what does 'good' mean?

  Throughout Genesis 1 the word translated as good is
"towb", which has usages such as:

1) good, pleasant, agreeable
    a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)
    b) pleasant (to the higher nature)
    c) good, excellent (of its kind)
    d) good, rich, valuable in estimation
    e) good, appropriate, becoming
    f) better (comparative)
    g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)
    h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)
    i) good, kind, benign
    j) good, right (ethical)

2) a good thing, benefit, welfare
    a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
    b) good things (collective)
    c) good, benefit
    d) moral good

3) welfare, benefit, good things
    a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
    b) good things (collective)
    c) bounty

It is also the same word used in Genesis 2:9 describing
the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (So good is the
opposite of evil)

In Genesis 1:31 God calls all of his creation "very good".
 The word translated as very is "m@'od" whose uses
include:

1) exceedingly, much

2) might, force, abundance

3) welfare, benefit, good things
    a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
    b) good things (collective)
    c) bounty

So, even though good and perfect are not the same. God's
creation is exceedingly (good, excellent) and free of
evil. I am not sure what usefulness splitting the
difference between what "good" means in Genesis 1 and what
is perfect.

The important issue is at least twofold, 1) is there some
defect in creation, even before man was on the scene, that
is in need of "perfection" and some yet future
reconciliation? And 2) what effects did Adam and Eve and
the fall have on the creation?

Like I have said before, I dont see anywhere in the
Genesis account that indicates creation (at least the
physical portion of creation) being defective ("broken").
I am not expecting a future perfected Earth.

I think that the effect of the fall on creation was
limited to man's relationship with creation.

But, evil exists. Satan, and demons are part of the
created order, so there is evil in creation in that sense.
 In Colossians 1:20 when it talks about God reconciling
all things, I think it is talking about this part of the
created order, not the physical creation.

There is clearly moral evil in abundance as a result of
the Fall. And ultimately, this will also be reconciled
through Christ, and in some sense has already been.
("Already, Not Yet").
Received on Tue Jan 11 10:21:44 2005