Goodness Of God
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [1]
Relates to the absolute perfection of his own nature, and his kindness manifested to his creatures. Goodness, says Dr. Gill, is essential to God, without which he would not be God, Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:6-7 . Goodness belongs only to God, he is solely good, Matthew 19:17; and all the goodness found in creatures are only emanations of the divine goodness. He is the chief good; the sum and substance of all felicity, Psalms 144:12; Psalms 144:15; Psalms 73:25; Psalms 4:6-7 . There is nothing but goodness in God, and nothing but goodness comes from him, 1 John 1:5 . James 1:13-14 . He is infinitely good; finite minds cannot comprehend his goodness, Romans 11:35-36 . He is immutably and unchangeably good, Zephaniah 3:17 . The goodness of God is communicative and diffusive, Psalms 119:68; Psalms 33:5 . With respect to the objects of it, it may be considered as general and special. His general goodness is seen in all his creatures; yea in the inanimate creation, the sun, the earth, and all his works; and in the government, support, and protection of the world at large, Psalms 36:6; Psalms 145:1-21 . His special goodness relates to angels and saints. To angels, in creating, confirming, and making them what they are. To saints, in election, calling, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and eternal glorification. Gill's Body of Civ. 5: 1. p. 133. 8 vo. ed.; Charnock's Works, 5: 1. p. 574; Paley's Nat. Theol. ch. 26; South's admirable Sermon, on this Subject, vol. 8: ser. 3.; Tillotson's Serm. ser. 143-146; Abernethy's Serm. vol. 1: No. 2.
Easton's Bible Dictionary [2]
Psalm 145:8,9 103:8 1 John 4:8 Zephaniah 3:17 Romans 11 3536,36
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [3]
denotes "both the absolute perfection of his own nature, and his kindness manifested to his creatures. Goodness, says Dr. Gill, is essential to God, without which he would not be God ( Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:6-7). Goodness belongs only to God; he is solely good ( Matthew 19:17), and all the goodness found in creatures is only an emanation of the divine-goodness. He is the chief good, the sum and substance of all felicity ( Psalms 144:2; Psalms 144:15; Psalms 25:7; Psalms 73:25; Psalms 4:6-7). There is nothing but goodness in God, and nothing but goodness comes from him ( 1 John 1:5; James 1:13-14). He is infinitely good; finite minds cannot comprehend his goodness ( Romans 11:35-36). He is immutably and unchangeably good ( Zephaniah 3:17). The goodness of God is communicative and diffusive ( Psalms 119:68; Psalms 33:5). With respect to the objects of it, it may be considered as general and special. His general goodness is seen in all his creatures; yea, in the inanimate creation, the sun, the earth, and all his works; and in the government, support, and protection of the world at large ( Psalms 36:6; Psalms 145). His special goodness relates to angels and saints: to angels, in creating, confirming, and making them what they are; to saints, in election, calling, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and eternal glorification." See Charnock, Works, 5, 1:574; Paley, Nat. Theol. chapter 26; South, Sermons, volume 8, serm. 3; Tillotson, Sermons, pages 143-146; Watson, Institutes, 1:420. (See God).
