ἀρετή

ἀρετή, ῆς, ἡ (Hom.+, a term denoting consummate ‘excellence’ or ‘merit’ within a social context, hence freq. w. δικαιοσύνη; cp. the tripartite appraisal Pla., Protag. 329c: δικαιοσύνη, σωφροσύνη, ὁσιότης). Exhibition of ἀρετή invites recognition, resulting in renown or glory. In Homer primarily of military valor or exploits, but also of distinction for other personal qualities and associated performance that enhance the common interest. The term is a favorite subject in Stoic thought relating to morality. Theognis 147f summarizes Gk. thinking: ἐν δὲ δικαιοσύνῃ συλλήβδην πᾶσʼ ἀρετή ʼστι,| πᾶς δέ τʼ ἀνὴρ ἀγαθός, Κύρνε, δίκαιος ἔων=in a word, Cyrnus, all excellence lies in uprightness, and a good person is one who is upright.

① uncommon character worthy of praise, excellence of character, exceptional civic virtue (Theognis 147; Aristot., EN a detailed discussion of ἀ.; s. indexes in OGI, SIG, IPriene, et al.; Herm. Wr. 9, 4; 10, 9; Wsd; 2, 3, 4 Macc; EpArist; Philo; Jos., Ant. 1, 113 al.; διὰ τὴν ἀ. Orig. C. Cels. 5, 2, 26 [as distinguished merit]; τέσσαράς φησιν εἶναι ἀρετάς Hippol., Ref. 1, 19, 16 [in a list of virtues]; Did., Gen. 102, 15; 17 [accompanied by ‘trouble’]) Phil 4:8 (w. ἔπαινος, in ref. to recognition of distinguished merit that was customary in Gr-Rom. society; cp. AcJ 5 [Aa II/1, 153, 29]). W. πίστις (as OGI 438, 6ff ἄνδρα διενένκαντα πίστει καὶ ἀρετῇ καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ εὐσεβείαι=a gentleman distinguished for fidelity, admirable character, uprightness [concern for people], and devotion [to deities]; cp. Dssm. LO 270 [LAE 322]; Danker, Benefactor 460–61) ἐπιχορηγήσατε ἐν τῇ πίστει ὑμῶν τὴν ἀρετήν bring the finest character to your commitment 2 Pt 1:5a; ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀρετῇ τὴν γνῶσιν and to the finest character knowledge 5b. ἐνδύσασθαι πᾶσαν ἀ. δικαιοσύνης put on every virtue of uprightness (=‘aspire to the highest standards of uprightness’; opp. πονηρία, which is low-grade behavior; on the rhetorical form s. HFischel, HUCA 44, ’73, 119–51) Hm 1:2; Hs 6, 1, 4. ἐργάζεσθαι πᾶσαν ἀ. καὶ δικαιοσύνην Hs 8, 10, 39 (=be a model member of the human community); cp. m 12, 3, 1; διώκειν τὴν ἀ. 2 Cl 10:1. ἀ. ἔνδοξος Hm 6, 2, 3.

② manifestation of divine power, miracle (a usage in keeping w. the primary mng.; Oenom. in Eus., PE 5, 22, 4; SIG 1151, 2; 1172, 10 πλείονας ἀρετὰς τ. θεοῦ, see on this Dittenberger’s note 8 w. further exx. and lit.; 1173, 5; MAI 21, 1896, 77; POxy 1382 [II A.D.]; Sb 8026, 1; 8266, 17 [261/260 B.C.] of the miracles of the deity Amenothis; PGM 5, 419; Philo, Somn. 1, 256; Jos., Ant. 17, 130; s. Dssm., B 90–93 [BS 95f]; Nägeli 69; OWeinreich, Neue Urkunden zur Sarapisrel. 1919, index; SReiter, Ἐπιτύμβιον, Swoboda Festschr. 1927, 228–37), also that which causes such things: the power of God (IG IV², 128, 79 [280 B.C.]; PGM 4, 3205; Herm. Wr. 10, 17; Jos., Ant. 17, 130 ἀ. τοῦ θείου; cp. 1, 100) 2 Pt 1:3 (Dssm., B 277ff [BS 360ff]).—In accordance w. a usage that treats ἀ. and δόξα as correlatives (ἀ.=excellence that results in approbation and therefore δόξα=renown), which finds expression outside the OT (Is 42:8, 12) in the juxtaposition of the two terms (Herodian; Pausanias, Arcadia 52, 6 ins on a statue in honor of Philopoemen at Tegea; Dionys. Hal.; Diod. Sic. 2, 45, 2 of a woman, self-styled ‘Daughter of Ares’, reputed for her valor; s. Wetstein on 2 Pt 1:3), the LXX transl. הוֹד majesty, high rank (Hab 3:3; Zech 6:13; cp. Il. 9, 498 ἀ. w. τιμή and βίη; 23, 578 w. βίη) and also תְּהִלָּה praise sg. (Is; cp. Od. 14, 402 ἀ. w. ἐϋκλείη ‘good repute’) with ἀ. pl. The latter sense ‘praise’ (pl.=laudes) has been maintained for 1 Pt 2:9, which is probably influenced by Is 42:12; 43:21. It is poss. that Semitically oriented auditors of 1 Pt interpreted the expression along such lines, but Gr-Rom. publics would in the main be conditioned to hear a stress on performance, which of course would elicit praise (cp. Plut., Mor. 535d).—AKiefer, Aretalogische Studien, diss. Freib. 1929; VLongo, Aretalogie nel mondo Greco: I, Epigrafi e Papiri ’69; MSmith, JBL 90, ’71, 174–99; JKube, ΤΕΧΝΗ und ΑΡΕΤΗ ’69; Danker, Benefactor ’82, passim.—DELG. M-M. TW. Sv.