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HELPS Lexicon | NASEC dictionary

18 agathós – inherently (intrinsically) good; in relation to the believer, 18 (agathós) describes what originates from
God in their life – i.e. is birthed and empowered by Him through faith.

1. 18/agathos ("intrinsically good") usually describes divinely-enabled virtue (the result of faith), i.e. the Lord
imparting His word to (in) the believer and empowering it.  Accordingly, 18 (agathós) is closely connected with
faith ("God's inworked persuasion," 4102/pístis).

Eph 2:8-10: "8For by grace you have been saved (Gk perfect tense), through faith (4102/pístis), and that not
out of you – it ['faith' and 'saved'] is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, lest anyone could boast.  10For
we are His product, having been created in Christ Jesus on the basis of good (18/agathós) works, the ones
which God previously prepared so that we might walk in them."

1 Tim 1:19: "Having faith (4102/pístis) and a good (18/agathós) conscience, which some have rejected and
suffered shipwreck in regard to the (operation of) faith (4102/pístis)."

Reflection: God is the only One who is absolutely good (Mt 19:17).  Accordingly, 18 (agathós) is associated
with absolute good, i.e. what comes from (is consistent with) God's own nature.   

2. In sum, 18/agathós ("inherently good") roots back to God; indeed, only the Lord (His work) is intrinsically good
(18/agathós).  The believer shares 18/agathós (what is "intrinsically good") through Christ's inworking of faith as He
speaks His rhma-word within (cf. Ro 10:17, Gk text).  

18/agathos ("constitutionally good") describes what is always beneficial in the long-run, i.e. the positive
results that echo in eternity.

2 Cor 5:10: "Follow it behooves (1163/deí, as 'a must') all [believers] to be manifested before the judgment
seat of Christ [at His return], so that each may obtain-a-return for the things (done) through the body,
interactively-with (4314/prós) what things he practiced, whether good (18/agathós) or worthless."

Reflection: Only the Lord has meaning in and of Himself; people derive meaning by knowing Him, like the
moon draws its light (reflects) the sun (Son).

God's being (glory) is the only absolute measure . . . so we should seek glory!  (This sounds odd but is a fact!)

Ro 2:7: "[God will recompense] the ones seeking . . . according to perseverance (5281/hypomonē), good
(18/agathós) work – [bringing] glory (1391/dóksa) and honor and incorruption, i.e. eternal life."

Key quotes
Prof. Souter, "18 (agathos) refers to what is (intrinsically) good, good (in nature), good (whether it be seen to be
so or not) . . . perfect in its kind, so as to produce pleasure and satisfaction, . . . that which, in itself good, is also at
once for the good and the advantage of him who comes in contact with it."  
J. Thayer, 18 (agathós) relates to being "of a good constitution or nature," referring to what is morally good.

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 "2570 (kalos) is aesthetically good . . . lovely and pleasing to the eye. . . . 18 (agathos)  appeals to the moral sense,
but 2570 (kalós) appeals also to the eye" (Wm. Barclay).

18 (agathos) in Romans 8:28

Ro 8:28: "Moreover we know that God works together all things (3956/pás) into ('unto,' 1519/eis) good (18/agathós)
to the ones loving (25/agapáō) God, to the ones being called according to purpose ('divine providence,'
4286/próthesis)."

Observations

1. Ro 8:28 is directed specifically to "the ones loving (25/agapáō) God" – literally, those preferring what He
prefers.  Each time they do this God causes all the details for that scene of life to combine (work-together) unto
what is eternally good (18/agathós) – i.e. "what is intrinsically good," through faith.

Reflection: Ro 8:28 is carefully qualified and gloriously broad (inclusive).  This conveys how every decision
(action) done in faith brings profound eternal benefits.  However, it is not however a "blanket-promise"
that the Lord makes everything "turn out better (happy)" for believers in general, or that all the pain we
experience necessarily produces eternal benefits (glory).  This only (always) applies to when we are loving
God, i.e. preferring (doing) His will, embracing His eternal purpose (4286/próthesis, "divine providence").

2. God is always in charge so there is no circumstance in which this promise fails – even in the worst of suffering.  

Satan does not exercise "a loose hold of history" – nor does he (or demons) ever authorize one scene of
our lives!  For more discussion on this see 4286 (próthesis).

3. Note the repeated qualification in Ro 8:30: "these He pre-horizoned, these He also called, these He justified,
these He even glorified."

["These" (Gk toutous) is emphasized by the Greek word order in each case.]

The past tense (Gk aorist indicative, used in each case) views these actions from the perspective of God's
eternity, even though some await complete fulfillment – like believers being "glorified" at Christ's return.

Reflection: God foreknows all who will freely say yes to His offers and predestines them in this sense in His
perfect wisdom (absolute knowledge).  Note the priority of "foreknew" (see also 1 Pet 1:1,2).

Near-synonyms
2570/kalos ("good," especially in form, appearance) describes good as recognized by others, i.e. as desirable
(excellent, praiseworthy, etc.).  2570 (kalos) stresses the perception of being viewed as good.

For the believer, 18/agathós ("intrinsically good") focuses on God's work (inspiration, empowerment) with its long-
term (eternal) benefits.

"2570 (kalos) focuses on appearance, 18 (agathós) on essence" (H. Cremer, 339).  Agathos is "moral good, as
distinguished from what is merely 'useful' or 'profitable'" (WS, 1002).

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2570 (kalos) is "aesthetically good . . . lovely and pleasing to the eye . . . 18 (agathos) appeals to the moral
sense, but 2570 (kalós) appeals also to the eye" (Wm. Barclay).
"2570 (kalos) properly refers to goodliness as manifested in form; agathos to inner excellence" (Abbott-Smith).
 2570 (kalos) focuses on appearance, 18 (agathós) on essence (H. Cremer, 339).
"The word 18 (agathós) refers to intrinsic goodness, while 2570 (kalós) refers to goodness as it is seen on the
outside" (K. Wuest, Word Studies, Vol 2, Pastoral Epistles, 1 Timothy, 31).
18 (agathos) relates to what is "inherently good, that which is good by its nature, whereas . . . 2570 (kalos)
concentrates rather on that which is good in its results" (Leon Morris, The First Epistle to the Thessalonians, 178).

Examples

18/agathos ("inherent good") is used in:

Mt 25:21,23, "Well done, good and faithful slave"; Lk 10:42: "For Mary has chosen the good part; Ac 11:24
(speaking of Barnabas): "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."

2570/kalos ("good as perceived by others") is often associated with what is "lovely or beautiful" (aesthetically
good).  It occurs in:

Jn 10:11: "I am the good Shepherd," i.e. good in the sense of our ideal (model of perfection, cf. R. Brown,
Anchor Bible); 1 Thes 5:21: "Continually hold fast to that which is good."

In sum, 2570/kalós ("winsomely good") emphasizes the impression that good makes on others, especially in its
immediate or aesthetic sense.  18/agathós ("essentially good") roots to God as the source and empowerment of what
is intrinsically good, and its ongoing (everlasting) significance.

18 (agathos) and 2570 (kalós) can appear in the same verse, where each expresses its distinctive connotation
(etymological overtone).  See  Mt 7:17; Lk 8:15; Ro 7:18; 1 Tim 5:10.

[18/agathos ("constitutionally good") is used in contrast with 2556/kakós ("constitutionally evil").  Similarly, 2570/kalós ("good
as perceived by others") is the antonym of 4190/ponērós ("the pain that evil brings to others").  Note their use in the same
passage: Mk 3:4; Lk 16:25; Ro 3:8, 7:19, 12:21, 13:3,4, 16:19 and 3 Jn 11.]

Summary
For the believer, 18 (agathós) refers to faith-birthed goodness.  This results from hearing God's voice and obeying it
in His strength.  Thus in the Bible, "good (agathos) works" are always faith-works because they must be God-
produced.

Matthew Henry, "The intentions of Providence commonly do not appear till a great while after the event, perhaps
many years after.  The sentences in the book of providence are sometimes long, and you must read a great way
before you can apprehend the sense of them."

1. Every truly "good work" originates with God and is empowered by Him.  It is inspired (revealed) through faith,
matured in hope, and accomplished through love (partnering with God).  18 (agathos) emphasizes what is good in
the long run (cf. Mt 11:19).
2. 18 (agathos) and 2570 (kalós) are both used in the phrase, "good work(s)."  Each retains its distinct emphasis
("semantic color") in this phrase.

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"Good works" (agathos ergon) emphasizes that God originates and empowers the meaning.  See  Eph 2:10;
Phil 1:6; 2 Thes 2:17; 2 Tim 3:17; see also Ro 13:13; 2 Cor 9:8; Col 1:10; 1 Tim 2:10,5:10; 2 Tim 2:21.

"Good works" (kalos ergon) stresses the positive (useful) impression these have on others by displaying
what is "honest," "honorable," "winsome," etc. in the sight of God (bringing glory to Him).

The phrase, "good works" (using 2570/kalós), occurs in: Mt 5:16; Mk 14:6; Jn 10:32; 1 Tim  5:10,25; 2 Tim
2:7,14, 3:8,14; Heb 10:24.

Commentary
(Lk 18:18) What shall I do to inherit?  (ti poiēsas klēronomēsō) – A. T. Robertson, "By doing what shall I inherit?
 Precisely the same question is asked by the lawyer in Lk 10:25.  This young man probably thought that by some
one act he could obtain eternal life.  He was ready to make a large expenditure for it. Good (18/agathós).  See the
notes at Mk 10:17 and Mt 19:16 for discussion of this adjective for absolute goodness.  Plummer observes that no
Jewish rabbi was called 'good' in direct address.  The question of Jesus will show whether it was merely fulsome
flattery on the part of the young man or whether he really put Jesus on a par with God" (WP, 2, 235).

(2 Cor 5:10)  whether good (18/agathós) or worthless – This text illustrates that no decision (action) is "amoral,"
something "God does not care about!"

Every decision (action) counts – because God counts every one!  Each matters to God (Ecc 12:14), so each matters to
us – even the "mundane" circumstances in the everyday scenes of life (cf. Lk 16:10; see also 1 Cor 4:5).

Reflection: The physical body (4983/sōma) enables us to act as embodied, personal beings – to know the Person,
Jesus Christ the God-man.  The physical body (4983/sōma) outwardly expresses the inner realities of the spirit which
defines our individual personhood ("soul," 5590/psyxē).

Note: The expression "living according to the flesh" is distinct from the physical living done "through the body" (2
Cor 5:10).  It suggests living independently from God which is the opposite of love in Scripture, i.e. acting faith out
with Him by His power.

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