May-June 2006 Syllabus Introduction & Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8
Lesson 3
Two Greek words are translated in some translations as "goodness". One of these words is CHRESTOTES. It is translated in some passages as kindness and others as goodness. It is the word we studied in our last lesson as kindness, one of the fruits of the Spirit.
AGATHOSUNE (Goodness)
Good From The Standpoint Of Right And Wrong
It Causes Beneficial Things To Happen
The other word translated as "goodness" is the Greek word AGATHOSUNE. This word means: "BEING GOOD IN ITS CHARACTER AND MAKEUP, IS BENEFICIAL IN ITS EFFECT." This word is also one of the fruits of the Spirit.
Examples Of Chrestotes
It is Jesus praying on the cross, "Forgive them...". It is Joseph forgiving his brothers, Ruth caring for her mother-in-law, Job helping the widows etc..... An example of a passage using it as "kindness" is seen in:
1. ...That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His ________ in His ________ toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph.2:7)
An Example Of Chrestotes
An example of CHRESTOTES being translated as "goodness" :
2. "Or do you despise the ___________ of His _________(CHRESTOTES), forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the ___________(CHRESTOTES) of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom.2:4)
Attributes Of Agathosune
AGATHOSUNE (goodness) is not always perceived as "goodness" especially in today's society.
AGATHOSUNE (goodness) is learned from God's Word. No other source can be trusted to teach us AGATHOSUNE (goodness).
AGATHOSUNE (goodness) motivates a parent to discipline their child, elders to discipline an unruly member, preachers to preach on unpopular subjects etc...
AGATHOSUNE (goodness) motivates a man to work to provide for his family and a woman to be a keeper at home, keeping the needs of her family as her number one priority.
Christ Practiced Goodness
An example of Christ practicing AGATHOSUNE (goodness) is found
3. Then Jesus went into the ________ of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the _________ ________ and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a ______ of _______,' but you have made it a '_____ of _________.' " (Matt.21:12,13).
How would Peter Jennings or Dan Rather have reported this action?
4. Another example is the sermon Christ preached in Matthew 23. Please summarize this sermon.
Do you think some modern theologians would have criticized him for being too harsh and judgmental? Do you think they would have viewed either of these incidences as goodness?
God’s Goodness Not Understood
5. ....No one is _________ but One, that is God. Not only is no one good but God, but we as humans have difficulty understanding the goodness of God. Yet God’s standard of goodness is the only correct one, the only one that generates beneficial spiritual results. (Matt.19:17)
(The following are rhetorical questions, meaning you do not have to answer them. Just think about them and comment if you care to.) Do you fully understand:
A. Why Moses could not enter the Promise Land? (Deut.32:48-52)
B. Why the young prophet was killed by the lion? (I Kgs.13)
C. Why bears mauled the young children? (II Kgs.2:23-25)
D. Why parents were commanded to have their rebellious children stoned under the Old Law? (Deut.21:18-21)
E. Why Uzzah had to die? (II Sam. 6)
F. Why Ananias and Sapphira died? (Acts 5)
G. Why all women must suffer in child bearing and why all women must not teach over a man as punishment for Eve's sin? (Gen. 3:16, I Tim.2:12-13)
H. Write in any other that you have pondered over:
Do You Recoil From The Goodness Of God?
I believe that it is our duty to try to understand God’s goodness as best we can. The greater we understand His goodness, the better we will understand His laws and respect His authority. We will become better parents and Christians.
Do you recoil from some of the acts of God, especially ones in the O. T. such as named above? Do these same acts cause you to want to run from God's goodness instead of embrace it? Answering these questions truthfully requires us to be very honest with ourselves. If we answer "yes" to these questions, if we believe in God and that He is good, it then behooves us to study His Word harder to be free from human prejudices against the goodness of God.
God’s Word Teaches Us Goodness
Again, we consider that sowing the Seed (The Word of God) into our hearts produces the fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, we know we’ll understand God’s Goodness and even appreciate more, the more we put His Word into our hearts.
Can You Identify The Act Of Goodness?
Let's review the meaning of the word AGATHOSUNE (goodness): being good in its character and makeup, is beneficial in its effect.
Now let's consider some examples of AGATHOSUNE (goodness) we are to have or participate in according to the New Testament Law. Identify or explain what is the act of goodness found in these verses:
6. I Cor. 5:9-13
7. Rom.16:17-18
8. James 2:1-9
9. I Tim. 6:17-19
10. II John 9-11
11. Matt.5:27-28
12. Heb. 10:24-25
13. Titus 2:4,5
14. I Tim. 5:4
15. I Tim. 2:15
16. I Tim. 3:11
17. I Pet. 3:1
18. I Pet. 2:13-16
19. Col. 3:18-23
20. II Cor.6:14-15
Some Facts About Goodness
We can sum up the lesson on "goodness" by reading the following verses. What principle do you glean from each?
21. James 4:17
22. Ps 37:27-33
23. Rom. 15:14
24. Eph.5:8-11
25. II Thess. 1:11-12
God Is Good
Once we understand the fruit of the Spirit that is called goodness, (Agthosune), we realize that parents who do not discipline their children are not good parents.
Governments who do not punish criminals are not good governments. Members who habitually miss scheduled services of the church are not good members.
Elders who do not practice church discipline, are not good elders. Because God is Good, he does discipline His children and He will punish all sin that is not covered by the blood of Jesus.
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” (Matt.19:16-17)