εὐδοκία

good-will, favor

Definition

εὐδοκία primarily means 'good pleasure' or 'deliberate choice,' expressing a settled, favorable disposition. In the New Testament, it most often refers to God's sovereign, gracious will, as in Ephesians 1:5 and 1:9, where believers are adopted according to His 'good pleasure.' In Luke 2:14, the angels proclaim peace to those with whom God is pleased (literally, 'men of [His] good pleasure'). A secondary sense is human goodwill or favor, as seen in Philippians 1:15, where some preach Christ from 'goodwill,' and Romans 10:1, where Paul expresses his heart's 'desire' for Israel's salvation.

Biblical Usage

The word is used nine times, predominantly in the Pauline epistles (Romans, Ephesians, Philippians) and the Gospels (Matthew, Luke). Its usage splits between divine and human contexts. The divine sense dominates, describing God's gracious, purposeful will in salvation (Ephesians 1:5, 1:9) and His pleasure in revealing truth (Matthew 11:26; Luke 10:21). The human sense appears in Philippians 1:15 (goodwill in preaching) and 2:13 (God works in us to will/desire).

Etymology

Derived from εὖ (eu, 'well, good') and δοκέω (dokeō, 'to think, seem, be resolved'). It combines the idea of 'good' with 'thinking' or 'resolving,' thus conveying a favorable judgment, intention, or purpose. The related verb εὐδοκέω (eudokeō, G2106) means 'to be well-pleased, to take delight in.'

Semantic Range

This word is crucial for understanding God's sovereign grace in salvation. It emphasizes that salvation originates in God's own good pleasure and delight, not human merit (Ephesians 1:5, 9). It also highlights the responsive human will that God Himself works within believers (Philippians 2:13). Understanding εὐδοκία enriches reading by revealing the depth of God's purposeful, loving choice.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of a deity's 'good pleasure' (eudokia) implied favor that was not capricious but based on the deity's reasoned and settled purpose. This differs from a modern sense of mere 'happiness' and carries a stronger connotation of intentional, deliberate choice and approval.

θέλημα (thelēma, G2307) — God's will as a command or decree, whereas εὐδοκία emphasizes delight and pleasure in that will. χάρις (charis, G5485) — grace as unmerited favor, the active expression of which flows from God's εὐδοκία.

Word Details

Scripture References