Virtue – Pass It On
The Foundation for a Better Life had a series of television commercials which encourage basic civic virtues. I am inspired by the one where the little boy wanders on the stage just before the virtuoso gives his piano recital. The little boy sits at the grand piano and pecks out a simple tune. The maestro walks up behind him and whispers in his ear – “Keep playing.” Then he joins his masterful skill with the little boy’s tune. “Encouragement – Pass it on.”
Moral excellence is a rare trait.
Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3 that we are granted everything relative to life and godliness through the knowledge of God, who called us according to His own moral excellence. Peter calls us to grow in our own moral excellence in verse five of the same chapter. The NKJV translates this word as “virtue”.
This word “virtue” is variously translated as “moral character”, “excellence” and “goodness”. Louw & Nida (88.11) suggest that in 2 Peter 1:3, the word might refer to the “manifestation of (divine) power”. Thus the word means “a manifestation of power characterized by excellence; wonderful act, powerful deed, wonderful deed.”
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament defines it as “eminence”. “It can refer to excellence of achievement, to mastery in a specific field, on the one side, or to endowment with higher power on the other, or often to both together” (Bauernfeind, 458). According to Bauernfeind, in Homer it referred to human achievement exhibited by what we would call “manliness.” In non-biblical writings, it became equivalent to righteousness. In Maccabees, it was used to “describe the fidelity of the heroes of faith in life and death”.
Mounce, in his Complete Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words, translates it as “goodness, good quality of any kind; a gracious act of God, virtue, uprightness” (1096).
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The Greek concept of virtue (“heroic self-aggrandizement”) would not work in a God-centered world. The focus of the Bible is not on man’s accomplishments but on God’s works. God called us to moral excellence through His virtue and goodness.
Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence [virtue, p.h.], if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (ESV).
The KJV uses the word virtue in several passages dealing with the miraculous power of Jesus Christ. Since “virtue”, relative to God, can refer to His miraculous works, we see how it might be used to refer to Christ’s miracles in passages like Mark 5:30 and Luke 6:19. In Mark 5, the woman had a hemorrhage of blood for twelve years. When she touched the hem of Christ’s garment, the “virtue” immediately flowed out of Him. Just like “encouragement” flowed immediately out of the pianist. If you have it, it naturally flows out.
When we think about the war that is raging around us – relativism, materialism, hedonism, nationalism, individualism – we can understand how important it is to add moral excellence or virtue to our lives. When we do, it will – as Jesus’ virtue did – spill out at the most opportune times.
Like the pianist, when our morality comes to be tested at the most trying times, our virtue or moral excellence will flow from our inner being. We cannot contain it.
–Paul Holland
