in these circulars are very various
in character; good, indifferent, and bad. Need I say ...
/.../moule/to my younger brethren/chapter v the daily walk.htm

Upon the Character of Balaam. Preached the Second Sunday after ...
... Good God! ... whilst he is carrying on his views to the grave, the end of all temporal
greatness; under this sense of things, with the better character and more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon vii upon the character.htm

Letter i. Behavior and Manners.
... Behavior is a revealer of real character. ... That great and good man, who has written
so many noble precepts about the conduct of life, Mr. Emerson, in speaking ...
/.../letter i behavior and manners.htm

xiv. Upon the Love of God.
... and consider goodness as become a uniform continued principle of action, as conducted
by reason, and forming a temper and character absolutely good and perfect ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon xiii xiv upon the.htm