2 Peter 1:5-7 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;… The term ἀρετὴ, translated virtue in the text, denotes strictly manhood, prowess, manly qualities. Stephanus defines it by "virtus, sed proprie virtus bellica; martial courage or valour. He cites a gloss on Thucydides 1:33; where arete" is expressed by industria, navities, virtus, fortitudo; activity, zeal, manliness, fortitude. Suidas denotes "arete" to be "Constantia et animi vigor"; firmness and strength of mind. Homer applies it to his heroes to denote valour in battle, and other manly qualities. The Mycenaean Feriphetes is said to have been "superior in all kinds of virtues (ἀρετὰς), whether in the race or in the combat (I1. 15:642). Here virtue denotes physical qualities, such as speed, strength, prowess. So the god-like Polydorus" in the agility and valour which he displayed in fight, is said to have exhibited "virtue of feet" or limbs (ποδῶν ἀρετὴν. I1. 20:411). The same term is applied to the "valour" of Meriones (I1. 13:277), and to the "bodily vigour" of Menelaus (Il. 23. 578). This primary sense of ἀρετὴ is strictly expressed by the Latin virtus, from which virtue is derived. This, in its literal sense, is manhood, valour; and is applied to physical courage and to energy of character — vigour of mind in dangers and labours. Cicero speaks of something akin to virtue in animals, as in lions, dogs, and horses; but insists "that virtue of the mind" (animi virtus), being the offspring of reason, is to be preferred to "physical virtue" (corporis virtuti anteponatur. De Finibus 5:13, 38). He also speaks of "the Divine force and virtue of the orator." Here virtus is a pleonasm, reiterating the idea of vis. (Joseph P. Thompson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; |
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