Greek word · G5544

χρηστότης

chrēstotēs

kindness

Goodness, kindness, generosity: a disposition that is useful and gracious to others. It was used of benefactors and of God's goodness.

Appears 10 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 25, 2026

What it means

χρηστότης, -ητος, ἡ

(χρηστός), [in LXX for טוּב and cogn. forms ;]

1. goodness, excellence, uprightness: Romans 3:12 (LXX).

2. goodness of heart, kindness: Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 6:6, Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:12, Titus 3:4; before ἐπί, with accusative of person(s), Ephesians 2:7; id., opposite to ἀποτομία, Romans 11:22.

SYN.: see: ἀγαθωσύνη. (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: Goodness, kindness, generosity: a disposition that is useful and gracious to others. It was used of benefactors and of God's goodness.
Against the English: 'Kindness' is used across nearly all versions and is accurate. The Greek leans toward active, generous goodness that does people good, rather than just being pleasant.
Used elsewhere in the period: The Greek Old Testament praises God's chrēstotēs: 'how great is your goodness' (Ps 30:20 LXX), 'remember me for your goodness' (Ps 24:7 LXX). Hellenistic honorary inscriptions praise benefactors for it. Paul: 'God's kindness leads you to repentance' (Rom 2:4); 'the kindness and philanthropy of God our Saviour appeared' (Titus 3:4); it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).

Range of meaning: Goodness that shows itself in kind action: generosity, benevolence, graciousness. It is the quality of a good benefactor or a decent person. Of things, chrēstos can mean "useful, good, pleasant" (Luke 5:39, the old wine is "good"). Of God, it means his generous goodwill toward people who do not deserve it.
Against the English: "Kindness" (BSB, ESV, NIV, NASB) is accurate. KJV's "goodness" is also accurate but vaguer, since in modern English "goodness" often means moral purity rather than generosity. Neither English word conveys that, in context, this kindness is mainly God not yet punishing.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) it often translates Hebrew ṭôb/ṭûb ("good, goodness") for God: e.g. Psalm 30:20 LXX (31:19 English), "how great the abundance of your kindness", and Psalm 144:7 LXX. Wisdom of Solomon 15:1 is a very close parallel: "But you, our God, are kind (chrēstos) and true, patient (makrothumos), ruling all things in mercy." Paul pairs it with its opposite in Romans 11:22: "see the kindness and the severity of God." In Greek honorific inscriptions the word praises rulers and benefactors for their generosity.

Range of meaning: Kindness, goodness of heart, benevolence, graciousness. The adjective chrēstos means useful, good, pleasant or mild. It is used of mellow wine (Luke 5:39) and of Jesus' 'easy' yoke (Matthew 11:30).
Against the English: Modern versions say 'kindness'. KJV has 'gentleness', which today sounds like softness or mildness. In 1611 the word still carried the older sense of a gracious, generous bearing.
How it drifted: 'Gentle' first meant well-born and courteous (compare 'gentleman') and narrowed over time to 'soft, mild'. So KJV's 'gentleness' now suggests something narrower than chrēstotēs.
Used elsewhere in the period: Greek Old Testament, of God: 'remember me according to your goodness (chrēstotēs)' (Psalm 25:7) and 'taste and see that the Lord is good (chrēstos)' (Psalm 34:8, quoted in 1 Peter 2:3). In Paul, God's kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4; 11:22) and is shown in Christ (Ephesians 2:7; Titus 3:4).

Romans · 5

Romans 2:4 χρηστότητος kindness

Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

Here: God's active goodwill and generosity, the goodness of a benefactor who does good to people who have not earned it. It is the first and broadest of the three qualities.
Romans 3:12 χρηστότητα, good,

All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Here: The 'good' that no one does. The word means goodness as decent, generous, upright dealing with others. Paul uses the same word for God's own 'kindness' in Romans 2:4 and 11:22. That sets up a contrast: God shows chrēstotēs, and humanity does not.
Romans 11:22 χρηστότητα χρηστότης χρηστότητι· [the] kindness, kindness, kindness;

Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Here: God's generous, useful, undeserved kindness. Here it is the kindness that grafted wild branches into a tree they had no right to.

2 Corinthians · 1

2 Corinthians 6:6 χρηστότητι, kindness,

in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

Here: Active, generous goodness toward others. It is the positive partner of forbearance: Paul not only holds back anger but does good. The same pair appears in 1 Cor 13:4 and Gal 5:22.

Galatians · 1

Galatians 5:22 χρηστότης, kindness,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Here: A kindly, generous disposition that makes someone easy to deal with. Paul often uses it for God's kindness toward sinners (Romans 2:4). Here it describes how believers treat one another.

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 2:7 χρηστότητι kindness

in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Here: Active, practical generosity, the open-handed goodness of a benefactor or a good king. It is the concrete form God's grace takes toward "us."

Colossians · 1

Colossians 3:12 χρηστότητα, kindness,

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Here: Practical kindness that is good to deal with and does people good. Paul uses it for God's own kindness toward sinners (Rom 2:4; Titus 3:4).

Titus · 1

Titus 3:4 χρηστότης kindness

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

Here: Goodness that shows itself as generosity and gentleness toward others, especially toward people who do not deserve it. After the ugly list in verse 3, it is God's goodness toward people who were anything but good.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.