A noun meaning good pleasure, goodwill, favorable intention, or the content of one's will. It describes the gracious, benevolent intention of God — his sovereign, freely chosen delight. It is not merely permission or reluctant allowance but active, joyful willing. The word appears at key moments: the angels' announcement at Christ's birth and Paul's description of God's elective grace.
Eudokia reveals something stunning about God's will — it is characterized by pleasure and delight, not reluctant necessity. God's election of his people, his redemptive purposes, his providential workings — all flow from this joyful good pleasure. Luke 2:14's 'peace among those in whom he delights' ties salvation directly to divine pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 grounds predestination in God's eudokia — he adopted us because it pleased him to do so, not because anything in us merited it. This makes grace truly gracious: it flows from the free, happy will of God.