Thoughts on 1 Timothy: Kalos kai Agathos

Sometimes our translation of the Greek New Testament is a pity; and a lack of clarity has led to all sorts of divisions and strife in the church. One such troublesome phrase is “good works.” That phrase conjures up Catholic and Protestant debates.

Paul mentions “good works” several times in his letter. That’s an invitation, at a minimum, to see what the fuss is all about.

• If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he is desiring a good work.

• I desire that women should adorn themselves . . . with good works.

• Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than 60 years old, a woman of one man, being witnessed to by good works, if she raised children, if she showed hospitality, if she washed the feet of the saints, if she helped the afflicted, if she earnestly pursued every good work.

• So also the good works of some are conspicuous, and those that are not conspicuous are not able to be hidden.

• Urge the rich in this present age . . . to do good, to be rich in good works . . . .

This last verse from the 6th chapter combines both meanings of good work. “To do good” is a compound verb of good works and, well, “good works” is good works. The nouns are the same, but the adjectives are different.

Let’s deal with “works” first. They are not works in the Catholic or Protestant sense of the word. The word “ergon” means (i) activity of any kind, actions, deeds, in contrast to rest; (ii) regular work, such as vocation, occupation, or task; and (iii) the product of work. See A Greek Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (3d ed. 2000) (BDAG). These definitions expand “works” well beyond ecclesiastical differences. The word encompasses very much of our life; in fact all activity outside of rest.

Since “work” is limited only by rest, the important words in 1 Timothy are the adjectives. The adjectives will dictate the quality of the work and specify the work Paul is highlighting as distinct from some other kind of activity.

Paul uses two adjectives, kalos and agathos, to qualify the nature and extent of the works he is referring to. Kalos kai agathos is a phrase that pops up from time to time in Classical Greek Literature. It can be translated, “beautiful and good,” “fine and noble,” and “superior and excellent.” These were attributes of the ideal gentleman or perfect man in Greek culture. Since Paul holds that faith in Christ Jesus stands head and shoulders above the highest Greek virtue, it’s no surprise that he borrows these descriptors a noble virtues of believing Christians.

So, Paul tells us one seeking guardianship over God’s people seeks a beautiful vocation; a woman is to clothe herself in profitable activities and virtuous deeds; a widow’s life must be marked by beautiful acts (some of which Paul notes) and she must have applied herself to useful and profitable things while she had strength and means to do so; and the rich are to do useful, good, and virtuous things in keeping with the blessings of God upon them, and to also overflow with fine and noble acts towards others.

This is what “good works” means. This is what Paul means here in 1 Timothy. We would do well to think of our “good works” in the same manner.

Grace be with you.