ἀγαθωσύνη (G 19) agathōsúnē; gen. agathōsúnēs, fem. noun from agathós (G 18), benevolent. Active goodness. It is more than chrēstótēs (G 5544), gentleness, kindness, a mellowing of character. It is character energized, expressing itself in agathón (G 18), benevolence, active good. There is more activity in agathōsúnē than in chrēstótēs. Agathōsúnē does not spare sharpness and rebuke to cause good (agathón) in others. A person may display his agathōsúnē, his zeal for goodness and truth, in rebuking, correcting, or chastising.[1]
This is the result of one’s being kind. This is actions that result in good being done. This is not going along to get along. One’s level of development in kindness will impact one’s ability to do good things and one can only produce good deeds by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Any “good” deeds committed apart from the filling of the Holy Spirit are human good and are worthless in the sight of God. So goodness takes into account motives and not only the deeds themselves. So when one considers “doing good deeds” one must examine their motives in order to judge if what they are doing is actually “good”.
[1] The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament
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