What are good works?

The phrase “good works” does not occur in the Old Testament. This is astounding because the Old Testament period was precisely the time when works prescribed by the Law were needed for acceptance by God. And yet not once did anyone do anything that was recorded as a “good work.”

In contrast, the New Testament mentions “good works” 19 times (KJV). What does this suggest? It suggests that good works in the Biblical sense are not possible without Jesus Christ.

Now, the New Testament word for “work” (ergon) is not limited to the idea of a physical activity. For example, I often think of a good work (a good ergon) as feeding the poor. But if that is all I think a good work is, I miss the full point. The lexicon defines ergon as “any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind.”

So on this definition, even thinking good thoughts can be a kind of good work. It can be. The key is whether or not it is somehow birthed in the interior of one’s heart to the advent of Jesus Christ.

As for the “good” of good works, the Greek New Testament uses two words. Good can be agathos, meaning “of good constitution or nature; useful; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excellent," and so on. So when Paul says that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, it does not necessarily mean feeding the poor, or the equivalent.

The larger question, if you are to really live up to what the Holy Spirit through Paul is saying, may be whether or not you are being pleasant and agreeable as your heart is stayed on Christ's presence.

The other word for “good” is kalos. What does this word mean?

Well, kalos is the word for beautiful.

And then it says that the beauty of some works are conspicuous now. But the beauty of some others will only be made evident later.

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Ephesians 2.10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

1 Timothy 5.25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

“Good works” with agathos: Acts 9.36, Romans 13.3, Ephesians 2.10, 1 Timothy 2.10, 2 Timothy 3.17, Titus 1.16

“Good works” with kalos: Matthew 5.16, John 10.32, 1 Timothy 5.10, 1 Timothy 5.25, 1 Timothy 6.18, Titus 2.14, Titus 2.7, Titues 2.14, Titus 3.8, Titus 3.14, Hebrews 1024, 1 Peter 2.12

From the lexicon:

AGATHOS 102 times in the AV — good 77, good thing 14, 1) of good constitution or nature 2) useful, salutary 3) good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy 4) excellent, distinguished 5) upright, honourable

KALOS 102 times in the AV — good 83, better 7, honest 5, meet 2, goodly 2, misc 3 1) beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable a) beautiful to look at, shapely, magnificent b) good, excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends 1) genuine, approved 2) precious 3) joined to names of men designated by their office, competent, able, such as one ought to be 4) praiseworthy, noble c) beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy 1) morally good, noble d) honourable, conferring honour e) affecting the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming

ERGON 176 times in the AV — work 152, deed 22, doing 1, labour 1 1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking 2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind 3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work