Quick Definition
good-will
Strong's Definition
kindness; euphemistically, conjugal duty
Derivation: from the same as G2132 (εὐνοέω);
KJV Usage: benevolence, good will
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
εὔνοια, εὐνοίας, ἡ (ἐυνως), good-will, kindness: 1Co_7:3 Rec.; μετ' εὐνοίας, Eph_6:7. (From Aeschylus down.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
εὔνοια eunoia 1x
good will, kindliness; heartiness, enthusiasm, Eph_6:7
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
εὔνοια , -ας , ἡ
( < εὔνοος ),
[in LXX : Ezr_2:23 , al. ;]
goodwill: Eph_6:7 (of slaves; cf. MM , Exp., xiv).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
εὔνοια [page 263]
With the use of εὔνοια in Eph_6:7 , cf. P Oxy III. 494 .6 (A.D. 156) where a testator sets free certain slaves κατ᾽ εὔνοιαν καὶ φιλοστοργίαν . Other examples are ib. 642 (ii/A.D.) πεφροντίκαμεν τῆς πρὸς ὑμᾶς . . . εὐνοίας καὶ ἀρετῆς , P Tebt II. 326 .10 ( c. A.D. 266) εὐνοίᾳ καὶ πίστι καὶ τῇ τοῦ γένους οἰκειότητι , owing to his kindness, fidelity, and ties of kinship (Edd.), Syll 722 .13 (Cretan ii/B.C.) ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὰν εὔνοιαν ἃν ἔχει πορτὶ τὰν πόλιν , and so frequently in the inscrr. In P Par 63 .160 (B.C. 164) (= P Petr III. p. 32) οἷς ὀφειλόμενόν ἐστι διὰ [τὴν ] πρὸς τὰ [πρ ]άγματ᾽ εὔνοιαν ἀσμενῶς ἐπιδεξάσθαι τὸ προτεινόμενον , Mahaffy renders whose duty it is, on account of their loyalty to the existing state of affairs, to receive what is proposed cheerfully. A different turn is given to the word in BGU IV. 1121 .19 (B.C. 5) ἐργάζεσθαι δὲ τὰ μεμισθωμένα . . . τῇ καθηκούσῃ ε̣ὐ̣ν̣ο̣ι̣ᾳ̣ : cf. P Giss I. 56 .14 (vi/A.D.) πᾶσα ]ν [σπου ]δη̣̣ν κα [ὶ ] εὔνοια̣ν ποιε̣ῖσθαι , and the Jewish inscr. in C. and B. ii. p. 650 ( c. A.D. 60 80) διά τε τὴν ἐνάρετον ( virtuous ) αὐτῶν [βί ]ωσιν καὶ τὴν π [ρ ]ὸς τὴν συναγωγὴν εὔνοιάν τε καὶ σπουδήν . For the adj. εὔνους (as in 4Ma_4:3 ) cf. Syll 649 .19 (B.C. 282 1) ὅσ ]οι εἰσὶν εὔνους καὶ φίλοι τοῦ δήμου (on the heterocl. plur. see Meisterhans Gr. p. 149) : it occurs as a proper name in BGU III. 999 i. 4 (B.C. 99) al. (cf. Mayser Gr. p. 258).
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
εὔνοια εὔνοια, ης, ἡ, [Etym: εὔνους] "good-will, favour, kindness", κατ᾽ εὔνοιαν "out of kindness or good-will", Hdt. ; δι᾽ εὐνοίας Thuc. ; δι᾽ εὔνοιαν Plat. ; εὐνοίας ἕνεκα Dem. ; μετ᾽ or ὑπ᾽ εὐνοίας id=Dem. ; ἐπ᾽ εὐνοίᾳ χθονός "for love of" fatherland, Aesch. ; εὔνοιαν ἔχειν εἴς τινα ap. Dem. :—in pl. "feelings of kindness, favours", Aesch. "a gift in token of good-will", esp. of presents to the Athenian commanders from the subject states, Dem.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
εὔνοια, -ας, ἡ
(εὔνοος), [in LXX: Est.2:23, al. ;]
goodwill: Eph.6:7 (of slaves; cf. MM, Exp., xiv).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Good will (2133) eunoia
Good will (2133) (eunoia from eunoéo = to favor, be well disposed, meet halfway <> eú = well + noús = mind) describes a positive attitude exhibited in a relationship, a good attitude, a wholehearted zeal or a willingness. Eunoia describes an eagerness that does not wait to be compelled. It was a common term in diplomatic documents in referring to positive attitudes displayed by a person, city, or state. In this verse the admonition that slaves should serve with eunoia corresponds to a general view of antiquity but is given a new basis, namely, that the service is now rendered to the Lord. This is the only NT use except for one use in Textus Receptus rendering of 1Cor 7:3...
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. (euphemistic for conjugal relations)
Webster says goodwill is a kindly or feeling of approval and support. It is benevolent interest or concern.
Eunoia means we serve not just with readiness but with the disposition that wishes one well.
Expositor's Bible Commentary writes that...
Among the Oxyrhynchus papyri there is a will dated A.D. 157 in which the testator freed five slaves "because of their good-will and affection" (III. No. 494, lines 5, 6). If even pagan slaves could display such qualities, how much more should Christians do so, without expecting manumission as a reward. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)