The ancient Greek word "εὐδοκέω" ≈ "well-pleased, content" and comes from two Greek words.

The ancient Greek prefix "εὐ" ≈ "good, easy" as in "eulogy" meaning "good words" and "Eucharist" meaning "good favor" or "thank you".

More: Thank you for giving thanks and for Thanksgiving

The ancient Greek word "δοκέω" ≈ "seem, appear" and is the source of the English word "glory" through the Latin word "gloria" ≈ "glory, fame" and the source of words such as "doxology".

More: The word glory in Latin and Greek

Thus, the literal meaning is that of "good opinion" or "seems good". Sometimes the word is translated as "Good will". This word took on nuances of meaning over time.

The important idea is that the "good opinion" is a perception in the mind that may or may not exist in reality. It is a "point of view".

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Context is important. Whose "point of view" is implied in the text? What "point of view" should be inferred? That "point of view" may be ambiguous. Perhaps that is on purpose. Paul sometimes does this.

When one thinks of "goodwill" one often thinks of the organization called "Goodwill Industries" (founded in 1902 in Boston, MA) that provides help and assistance to people in various ways.
This is not just a good opinion or an intended action, but an actual (or actualized) action to help people.

The founder was Rev. Edgar J. Helms.

Context is important! Here is the progression.

• 1. opinion or thought
• 2. good or favorable opinion
• 3. wishful thinking as in a wish
• 4. intentional thinking as in an intention (before an action)
• 5. action

One should not escalate the meaning past what the actual text says.

Discuss: In an informal legal sense, when might "motive" became clearly evident?

Jesus prays to the Father in Matthew 11:26.


The "seemed good" could be phrased as "was a good opinion".


The Latin word "placitus" ≈ "opinion" which is a perfect active participle of the Latin word "placeo" ≈ "be pleasing" and as the source of the English word "placate".

The English word "placebo" comes from the Latin verb "placebo" ≈ "I will please" from "placeo" ≈ "please".

A placebo is something that cannot be easily distinguished from the real thing and is used in a test to reduce bias from expectations. A placebo is sometimes called a sugar pill.


How about: ... my soul shall not have a good opinion of him.

Notice that in the verse there were no "angels", just "soldiers" or "hosts" and they were not "singing". They were "praising", a word related to "enigma".

More: A dark and enigmatic praise

From a marketing point of view, the original words "Hark the herald welkins ring" (by Charles Wesley) were changed to "Hark the herald angels sing" (by George Whitfield) to make it more appealing.

More: Song: Hark the herald angels sing

The "heavenly hosts" continue.


I have heard pastors go on and on at length about the Greek meaning of "good will" in this verse. They often take it to say something like "good will to men on whom his pleasure rests". This does not appear to be what the Greek means. This appears to be a partial fix-up for the English meaning which appears to have come through the Latin translation which slightly changes the Greek.

KJV (King James Version):

Latin Vulgate:

The Latin word "bona" ≈ "good" and is the source of the English word "bonus".
The Latin word "voluntas" ≈ "free will, choice" and is the source of the English word "volunteer".


The Latin appears to slide the meaning from "good opinion" (perception) to "good choice" (action on that perception).

Thus, from the root meaning one has "good opinion toward men". From that root meaning, there may or may not be physical implications in this world and those implications may be good or bad from various points of view.
How about: Peace on earth to those who have a good opinion of it (peace).

Does everyone want peace? What is "peace"? Might that be ambiguous too?

How does the meaning change if "desire" is changed to "good opinion", "wishful thinking", etc.?

Discuss:

• Does Paul want Israel to be saved?
• Does Paul expect Israel to change and be saved?

Might Paul later write "Hebrews" to those Hebrews?

Details are left as a future topic.

And, a few verses later.


How does the meaning change in either verse if "good pleasure" is changed to "good opinion", "wishful thinking", etc.?

Are the some preaching "good will" doing a good thing, a not so good thing, some of both, etc.?


How does the meaning change if "good will" is changed to "good opinion", "wishful thinking", etc.? The Greek word does not, in and of itself, mean "intended action" nor actual "action". Whose "goodwill"?

In Philippians, Paul is taking the "bishops" and church leadership to task for teaching and doing things not in line with Christ. To avoid a direct attack, Paul uses many ambiguous phrases. In the above verse, to whose "good will" or "good opinion" does Paul refer?

More: Philippians

Paul uses the same Greek word for "good opinion" in the next chapter.


The Greek is the same, the Latin is the same (though a slightly different meaning than the Greek), but the KJV uses the different words "worketh" and "do". The actual Greek word used was used by Aristotle for a specific meaning of "actualization".

More: Philippians 2:12-13 working things out

First use:

Second use:

Paul uses a lot of double-meanings and some ambiguous pronouns in Philippians. Often, the first use of a word can be taken in a negative sense while the second use is in a positive sense. How does that pattern fit here?

Let us look at a few places where the Greek word for "good opinion" appears in the LXX (Septuagint).

This verse is often heard by pastors before a sermon.

The LXX adds "good opinion" as an adjective for "words of my mouth".

Less heard is the previous verse which has to do with possible "sins".


A pastor who is stressing "Love neighbor" (love sinner) at the expense of "Love God" (hate sin) would prefer not to include that preceding verse.

The LXX contains the Greek world for "visit" which would become the word for "bishop".

More: 1 Timothy 3:1 Desire to reach out to be a bishop

More: A bishop to visit and oversee the flock

More: Weak and visited by a bishop

The LXX appears to use "good opinion" for "desire".