{"id":24,"date":"2008-04-21T07:18:00","date_gmt":"2008-04-21T14:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25551729.post-6014099216920174153"},"modified":"2009-07-06T09:58:42","modified_gmt":"2009-07-06T16:58:42","slug":"got-potential-2008-04-21-141800","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/fruit-of-the-spirit\/got-potential-2008-04-21-141800","title":{"rendered":"Fruit of the Spirit – Goodness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Purpose<\/span><\/p>\n

Vol. 2 Issue 7 February 14, 2008<\/strong><\/span> <\/em>
\nThe weekly newsletter of True Potential Publishing<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness<\/strong>, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> (Galatians 5:22)<\/p>\n

Goodness<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week we talked about \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as a fruit of the Spirit. When Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d comes just before \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what I read in the Bible I study most, which is a New International Version. The King James Version uses the word \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d where the NIV uses \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d A few fruit down the list, the NIV uses \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d where the KJV uses \u00e2\u20ac\u0153meekness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Kindness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d kind of sound like three ways of saying the same thing to me. I figured I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d better dig into the words to find out why Paul would have listed all three if they all meant pretty much the same thing.<\/p>\n

Looking the words up in my concordance didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem to clear up the matter. Searching out all the times \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d are used in the Bible turned out to be sort of a jumble. Sometimes \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is the Hebrew for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Sometimes \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is the Greek word for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. The words are mixed around and mixed together. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all very confusing.<\/p>\n

Why are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and even \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d used so interchangeably in different translations of the English Bible? Do they all pretty much mean the same thing? If they all mean pretty much the same thing, then why does each have its own word in the original language? And if they all mean pretty much the same thing, why would each be listed in Galatians 5: 22-23 as fruit of the Spirit? Was Paul just repeating himself, using different words to convey the same meaning for emphasis?<\/p>\n

For us, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kind of easy to fall into the trap of spiritualizing what Paul was saying and blend each of these attributes of the fruit of the Spirit into a sort of homogenous pudding of spiritual \u00e2\u20ac\u0153niceness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Is that really what Paul was trying to get across? A benign, cloud-floating, passive, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153niceness\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, Paul wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t repeating himself by using different words all having the same general meaning. And he wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mixing up a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153niceness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d pudding, by blending all these words with apparently similar meanings. Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. Each of these nine is different from the others; none are redundant and none are superfluous.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Kindness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (the KJV uses \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d), is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chrestotes<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in Greek. We talked about kindness last week. The closest way to describe \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chrestotes<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in English would be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153moral goodness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153integrity<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153benignity<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or simply, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153meekness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is something we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be talking about in a few weeks. The Greek word the NIV translates as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and the KJV translates as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153meekness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153praotes<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chrestotes<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but more passive; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153mildness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is another English word you might use for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153praotes<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Again, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll talk more about it in a few weeks.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Goodness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the NIV and KJV (and every other English translation worth a flip) is the Greek word \u00e2\u20ac\u0153agathosune<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Agathosune<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d only appears in the Bible four times, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always translated \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d It means, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153uprightness of heart and life<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

So why all this back and forth on these three words? Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t they really mean about the same thing? Aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t they all trying to say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153be good<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153be kind<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153be nice<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153be meek<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153be mild<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153be benign<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Benign<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an interesting word, isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it? According to the Encarta Dictionary, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153benign<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d means: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindly, not life-threatening, harmless, favorable (mild).<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Is that what \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is describing? Is it just another word for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153harmless<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153mild<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/p>\n

Two of our nine words describing the fruit of the Spirit are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. Jesus taught us that the meek will inherit the earth<\/em> (Matthew 5:5) and that if someone strikes you on your right cheek you should turn your left to him as well <\/em>(Matthew 5:39). Meekness, mildness, benignity and harmlessness are pretty well established facets of following Christ, are they not? So why am I trying so hard to make a distinction between \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gentleness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re all different words for the same general idea, right?<\/p>\n

Wrong.<\/p>\n

Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s take another look at the definition of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153agathosune<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (goodness): \u00e2\u20ac\u0153uprightness of heart and life<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Again, the word is only used four times in the Bible. Besides Galatians 5:22, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s used in Romans 15:14, Ephesians 5:9 and II Thessalonians 1:11. Do you want to know the words it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s associated with in those passages? \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Knowledge<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153instruction<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153righteousness<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153truth<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153power\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153purpose<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Is it starting to sound a little less \u00e2\u20ac\u0153benign<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d; a little less \u00e2\u20ac\u0153harmless<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a sissy word. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s something extremely powerful, sometimes even frightening (if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re on the wrong side of it) about goodness.<\/p>\n

William Barclay writes in his Daily Study Bible<\/span><\/em> commentary, that: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It [agathosune] is the widest word for goodness; it is defined as \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcvirtue equipped at every point.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 Agathosune might, and could, rebuke and discipline ….\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

John W. Ritenbaugh, in Forerunner Commentary<\/em><\/span> says of Romans 15:14: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This verse provides a clear sense of an active, even aggressive, goodness.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Agathosune is a pretty big word; it covers a lot of territory. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153virtue equipped at every point<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d That can mean doing the right thing in a quiet and gentle way, like giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty man. But it can also mean not letting wickedness and hypocrisy stand; being consumed with the knowledge and power and purpose of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s goodness<\/em>. It can mean causing a stir, when it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a stir that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s needed.Remember when Jesus made a whip out of cords and went on a tirade in the Temple; kicking over tables of the merchants and moneychangers?<\/p>\n

Remember when he berated Israel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s religious leaders in front of the crowds, calling them \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hypocrites<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153blind guides<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d? Jesus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 behavior doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t sound very \u00e2\u20ac\u0153benign<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153harmless<\/em>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d does it?<\/p>\n

A lot of Bible scholars believe that Jesus was showing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153agathosune<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in one of its purest forms. John remembered the prophecy that the Christ would be consumed <\/em>with zeal for God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s house (John 2: 17). Jesus was consumed<\/em> with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d; consumed<\/em> with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153uprightness of heart and life<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Jesus allowed himself to be spat upon and allowed a crown of thorns to pierce his brow; he allowed a mob to put him on a cross and he asked his Father in Heaven to forgive them for what they had done. He fed the hungry, healed the sick and allowed children to come and sit on his lap as he spoke to the crowds. The same Jesus violently and forcefully cleared the Temple of thieves dressed as respectable businessmen and publicly rebuked hypocrites who pretended to represent God.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is a bigger word than \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Uprightness of heart and life<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d means that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll feed the hungry and care for the sick. It means that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll love your neighbor as yourself. It means that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll take time for a child, even when the crowd is pressing in; and that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be ready to forgive and turn away anger with a soft word.<\/p>\n

But \u00e2\u20ac\u0153goodness<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d also means that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153uprightness of heart and mind\u00e2\u20ac\u009d will consume you. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll not let evil stand; especially in the place where goodness<\/em> is meant to be made manifest.<\/p>\n

Do you want goodness to rule your life? Answer anger with a soft word. Turn the other cheek. Forgive. Care for those who hurt. And when necessary, kick over a few tables; cause a stir when it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a stir that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s needed. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all goodness.<\/p>\n

In Him,<\/p>\n

Steve Spillman<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Purpose Vol. 2 Issue 7 February 14, 2008 The weekly newsletter of True Potential Publishing But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Galatians 5:22) Goodness Last week we talked about \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kindness\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as a fruit of the Spirit. When Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[537,535,533,534,529,536],"class_list":["post-24","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fruit-of-the-spirit","tag-agathosune","tag-chrestotes","tag-gentleness","tag-goodness","tag-kindness","tag-praotes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}