BQ: What is good or goodness? Various lexicons, both theological and not, use the following descriptors to define them: uprightness of heart and life, kindness, useful, pleasant, excellent; honorable. The Bible defines goodness also by using comparison and contrast. Can you guess what it compares goodness with?
A: Strangely, the contrast used to define goodness is between it and righteousness! For example, in Romans 5:7, God says, "For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though for a good person one would dare even to die."
What? We're so used to striving to be righteous (in our own minds) that we get terms somewhat muddled. Goodness is set about righteousness here, because righteousness is equated with pure justice. A just man is one who gives to men what is their due. Goodness, however, is the quality which is out to do far more than that, and which desires to give a man all that is to his benefit and his help; it is the generosity which gives a man what he never could have earned.
I am very blessed to know people who are so good that one would dare even to die for them. What about you?