The Fruit of the Spirit

GoodnessGoodness

Review

• Now finishing the qualities primarily related Now finishing the qualities primarily related to our dealings with our fellow manto our dealings with our fellow man

• Patience – “that quality of self-restraint in the Patience – “that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish”retaliate or promptly punish”

• Kindness – “the sympathetic kindliness or Kindness – “the sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at sweetness of temper which puts others at their ease, and shrinks from giving pain”their ease, and shrinks from giving pain”

Goodness

• Greek Greek agathosuneagathosune– A general word for “good” which takes A general word for “good” which takes

its meaning from contextits meaning from context– In Gal 5:22, there is no large context In Gal 5:22, there is no large context

other than the other qualitiesother than the other qualities– So we will take two approachesSo we will take two approaches

1.1. How the Greeks used the general wordHow the Greeks used the general word

2.2. Looking at NT examples of goodnessLooking at NT examples of goodness

Justice vs Goodness

• Greek writers often compared these two Greek writers often compared these two virtues to define bothvirtues to define both– ““Justice is the quality that gives a man what is Justice is the quality that gives a man what is

due him”due him”– ““Goodness is the quality which is out to do far Goodness is the quality which is out to do far

more than that, and which desires to give a man more than that, and which desires to give a man all that is to his benefit and help”all that is to his benefit and help”

– ““The man who is just sticks to the letter of his The man who is just sticks to the letter of his bond; the man who is good goes far beyond it.”bond; the man who is good goes far beyond it.”

Good vs Evil

• Mt 20:13-15 – Parable of the LaborersMt 20:13-15 – Parable of the Laborers– ““Evil” is translated “envious” (NASB) in v. 15Evil” is translated “envious” (NASB) in v. 15– ““Good” is translated “generous” (NASB)Good” is translated “generous” (NASB)

• 1 Tim 6:17-191 Tim 6:17-19– Being good is equated to being generousBeing good is equated to being generous– Looking for a set limit on our responsibilities Looking for a set limit on our responsibilities

is not being goodis not being good

Examples of “good” people

• Barnabas – Acts 11:22-24Barnabas – Acts 11:22-24– He rejoiced with others progress (v. 23)He rejoiced with others progress (v. 23)– He encouraged others (v. 23)He encouraged others (v. 23)– Acts 4:36-37Acts 4:36-37

• He was a generous manHe was a generous man

• Not just in words, but he was good in Not just in words, but he was good in actionsactions

Examples of “good” people

• Dorcas – Acts 9:36-39Dorcas – Acts 9:36-39– v. 36 – “goodness” translated “kindness” v. 36 – “goodness” translated “kindness”

(NASB)(NASB)– She abounded in goodness and charityShe abounded in goodness and charity– She was generous with her time and She was generous with her time and

effortsefforts

Examples of “good” people

• Jesus – our example in all thingsJesus – our example in all things– Matt 9:2-7Matt 9:2-7

• Man sought only healingMan sought only healing

• Jesus went beyond what man wantedJesus went beyond what man wanted

• Jesus gave him what he neededJesus gave him what he needed

– His death on the crossHis death on the cross• More than we deserved (justice)More than we deserved (justice)

• But what we truly needed (goodness)But what we truly needed (goodness)

• Let’s look again at the Greeks’ definition of Let’s look again at the Greeks’ definition of justice and goodnessjustice and goodness

Justice vs Goodness

• Greek writers often compared these two Greek writers often compared these two virtues to define bothvirtues to define both– ““Justice is the quality that gives a man what is Justice is the quality that gives a man what is

due him”due him”– ““Goodness is the quality which is out to do far Goodness is the quality which is out to do far

more than that, and which desires to give a man more than that, and which desires to give a man all that is to his benefit and help”all that is to his benefit and help”

– ““The man who is just sticks to the letter of his The man who is just sticks to the letter of his bond; the man who is good goes far beyond it.”bond; the man who is good goes far beyond it.”

Conclusion

• Goodness is …Goodness is …– Doing more than what is expectedDoing more than what is expected– Going beyond what is requiredGoing beyond what is required– Being generous with time, money, and Being generous with time, money, and

effortsefforts– Being generous with praise and Being generous with praise and

encouragementencouragement

Do we have the quality of goodness?Do we have the quality of goodness?