Goodness and also Kindness (Part 1)

This is the first in a series of studies on goodness and kindness.  The Biblical text that this study will start with is Galatians 5:22.  The specific words that I am looking at are the Greek words behind the gentleness and goodness highlighted in this text.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness (χρηστοτης – chrēstotēs), goodness (αγαθωσυνη – agathōsynē), faith,...

The KJV uses different vocabulary for one of these words, but I will use the words that are more frequently used in my sources.

The Greek word that the KJV gentleness translates is chrēstotēs (χρηστοτης – G5544).  It is a noun defined in Thayer's Lexicon primarily as moral goodness and integrity, but also as benignity or kindness.  The related adjective chrēstos (χρηστος – G5543) is defined in Thayer's Lexicon as fit, fit for use, useful, virtuous, good; of people, kind, benevolent.

The King James Version translates these words with the following English words (and counts).

• chrēstos – kind 2, easy 1, better 1, goodness 1, good 1, gracious 1
• chrēstotēs –  goodness 4, kindness 4, good 1, gentleness 1

As you can see, the definitions from Thayer's Lexicon include both goodness and kindness as do the translations from the KJV.  To add to the confusion, the KJV translates the word that follows chrēstotēs in Galations 5:22— agathōsynē (αγαθωσυνη – G19) — as goodness.  Thayer's Lexicon defines agathōsynē as uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness, but the KJV translates all the New Testament occurrences as goodness (4 times).


I have to admit that I am confused.  I have looked through the New Testament texts and it looks like I could substitute any one of these definitions into those lists of positive attributes and the verses would still make sense.  I am relieved to discover that these words are among the synonymous in Synonyms of the New Testament (1894) by Richard Trench— the specific pages on these words are available on the Internet Archive here.

 

  

 

Richard Trench appears to be slightly frustrated with the apparent redundancy in the English rendering of Galations 5:22.
 

We sometimes feel the want of some word more special and definite, as at Gal. 5:22, where αγαθωσυνη makes one of a long list of Christian virtues or graces, and must mean some single and separate grace, while ‘goodness’ seems to embrace all.

He goes on to compare these words; both are goodness, but he gives agathōsynē the harder edge and chrēstotēs the more gracious sense. 

A man might display his ἀγαθωσύνη, his zeal for goodness and truth, in rebuking, correcting, chastising. Christ was not working otherwise than in the spirit of this grace when He drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple (Matt. 21:13); or when He uttered all those terrible words against the Scribes and Pharisees (Matt. xxiii.); but we could not say that his χρηστότης was shown in these acts of a righteous indignation. This was rather displayed in his reception of the penitent woman (Luke 7:37-50; cf. Ps. 24:7, 8); as in all other his gracious dealings with the children of men. Thus we might speak,—the Apostolic Constitutions (ii. 22) do speak,—of the χρηστότης τῆς ἀγαθωσύνης of God, but scarcely of the converse. This χρηστότης was so predominantly the character of Christ’s ministry, that it is nothing wonderful to learn from Tertullian (Apol. 3), how ‘Christus’ became ‘Chrestus,’ and ‘Christiani’ ‘Chrestiani’ on the lips of the heathen—with that undertone, it is true, of contempt, which the world feels, and soon learns to express in words, for a goodness which to it seems to have only the harmlessness of the dove, and nothing of the wisdom of the serpent. Such a contempt, indeed, it is justified in entertaining for a goodness which has no edge, no sharpness in it, no righteous indignation against sin, nor willingness to punish it. That what was called χρηστότης, still retaining this honourable name, did sometimes degenerate into this, and end with being no goodness at all...

The Oxford American Dictionary definition for goodness illustrates some of the overlap between goodness and kindness.

goodness |ˈgoŏdnis|
noun
the quality of being good, in particular
• virtue; moral excellence : a belief in the basic goodness of mankind.
• kindness; generosity : he did it out of the goodness of his heart.

All of the Septuagint Old Testament uses of these word translate the Hebrew word tov (טוב).  

Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good (‏טוב – tov): and God divided the light from the darkness.

Following are all the uses of these words in both the Old and New Testaments.  I am having a hard time seeing a clear distinction between goodness and kindness in the contexts in the New Testament; it seems that they all could just as easily be translated as good or goodness.

Psalms 14

1  The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good (χρηστοτητα / טוב – tov).

• GOD's Word Translation – There is no one who does good things
• Young's Literal Translation – There is not a doer of good
• Reina Valera (Spanish) – No hay quien haga bien.
• Hebrew – אין עשה טוב
• Septuagint (Greek) – ουκ εστιν ποιων χρηστοτητα
• Vulgate (Latin) – non est qui faciat bonum

3  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good (χρηστοτητα / טוב – tov), no, not one.

The context in Psalm 14 appears to be going beyond kindness; good is being used in contrast with phrases like "abominable works" and "all together become filthy".  We might possibly use good as an antonym for abominal or filthy, but would we use kind in that way?

Judges 8

35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness (αγαθωσυνην / ‏הטובה – hatovah) which he had shewed unto Israel.

2 Chronicles 24

16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good (αγαθωσυνην / ‏טובה – tovah) in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.

Nehemiah

9:25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods (αγαθων – G18 / ‏טוב – tuv), wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness (αγαθωσυνη / ‏בטובך – b'tuvkha).

9:35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness (αγαθωσυνη / ‏ובטובך – uvtuvkha) that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

13:31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good (αγαθωσυνην / ‏לטובה – l'tovah).

Psalms 21

3  For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness (χρηστοτητος / טוב – tov): thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

• GOD's Word Translation – You welcomed him with the blessings of good things
• Young's Literal Translation – For Thou puttest before him blessings of goodness
• Reina Valera (Spanish) – Pues le has salido al encuentro con bendiciones de bien
• Hebrew – כי תקדמנו ברכות טוב

Psalms 25

7  Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' (χρηστοτητος σου / טובך – tuvkha) sake, O LORD.

Psalms 31

19  Oh how great is thy goodness (χρηστοτητος σου / טובך – tuvkha), which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Psalms 37

3  Trust in the LORD, and do good (χρηστοτητα / טוב – tov); so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Psalm 52

3 Thou lovest evil more than good (αγαθωσυνην / ‏מטוב – mitov); and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

Psalms 65

11  Thou crownest the year with thy goodness (χρηστοτητος / טובתך – tovatekha); and thy paths drop fatness.

Psalms 68

10  Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness (χρηστοτητι / בטובתך – b'tovatekha) for the poor.

Psalms 85

12  Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good (χρηστοτητα / הטוב – hatov); and our land shall yield her increase.

Psalms 104

28  That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good (χρηστοτητος / טוב – tov).

Psalms 106

5  That I may see the good (χρηστοτητι / בטובת – b'tovat) of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

Psalms 119

65  Thou hast dealt well (χρηστοτητα / טוב – tov) with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 

66  Teach me good (χρηστοτητα / טוב – tov) judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

68  Thou art good, and doest good (χρηστοτητι / טוב – tov); teach me thy statutes.

Psalms 145

7  They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness (χρηστοτητος / טובך  – tuvkha), and shall sing of thy righteousness.

Ecclesiastes

4:8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good (αγαθωσυνης / ‏מטובה – mitovah)? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

5:11 When goods (αγαθωσυνης / ‏הטובה – hatovah) increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good (αγαθον – G18 / ‏טוב – tov) and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good (αγαθωσυνην / ‏טובה – tovah) of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

6:3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good (αγαθωσυνης / ‏טוב – tov), and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

6:6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good (αγαθωσυνην / ‏וטובה – l'tovah): do not all go to one place?

7:14 In the day of prosperity (αγαθωσυνης / ‏טובה – tovah) be joyful (αγαθω – G18 / ‏בטוב – b'tov), but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good (αγαθωσυνην / ‏טובה – tovah).

Romans

2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness (χρηστοτητος – chrēstotētos) and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness (χρηστον – chrēston – G5543) of God leadeth thee to repentance?

3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good (χρηστοτητα – chrēstotēta), no, not one.

11:22 Behold therefore the goodness (χρηστοτητα – chrēstotēta) and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness (χρηστοτητα – chrēstotēta), if thou continue in his goodness (χρηστοτητι – chrēstotēti): otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness (αγαθωσυνης – agathōsynēs), filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

2 Corinthians

6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness (χρηστοτητι – chrēstotēti), by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Galatians

5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness (χρηστοτης – chrēstotēs), goodness (αγαθωσυνη – agathōsynē), faith,...

• GOD's Word Translation – But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,...
• Douay-Rheims – But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity,...
• Vulgate (Latin) – fructus autem Spiritus est caritas gaudium pax longanimitas bonitas benignitas
• Reina Valera (Spanish) – Mas el fruto del Espíritu es: caridad, gozo, paz, tolerancia, benignidad, bondad, fe,

Ephesians

2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness (χρηστοτητι – chrēstotēti) toward us through Christ Jesus.

5:9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness (αγαθωσυνη – agathōsynē) and righteousness and truth;

Colossians

3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness (χρηστοτητα – chrēstotēta), humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

2 Thessalonians

1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness (αγαθωσυνης – agathōsynēs), and the work of faith with power:

Titus

3:4 But after that the kindness (χρηστοτης – chrēstotēs) and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,