ἀρέτηarétē
properly, manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed)
Greek (New Testament) · G703
Meanings
properly, whatever procures pre-eminent estimation for a person or thing, in Hom. any kind of conspicuous advantage. Later confined by philos. writers to intrinsic eminence—moral goodness, virtue
(a) of God: 2 Peter 1:3
(b) of men: Philippians 4:8, 2 Peter 1:5; plural (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 42:12, Isaiah 43:21, Isaiah 63:7, Esther 14:10), excellencies: 1 Peter 2:9
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 5 times in the Bible.
- Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
- 2 Peter 1:3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
- 2 Peter 1:5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.