📖 Biblical Definition
Greek noun for virtue, moral excellence, or manly excellence — the comprehensive classical concept for the full flourishing of a thing's proper nature, particularly the moral excellence proper to a human being. The term appears five times in the NT: 1 Peter 2:9 (the church called to shew forth the praises [aretas, virtues] of him who hath called you); Philippians 4:8 (if there be any virtue [arete], and if there be any praise, think on these things); 2 Peter 1:3 (called us to glory and virtue) and 2 Peter 1:5 (add to your faith virtue). The NT picks up the classical Greek concept and Christianizes it: arete is now anchored in the Lord's own moral excellence (the praises shown forth by His people) and is itself a fruit of faith (added to faith by the Spirit's work). The patriarchal-Reformed reader recovers arete as the genuine biblical virtue category — not generic values in the modern relativist sense, but the comprehensive moral excellence appropriate to the redeemed human being conforming to Christ. The Reformed-confessional virtue tradition (Calvin's Institutes; the Puritan casuistical writers; Owen on mortification and vivification) is the systematic articulation of arete formation under the New Covenant.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Greek arete (G703), virtue / moral excellence; classical Greek concept Christianized in the NT; the comprehensive moral excellence appropriate to the redeemed human being conformed to Christ.
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ARETE, Greek noun (G703; virtue, moral excellence, manly excellence) The classical Greek concept for the full flourishing of a thing's proper nature. NT usage (five occurrences): 1 Peter 2:9 (church showing forth the aretas [virtues] of God); Philippians 4:8 (whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue); 2 Peter 1:3 (called to glory and virtue); 2 Peter 1:5 (add to your faith virtue). NT Christianizes the classical concept: anchored in the Lord's own moral excellence; fruit of faith; added by the Spirit's work. Distinguished from modern relativist values; the genuine biblical virtue category.
📖 Key Scripture
Philippians 4:8 — "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
2 Peter 1:5 — "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge."
1 Peter 2:9 — "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
2 Peter 1:3 — "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern relativism replaces biblical arete with the language of values, treating moral excellence as culturally constructed preference; the biblical virtue is the comprehensive moral excellence of the redeemed conformed to Christ.
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The principal modern corruption of biblical virtue is its dissolution into the language of values, treating moral excellence as culturally constructed individual preference. The biblical arete is the opposite: objective moral excellence anchored in God's own character, manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ, given by the Spirit's regenerating and sanctifying work, added to faith by deliberate cultivation. The patriarchal-Reformed recovery is the integrated virtue tradition: not generic values but biblical virtues (faith, hope, love, justice, prudence, fortitude, temperance) cultivated in the church under the means of grace, ordered to Christ's pattern and the LORD's glory.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
G703; classical Greek arete Christianized in the NT; biblical virtue category against modern relativist values.
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['Greek', 'G703', 'arete', 'virtue, moral excellence']
['Latin', '—', 'virtus', 'virtue (corresponding Latin term)']
['Hebrew', 'H2428', 'chayil', 'strength, valor, virtue (Proverbs 31:10, virtuous woman)']
Usage
"Arete: comprehensive moral excellence of the redeemed conformed to Christ."
"Add to your faith virtue (2 Peter 1:5)."
"Distinguished from modern relativist values."