χρηστότης G5544
Kindness, goodness, generosity — moral excellence expressed as benevolent, gracious dealing toward others
The noun χρηστότης (chrestotes) denotes kindness, goodness, or generosity — a quality that is simultaneously moral virtue and active beneficence. Paul uses it as a divine attribute: God's kindness leads to repentance (Rom 2:4), his kindness and severity stand in deliberate tension (Rom 11:22), and his surpassing kindness toward us in Christ Jesus is displayed for all ages (Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4). It also appears as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) and a mark of authentic apostolic ministry (2 Cor 6:6). The word's background in Hellenistic moral philosophy — where chrestotes described the ideal ruler's benevolence — enriches Paul's portrait of God. Spanish 'bondad/benignidad' and French 'bonté' capture both the moral and relational dimensions.
Senses
1. kindness — Kindness, goodness, or generous benevolence, used predominantly of God's character and secondarily as a Christian virtue. As a divine attribute it leads sinners to repentance (Rom 2:4), stands in tension with divine severity (Rom 11:22), and is displayed eschatologically in Christ (Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4). As a human virtue it appears among the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), in Paul's apostolic self-description (2 Cor 6:6), and in ethical exhortation (Col 3:12). Spanish 'bondad/benignidad,' French 'bonté,' and German 'Güte/Freundlichkeit' all reflect its blend of moral excellence and active generosity. 10×
AR["-لُطفُ", "الصَّلاحِ", "اللُّطفُ", "اللُّطْفِ", "لُطفًا", "لُطفٍ", "لُطفِهِ", "لُطْفَ", "لُطْفُ"]·ben["দয়া", "দয়ায়,", "মঙ্গল", "মঙ্গলতা,", "মঙ্গলতার", "মঙ্গলভাব", "মঙ্গলে,", "মাধুর্য,"]·DE["Guete"]·EN["kindness"]·FR["bonté"]·heb["חֶסֶד", "טוֹב", "טוֹבָה", "טוּב", "נְדִיבוּת"]·HI["दयअलुत,", "भलअयि", "भलाई", "भलै"]·ID["kebaikan", "kebaikan,", "kemurahan"]·IT["benignità", "bonta"]·jav["kabecikan", "kabecikan,", "kabecèkan,", "kabecèkanipun", "kaloman", "kaluhuran,", "kasaenan", "kasaenan,"]·KO["선", "선함에", "자비", "자비로", "자비로움", "자애-와", "자애라", "자애를", "자애에", "친절,"]·PT["benignidade", "bondade", "bondade,"]·RU["-ты", "благости", "благость", "доброту", "если"]·ES["benignidad", "bondad"]·SW["fadhili", "wema", "wema,"]·TR["iyilik", "iyilikseverlik", "iyilikte", "iyiliği"]·urd["بھلائی", "مہربانی", "مہربانی-میں"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
χρηστότης, ητος, ἡ, goodness, honesty, uprightness, χρηστότητα ἀσκεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+; χρηστότητος εἵνεκα as a reward for honesty, LXX+4th c.BC+; ἀκολουθεῖ τῇ ἀρετῇ χ.) Refs 4th c.BC+; ἡ σὴ χ., as a honorific address, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II goodness of heart, kindness, Refs 4th c.BC+ (but in depreciatory sense, soft-heartedness, Refs 4th c.BC+; χ. καὶ φιλοστοργία, φιλανθρωπία καὶ χ., NT+1st c.AD+;…