"pr. goodness, kindness, gentleness, Rom. 2:4; 11:22(3x); 2 Cor. 6:6; Gal. 5:22; Col. 3:12; Tit. 3:4; kindness shown, beneficence, Eph. 2:7; goodness, virtue, Rom. 3:12*"
Definition and meaning
pr. goodness, kindness, gentleness, Rom. 2:4; 11:22(3x); 2 Cor. 6:6; Gal. 5:22; Col. 3:12; Tit. 3:4; kindness shown, beneficence, Eph. 2:7; goodness, virtue, Rom. 3:12*
In the original Greek the word is written: χρηστότης
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 chrestotes (G5544) across the King James Bible.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
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Common questions
Strong's G5544 (chrestotes) is a Greek word that means: pr. goodness, kindness, gentleness, Rom. 2:4; 11:22(3x); 2 Cor. 6:6; Gal. 5:22; Col. 3:12; Tit. 3:4; kindness shown, beneficence, Eph. 2:7; goodness, virtue, Rom. 3:12* It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word chrestotes (G5544) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5544 is chrestotes, a Greek word defined as: pr. goodness, kindness, gentleness, Rom. 2:4; 11:22(3x); 2 Cor. 6:6; Gal. 5:22; Col. 3:12; Tit. 3:4; kindness shown, beneficence, Eph. 2:7; goodness, . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chrestotes is a Greek word found in the New Testament.