What is the biblical definition of good, and how does it differ from human good?
The Bible teaches that 'good' refers to absolute and intrinsic good, which can be produced only by God through the working of the Spirit of God together with the Word of God. This divine good is in contrast to human good, which is relative and dead in God's sight, as man in himself possesses no good thing (Rom. 7:18). Human good is actually a manifestation of evil because it is produced independently of God, and the essence of evil is independence of God. The Bible draws a line down every page between two kinds of life, contrasting divine good with human good, just like Jesus said to Nicodemus that everything on one side is death and everything on the other is life (John 3:6). Divine good is produced through believers by the working of the Spirit of God together with the Word of God, while human good consists of 'dead works' (Heb. 6:1–2) and is like a 'filthy garment' (Isa. 64:6). The only means by which evil can be conquered is through divine good (Rom. 12:21), which is the sphere in which believers are to operate, relying on God's strength rather than their own.
Source: The Basics The Basics — Good, divine (canonical doctrine) · Read this lesson in the book →
What this answer is about
Related questions
- What is the biblical definition of good?Rom. 7:18 · The Basics
- What are works in the context of the Christian faith?Rom. 7:18 · The Basics
- What is the origin of evil in the world?Isa. 64:6 · The Basics
- What are the three sources of temptation?Rom. 12:21 · The Basics · Lesson 4–3: Testing—Temptation
- What does the Bible teach about carnality in the Christian life?Jeremiah 17:5-10 · The Basics
- What is the true test of spirituality?Jeremiah 17:5-10 · The Basics
- What does the Bible teach about temptation, including its sources and how to overcome it?Jeremiah 17:5-10 · The Basics
- What is the only source of power for living the Christian life?Jeremiah 17:5-10 · The Basics · Lesson 3–3: The Promise—Spirituality
See also
- What is the biblical teaching on being a hero of faith?Same lesson · The Basics
- What does the Bible teach about judging in the Christian life?Same lesson · The Basics
- What does the Bible teach about small things and their significance in God's plan?Same lesson · The Basics
- What does the Bible teach about mentality as a soul strength and soul kink?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 3–2: The Danger—Spiritual Retreat/Reversion
- What is self-consciousness according to the Bible?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 3–2: The Danger—Spiritual Retreat/Reversion
- What does the Bible teach about God's discipline of His children?Same lesson · The Basics · Lesson 3–2: The Danger—Spiritual Retreat/Reversion
Scripture this answer rests on
Also printed on these pages
Where this is taught in the book
Scripture is not BTBM’s to license: the references above link to Blue Letter Bible (NASB95), and the verse text shown on this page is served by BLB under their own license and terms.
