Virtue
The concept of virtue is one that countless generations over countless ages have understood. The classical authors wrote much on this subject. Yet it is one that few have sucessfully obtained--by living a virtuous life--undoubtedly due to the fall of mankind. Yet, it is one that all Christians should strive to obtain and, ultimately, it is one that only the power of Christ makes obtainable.
The word virtue is associated with the seven cardinal virtues that are divided into the natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the theological (hope, faith, charity). The word has also been used to describe the orders of angels in medieval angelology, being the fifth of the nine. But here are some defintions that should be considered in seeking to live a virtous life:
1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.
3. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.
Some quotes worth pondering:
"Consider your origins: you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge." -- Dante Alighieri
"Faith is our life as it joins us to God. But it is also an act of life because it is a virtue and our duty towards God." -- William Ames
"Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will." --
Saint Thomas Aquinas
"All virtue is summed up in dealing justly." -- Aristotle
"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance." -- Saint Augustine
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." -- Marcus Aurelius
"What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions." -- Aristotle
"Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue." -- Francis Bacon
"Every day confirms my opinion on the superiority of a vicious life - and if Virtue is not its own reward I don't know any other stipend annexed to it." -- Lord Byron
"There is a good ear, in some men, that draws supplies to virtue out of very indifferent nutriment." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." -- George Washington
Soli Deo Gloria
The concept of virtue is one that countless generations over countless ages have understood. The classical authors wrote much on this subject. Yet it is one that few have sucessfully obtained--by living a virtuous life--undoubtedly due to the fall of mankind. Yet, it is one that all Christians should strive to obtain and, ultimately, it is one that only the power of Christ makes obtainable.
The word virtue is associated with the seven cardinal virtues that are divided into the natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the theological (hope, faith, charity). The word has also been used to describe the orders of angels in medieval angelology, being the fifth of the nine. But here are some defintions that should be considered in seeking to live a virtous life:
1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.
3. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.
Some quotes worth pondering:
"Consider your origins: you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge." -- Dante Alighieri
"Faith is our life as it joins us to God. But it is also an act of life because it is a virtue and our duty towards God." -- William Ames
"Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will." --
Saint Thomas Aquinas
"All virtue is summed up in dealing justly." -- Aristotle
"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance." -- Saint Augustine
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." -- Marcus Aurelius
"What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions." -- Aristotle
"Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue." -- Francis Bacon
"Every day confirms my opinion on the superiority of a vicious life - and if Virtue is not its own reward I don't know any other stipend annexed to it." -- Lord Byron
"There is a good ear, in some men, that draws supplies to virtue out of very indifferent nutriment." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." -- George Washington
Soli Deo Gloria
4 comments:
Christian virtues are described throughout the Bible, of course, but the English word "virtue" is used only rarely in the most-used translations. Col 3:14 in the NIV is one such use. Here is Col 3:5-17 for context:
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these VIRTUES put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
2 Questions:
1. How are these "Christian virtues" different (if they are) from secular virtues?
2. Are these Christian virtues developed and grown by faith, or by our own efforts, or by some sort of cooperation or partnership between God and each person?
Thanks for sharing.
Verse 14 seems to wrap it up nicely!
1. I would not distinguish between "Christian virtues" and "secular virtues." There are just virtues. The virtues described in the Scriptures are illustrations of the definition(s) of virtue. True virtue and Christian virtue are synonymous.
I also avoid using "Christian" virtue(s) because virtue (in the true sense of the word) flows from and is a principle of God (and, hence, Christian). I also avoid it because it implies that there are virtues that are not Christian or not in align with the Christian faith--which if they are, then they contradict the definition(s) and hence could not be a virtue.
This, however, is what I think you mean by using "secular" virtue. Namely, such things as ambition, sucess, fame, wealth, etc. None of which are in and of themselves evil; but, when they become one's end, they transform the individual. True virtue is self-less, whereas these such things are self-ful. Of course, as discussed above, I would not consider these virtues at all--just the summit of earthly ambition.
This whole discussion reminds me of a quote from the movie Tombstone: "There is no such things as a normal life Wyatt. There's just life."
2. I certainly don't feel qualified to address this (not that I am for any of the topics addressed in this blog!), at least not authoritatively.
I would rule out "by our own efforts" as an option, since as fallen human beings we are capable of doing little on our own that is good, muchless transforming our life towards that of virtue (although arguably there are non-Christians that have attempted this albeit succesfully?).
I tend to lean towards the third option: "some sort of cooperation or partnership between God and each person." I'm not really comfortable with the first option, because it seems to still place too much merit/credit on the individual apart from the Divine helping hand.
So, I would say that it is an act of faith and an act of God's grace to transform our lives in accordance with His nature.
Great and thoughtful questions! I would be interested to see what others think on these topics also.
Soli Deo Gloria
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