Bible Dictionaries
Good

Holman Bible Dictionary

In contrast to the Greek view of “the good” as an ideal, the biblical concept focuses on concrete experiences of what God has done and is doing in the lives of God's people. Scripture affirms that God is and does good (1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 119:68 ). The goodness of God is experienced in the goodness of God's creative work (Genesis 1:31 ) and in God's saving acts (liberation of Israel from Egypt, Exodus 18:9; return of a remnant from captivity, Ezra 7:9; personal deliverance, Psalm 34:8; salvation, Philippians 1:6 ). God's goodness is extended to God's name (Psalm 52:9 ), God's promises (Joshua 21:45 ), God's commands (Psalm 119:39; Romans 7:12 ), God's gifts (James 1:17 ), and God's providential shaping of events (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28 ). Though God alone is truly good (Psalm 14:1 ,Psalms 14:1,14:3; Mark 10:18 ), Scripture repeatedly speaks of good persons who seek to live their lives in accordance with God's will. Christians have been saved in order to do good (Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:10 ) with the Holy Spirit's help.