The Greek verb agathopoieō (ἀγαθοποιέω) is a compound of agathos (H18/G18, good) and poieō (to do, make), meaning to do good, to act rightly, to do what is morally excellent and beneficial. It appears primarily in 1 Peter and the Gospels. Peter uses it repeatedly (1 Peter 2:15, 20; 3:6, 17) as the defining characteristic of Christian conduct in a hostile world. Luke uses it in Jesus' teaching on love for enemies (Luke 6:33–35).
Agathopoieō is Peter's chosen word for the apologetic power of Christian good works. In 1 Peter 2:15, he writes: "For it is God's will that by doing good (agathopoiountas) you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people." The Christian's life of visible goodness is itself a form of gospel proclamation — it disarms slander. Jesus' teaching in Luke 6 takes this further: even pagans do good to those who do good to them; the radical Christian calling is to agathopoieo even enemies, even those who hate you. This transforms ethics from reciprocity (I'll be good to you if you're good to me) to grace-saturated goodness that mirrors the Father who sends rain on the just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:45). Agathopoieō is not passive niceness — it is an active, costly commitment to the good of others regardless of their response.