ἀρετή, -ῆς, ἡ

[in LXX, in sing.: Hab.3:3, Zec.6:13 (הוֹד), in pl.: Isa.42:8, 12 43:21 63:7 (תְּהִלָּה), Wis.4:1 5:13 8:7 2:1-24; 4Mac.2.2 * ;]

prop. 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: 2Pe.1:3;

__(b) of men: Php.4:8, 2Pe.1:5; pl. (Isa, Es, ll. with), excellencies: 1Pe.2:9 (the usage appears to be a survival of an early comprehensive sense in which the original idea is blended with the impression which it makes on others, i.e. praise, renown; see Hort, 1 Pe. 129. Deiss. BS, 95 f. thinks it means manifestations of divine power, as in current Gk. speech; cf. also MM, see word)†

(AS)

moral goodness; virtue; excellencies