Short Bulletin Article
28 Nov 2012

The Christian, Virtues and Ethics

Source/Author: Dr Michael Dalseno

In recent times there has been a renewed interest in Virtues. It’s one of the newest fields in Christian Ethics and has also been receiving attention from the business community, marketing and the professions.

THE CHRISTIAN, VIRTUES and ETHICS

Dr  D

In recent times there has been a renewed interest in Virtues. It’s one of the newest fields in Christian Ethics and has also been receiving attention from the business community, marketing and the professions.

The idea of virtues is nothing new. Plato devised the four “cardinal virtues” of prudence, justice, temperance and courage. This list was later expanded by Christians including Ambrose, Augustine, Aquinas, and the like, who added Christian virtues like faith, hope and love.

So, what exactly is a “virtue?” The Greek New Testament word for virtue (“arête”) means moral excellence, of high estimation, of quality value, manifestation of goodness, impression made on others, and renown & worthy of praise.

Interestingly, there is one person in the Bible who is directly referred to as “virtuous,” and that person is Ruth! Boaz said of her; “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.” (Ruth 3.11 NKJV).  At first, one sees nothing particularly “virtuous” about Ruth (a simple peasant woman, no apparent talent other than gleaning grain, a Moabite, a widow, etc), however, as the story unfolds, we witness two distinguishing qualities that enabled her to be labelled “virtuous” - “self-sacrifice” and a “heart for the Lord.”

A virtuous person is more about the “being” than the “doing,” i.e, it is concerned with the whole of a person's life, rather than particular decisions or actions. It is a habit that endows a person with the strength of will to carry out, despite difficulties or obstacles, the obligation to do what is good and right according to absolute moral principles. The idea is; if a person is internally virtuous he/she will automatically do virtuous things. Nobody is born virtuous. It is a lifelong journey for all of us, though it is something passionately to pursue.

So, how might we become “virtuous?” Paul tells us how in his epistle to the Philippians; “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things”  (Phil.4.8). 

In short, if we pursue these endearing qualities (truth, justice, honorability, personal purity, wholesome things, good reputation, etc) we are more likely to become the kind of “virtuous Christians” the Lord wants us to be.