"goodness, virtue, beneficence, Rom. 5:14; Eph. 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:11; generosity, Gal. 5:22*"
Definition and meaning
goodness, virtue, beneficence, Rom. 5:14; Eph. 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:11; generosity, Gal. 5:22*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀγαθωσύνη
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of agathosyne (G19) across the King James Bible.
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
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, and the work of faith with power:
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Common questions
Strong's G19 (agathosyne) is a Greek word that means: goodness, virtue, beneficence, Rom. 5:14; Eph. 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:11; generosity, Gal. 5:22* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word agathosyne (G19) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G19 is agathosyne, a Greek word defined as: goodness, virtue, beneficence, Rom. 5:14; Eph. 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:11; generosity, Gal. 5:22*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
agathosyne is a Greek word found in the New Testament.