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Goodness as a Source of God's Character Traits

The goodness of God is a fundamental aspect of His character, influencing all His other attributes and actions [1, 3]. It is not merely a passive quality but an active expression of His nature, consistently choosing and pursuing moral good [2]. The Bible frequently declares God's goodness, describing it as great, rich, abundant, satisfying, enduring, and universal [3].

God's goodness is the source from which many of His other characteristics flow. For instance, His benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience toward His creatures are all manifestations of His goodness [1]. Even His grace, defined as communicating favor to the unworthy, stems from His inherent goodness [1]. The prophet Micah emphasizes that "what is right in God’s eyes" defines goodness, and God Himself is the ultimate source of all goodness [10]. This is echoed in James 1:17, which states that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow" [7]. Adam Clarke interprets this verse to mean that all good, purity, light, and excellence originate from God as the sole source of goodness and perfection [14].

The goodness of God is also linked to His justice. These are not opposing traits but "several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection" [1]. God is not sometimes good and sometimes just; rather, His goodness and justice are intrinsically intertwined [1]. This divine goodness is a motive for righteous behavior in humanity, as seen in the instruction for Israel to act righteously because of God's character [9].

Biblical texts illustrate the various ways God's goodness is manifested:

The goodness of God is also a motive for godly fear, which is described as a hatred of evil and a treasure for saints [4]. The holiness and greatness of God, along with His goodness and forgiveness, inspire this reverential fear [4].

Jesus Himself affirmed God's unique goodness when He said, "No one is good, except one—God" (Luke 18:19) [8]. This statement underscores that God is the ultimate standard and source of goodness. Human goodness, in contrast, is not a mere passive quality but involves a deliberate choice of right over wrong and a resistance to moral evil [2]. A "good man" is described as one who brings forth good things from the "good treasure of the heart," which John Gill interprets as the "superabundant grace of God" implanted within a regenerated individual [6, 13].

The wisdom of God, another divine attribute, is also perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, and unsearchable [5]. This wisdom is exhibited in God's works and is the source from which all human wisdom is derived [5]. The concept of grace, an undeserved blessing from God, and peace, a well-being rooted in the Good News, are both described as gifts from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, flowing from His character [11, 12].

The enduring nature of God's goodness and mercy is a source of comfort and assurance for believers, as expressed in Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me" [15]. This lovingkindness is described as good and everlasting, a foundational aspect of God's relationship with His people [16].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness — In man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wisdom of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- 1Sa 2:3; Job 9:4. Described as Perfect. -- Job 36:4; 37:16. Mighty. -- Job 36:5. Universal. -- Job 28:24; Da 2:22; Ac 15:18. Infinite. -- Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33. Unsearchable. -- Isa 40:28; Ro 11:33. Wonderful. -- Ps 139:6. Beyond human comprehension. -- Ps 139:6. Incomparable. -- Isa 44:7; Jer 10:7. Underived. -- Job 21:22; Isa 40:14. The gospel contains treasures of -- 1Co 2:7. Wisdom of saints is derived from -- Ezr 7:25. All human wisdom derived from -- Da 2:1. Saints ascribe to him -- Da 2:20. Exhibited in His works. ”
  6. King James Version “[KJV] Matthew 12:35 — A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”
  7. James “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. -- James 1:17”
  8. Luke “Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God. -- Luke 18:19”
  9. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 23:7: 23:7 God’s character is the motive for righteous behavior (see 22:22-24, 27).”
  10. Micah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Micah 6:8: 6:8 Good means what is right in God’s eyes; God is the source of all goodness (Gen 1; Exod 33:19; 34:6-7; Deut 12:28). • what is right (Hebrew mishpat, often translated “justice”): God’s order in the world requires treatment of others in fair, non-manipulative, non-oppressive ways. • mercy (Hebrew khesed): This passionate, undeserved loyalty is the defining quality in God’s holy character (see Ps 136). Those who know God will act in the same way toward others (see Gen 21:22-24; Josh 2:12-14; Matt 5:43-48). • walk humbly: Humility must characterize God’s people. They”
  11. Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 1:2: 1:2 Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God; peace is well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22). These qualities are gifts from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (see Rom 5:1-2).”
  12. Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 1:2: 1:2 Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God; peace is well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22). These qualities are gifts from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (see Rom 5:1-2).”
  13. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 12:30: A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart,.... "A good man", is a regenerated man, one that is renewed by the Spirit of God, a believer in Christ, a sincere lover of him, and one that follows him, wheresoever he goes, and who has the grace of God implanted in him: for "the good treasure the heart", is not what he is naturally possessed of, but what is put into him: and is no other than the superabundant grace of God, or that grace for grace, which he has received out of Christ's fulness, and the rich experience of it he is blessed with: and may well be calle”
  14. James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above - Whatever is good is from God; whatever is evil is from man himself. As from the sun, which is the father or fountain of light, all light comes; so from God, who is the infinite Fountain, Father, and Source of good, all good comes. And whatever can be called good, or pure, or light, or excellence of any kind, must necessarily spring from him, as he is the only source of all goodness and perfection. With whom is no variableness - The sun, the fountain of light to the whole of our system, may be obscured by clouds; ”
  15. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,.... Either the free grace, love, favour, and mercy of God in Christ, which endures continually, and is always the same from everlasting to everlasting; or the effects of it; and these either temporal good things, which flow from the goodness and mercy of God, and not the merits of men; and which are in great mercy and loving kindness bestowed on his people, and which follow them: they do not anxiously seek after them; but seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, these are added to them, they trusting in the Lord, and”
  16. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 69:16: Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good,.... His lovingkindness to him, not only as his Son, but as Mediator; and which is a love of complacency and delight, and was from eternity, and will be to eternity: and this is "good", as appears by the effects and evidences of it; such as putting all things into his hands, showing him all that he does, concealing and keeping nothing from him, appointing him to be the Saviour of his people, the Head of the church, and the Judge of the world; and this lovingkindness shown to him is a reason why he might expect to be hea”
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