{"id":1517,"date":"2012-10-27T20:30:14","date_gmt":"2012-10-27T14:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=1517"},"modified":"2025-05-08T13:51:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T18:51:28","slug":"peters-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=1517","title":{"rendered":"Peter’s Way?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Jude and the writer of Hebrews managed to expound on the Gospel without recourse to Aret\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0(\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7<\/a>),1<\/sup><\/a> Greek virtue<\/em>.\u00a0 Paul used it once in a way that seems to question its existence or value: 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<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7<\/a>) and if there is anything praiseworthy\u2014meditate on these things<\/em>.2<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But Peter commanded me to add \u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f75\u03bd<\/a> (a form of \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7<\/a>) to faith (\u03c0\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>): giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue<\/em>.3<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

“There is a tale that Arete<\/a> (Virtue) dwells on unclimable rocks and close to the gods tends a holy place; she may not be seen by the eyes of all mortals, but only by him on whom distressing sweat comes from within, the one who reaches the peak of manliness.”4<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 In other words, Aret\u00e9 (\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7) is Gerard Butler<\/a> as King Leonidas<\/a> in the movie \u201c300<\/a>,\u201d straining, leaping, crawling, clawing, dragging himself by brute strength up a sheer cliff face to reach an oracle.\u00a0 That Peter had this imagery of a slow, painful ascent in mind is obvious (2 Peter 1:5-7 NKJV):<\/p>\n

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And if such a manly man may imagine virtue<\/em> at the pinnacle of his arduous climb as something like King Leonidas found in the movie\u2014a beautiful, half-naked woman, writhing in ecstasy\u2014that\u2019s all for the better.\u00a0 Peter\u2019s letters, the only ones preserved in the New Testament, were addressed to people temporarily residing abroad<\/em>,5<\/sup><\/a> presumably in the churches founded by Paul, probably after Paul\u2019s execution in Rome.\u00a0 I don\u2019t really believe that Peter held any ill will toward Paul or his teaching.\u00a0 I believe that Peter was Peter, \u201cReady! Fire! Aim!\u201d\u00a0 A fisherman by trade, Peter was ready to take on soldiers in the garden the night Jesus was arrested.6<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But I do want to compare and contrast Paul\u2019s and Peter\u2019s How-To writings, because <\/a>Peter\u2019s writing spoke to me long before Paul\u2019s made any sense at all.<\/p>\n

At the time I was ready to believe Jesus again I was more than willing to make every effort to add to<\/em> [my] faith excellence<\/em>.7<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Excellence<\/em> is a contemporary attempt to rekindle some Greek fire in Aret\u00e9 (\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7), since virtue<\/em> has become an old scold.\u00a0 I set out, discounting the Gospel as something I\u2019d already tried and found wanting<\/a>, to obey the law, excellently<\/em>, virtuously<\/em>.\u00a0 And I saw my efforts as the only sure way of escaping the worldly<\/em>8<\/sup><\/a> corruption that is produced by evil desire<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u1f77\u1fb3<\/a>, a form of \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03af\u03b1<\/a>).9<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 After<\/em> I escaped the worldly corruption produced by evil desire by making every effort to keep the law, then I may become<\/em> [a partaker] of the divine nature<\/em>.10<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0But that wasn\u2019t what Peter said, not really.\u00a0 Or if it is was, it wasn\u2019t exactly what he meant.<\/p>\n

Peter\u2019s point was that God\u2019s divine power <\/em>(\u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u1f71\u03bc\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1fc7<\/a>, another form of \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7<\/a>).11<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 For I am not ashamed of the gospel<\/a><\/em>, Paul wrote, for it is God\u2019s power<\/em> (\u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) for salvation to everyone who believes<\/em>.12<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Through these things<\/em>, Peter continued, [through God\u2019s divine power <\/em>that has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence<\/em>] he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u1f73\u03bb\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1<\/a>, a form of \u1f10\u03c0\u03ac\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03bc\u03b1<\/a>).13<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Abraham, according to Paul, did not waver in unbelief about the promise<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03af\u03b1<\/a>) of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. \u00a0He was fully convinced that what God promised<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c0\u1f75\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>) he was also able to do<\/em>.14<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Peter continued, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire<\/em>.15<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 To become partakers of the divine nature by believing what was promised sounds exactly like Paul, but only after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire<\/em>?\u00a0 The translators of the American Standard Version rendered it, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust<\/em>.16<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 This, according to Paul, was achieved by God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh<\/em>.17<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?<\/em>18<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Paul continued, our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin<\/em>.19<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The translators of the New International Version rendered Peter\u2019s explanation, so that through<\/em> [his very great and precious promises] you may participate in the divine nature and<\/strong> <\/em>[emphasis added] escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires<\/em>.20<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But a note (20<\/a>) in the NET justifies the translation after escaping<\/em> as follows: \u201cThe aorist participle \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03c5\u03b3\u03cc\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2\u00a0(apophugontes<\/span>) is often taken as attendant circumstance to the preceding verb \u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5 (genesthse<\/span>). As such, the sense is ‘that you might become partakers\u2026and might escape\u2026’ However, it does not follow the contours of the vast majority of attendant circumstance participles (in which the participle precedes<\/em> the main verb, among other things). Further, attendant circumstance participles are frequently confused with result participles (which do<\/em> follow the verb). Many who take this as attendant circumstance are probably viewing it semantically as result (‘that you might become partakers\u2026and [thereby] escape\u2026’). But this is next to impossible since the participle is aorist<\/em>: Result participles are categorically present tense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reading this makes me wonder, did a fisherman who could change from first person plural to second person plural in mid-thought (he has bestowed on us\u2026so that\u2026you<\/em>) know this subtle nuance of the Greek language?\u00a0 The alternative\u2014that Peter actually meant to say that God had bestowed his precious and most magnificent promises<\/em> on Apostles only (or Jews only), so that the laity (or Gentiles) may become partakers of the divine nature, after<\/em> making every effort to escape the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire<\/em>\u2014seems untenable to me given his opening salutation.\u00a0 From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness <\/em>(\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u1fc3<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>) of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours. \u00a0May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!<\/em>21<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>If, however, I accept that Peter was not the writer, not the literary man or learned man, that Paul was, I can make some sense of this.\u00a0 The Aret\u00e9 (\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7) Peter wanted me to add to my faith was nothing less than the Aret\u00e9 (\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7) of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence <\/em>(\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1fc7<\/a>, a form of \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7<\/a>) who by his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness<\/em>.22<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0Even the rabbis who translated the Septuagint used \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7 for God\u2019s virtue<\/em> as Peter alluded to Isaiah 43:21: you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2, another form of \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7) of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light<\/em>.23<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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NET<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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NET \u00a0 Bible (Greek parallel text)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u2026you may proclaim the virtues\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

1 Peter 2:9 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2<\/a> \u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2<\/a> \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5<\/a> \u03b4\u03b9\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9<\/a><\/p>\n

Isaiah \u00a0 43:21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2<\/a> \u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2<\/a> \u1f10\u03be\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u1f77\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5<\/a><\/p>\n

1 Peter 2:9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Peter changed the word from \u03b4\u03b9\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b924<\/sup><\/a> to \u1f10\u03be\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u1f77\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5, something more than mere telling<\/em>.\u00a0 It is only used once in the Bible, but is a compound of two words that would literally be from an angel<\/em>\u00a0(messenger<\/em>).\u00a0 It was translated show forth<\/em> in the KJV.\u00a0 [Addendum<\/strong> 5\/23\/2024: According to the Koine Greek Lexicon<\/a> online \u03b4\u03b9\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9<\/a> is a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b7\u03b3\u03ad\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>, \u201cto set out in detail, fully describe, show; to explain, report; to narrate, tell, relate fully, declare, recite, proclaim,\u201d while \u1f10\u03be\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u1f77\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5<\/a> is a form of \u1f10\u03be\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>, \u201cto proclaim, report, tell out, make known; to give public, vocal expression to.\u201d] It seems that \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7 (\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2 above) served the same function for Peter that \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7 served for Paul: But now apart from the law the righteousness <\/em>(\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>) of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed \u2013 namely, the righteousness<\/em> (\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>) of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all<\/a> who believe<\/em> [Table<\/a>].25<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

There are really only two ways for me to add virtue<\/em> or moral excellence<\/em> to my faith.\u00a0 I can trust in Christ, relying on the credited righteousness of God through the fruit of the Holy Spirit, or I can strive to keep the law, relying on myself.\u00a0 Had I like Saul achieved the status of blameless according to the righteousness stipulated in the law<\/em>,26<\/sup><\/a> I still wouldn\u2019t have qualified as a Pharisee.\u00a0 And Jesus said, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven<\/em>.27<\/sup><\/a> Though the love that fulfills the law, the credited righteousness of God by the fruit of his Spirit, seems a long way off from Aret\u00e9 (\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7) in Peter\u2019s arduous climb, it is an appropriate distance between self-acquired blamelessness according to the righteousness stipulated in the law<\/em> and the righteousness of God.\u00a0 Of course, I didn\u2019t see it this way before I grasped what Paul was saying in Romans.<\/p>\n

I thought I was<\/em> trusting Christ and<\/em> striving to keep the law, even that by<\/em> striving to keep the law I was trusting Christ, as I misunderstood James, Show me your faith without<\/a> works<\/a> and I will show you faith<\/a> by MY WORKS<\/em>.28<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0I added the emphasis here to indicate how full of the pride of life<\/em><\/a>29<\/sup><\/a> I was.\u00a0 Thankfully, I can\u2019t satisfy my God-given hunger and thirst for righteousness30<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0by striving to keep rules.\u00a0 And I also thank God that Jesus made a special appearance to call a wayward Pharisee named Saul, transformed him into Paul the Apostle, and gave him the words that make up the bulk of the Gospel commentary in the New Testament.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Addendum<\/b>: May 23, 2024<\/span>
\nTables comparing Isaiah 43:21<\/a> in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Isaiah 43:21<\/a> in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing 2 Peter 1:4<\/a> and 1:3<\/a> in the NET and KJV follow.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Isaiah 43:21 (Tanakh)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Isaiah 43:21 (KJV)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Isaiah 43:21 (NET)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nThis people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nthe people whom I formed for myself, so they might praise me.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Isaiah 43:21 (Septuagint BLB)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Isaiah 43:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03bb\u03b1\u1f79\u03bd \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f43\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03c3\u1f71\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03bb\u03b1\u1f79\u03bd \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5, \u1f43\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03c3\u1f71\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Isaiah 43:21 (NETS)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Isaiah 43:21 (English Elpenor)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

my people whom I have acquired to set forth my excellences.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nmy people whom I have preserved to tell forth my praises.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>2 Peter 1:4 (NET)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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2 Peter 1:4 (KJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nWhereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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2 Peter 1:4 (NET Parallel Greek)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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2 Peter 1:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 Peter 1:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03b4\u03b9\u1fbf \u1f67\u03bd \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f77\u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bc\u1f73\u03b3\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1 \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u1f73\u03bb\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u1f7d\u03c1\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7b\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5 \u03b8\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd\u03bf\u1f76 \u03c6\u1f7b\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03c5\u03b3\u1f79\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7<\/a> <\/b>\u03ba\u1f79\u03c3\u03bc\u1ff3 \u1f10\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u1f77\u1fb3 \u03c6\u03b8\u03bf\u03c1\u1fb6\u03c2<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03b4\u03b9 \u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b9\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5 \u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c6\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03c5\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bd \u03ba\u03bf\u03c3\u03bc\u03c9 \u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c6\u03b8\u03bf\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03b4\u03b9 \u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b9\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5 \u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c6\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03c5\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bd \u03ba\u03bf\u03c3\u03bc\u03c9 \u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c6\u03b8\u03bf\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>2 Peter 1:3 (NET)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 Peter 1:3 (KJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nAccording as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

2 Peter 1:3 (NET Parallel Greek)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 Peter 1:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 Peter 1:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u1f69\u03c2 \u03c0\u1f71\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u1f71\u03bc\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u1f74\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b5\u1f50\u03c3\u1f73\u03b2\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b7\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b3\u03bd\u1f7d\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f73\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 |\u1f30\u03b4\u1f77\u1fb3<\/a> \u03b4\u1f79\u03be\u1fc3<\/a><\/b>| \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 |\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1fc7<\/a><\/b>|<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03b5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1<\/a> \u03b4\u03bf\u03be\u03b7\u03c2<\/a> \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03b2\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03b5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b4\u03bf\u03be\u03b7\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
Romans, Part 30\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 31<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 34<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Sowing to the Flesh, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Cobwebs<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Exploration, Part 11<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n

1<\/sup><\/a> Addendum: May 22, 2019<\/b>
\nThe Greek word \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7 was used in the Septuagint. In an article titled \u201cAre There Traces of Greek Philosophy in the Septuagint?<\/a>\u201d [The Jewish Quarterly Review <\/em>Vol. 2, No. 3 (Apr., 1890), pp. 205-222] J. Freudenthal<\/a> wrote:<\/p>\n

\u201cA\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7, as is well known, originally signifies man’s power and capacity; hence the term serves to denote all bodily and mental excellences, and, though more rarely, their effects or ‘great achievements,’ or the ‘glory,’ or ‘fame’ acquired in consequence…In philosophical language these usages fall into the background, and the abstract sense of ‘virtue’ preponderates. But it is precisely this ethical meaning, which afterwards became universal, that is never found in the Septuagint.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mr. Freudenthal wrote that \u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7 was only used in the Septuagint \u201cin the sense of ‘praise,’ ‘glory,’ ‘honour,’ ‘excellence,’ ‘quality worthy of honour.’\u201d\u00a0 He\u00a0offered the following examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Reference<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

NET Parallel Hebrew<\/td>\nChabad.org<\/td>\nTanakh<\/td>\nNET<\/td>\nSeptuagint (BLB)<\/td>\n\n

Septuagint (Elpenor)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Isaiah 42:8<\/td>\n\u05d5\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05ea\u05d9<\/a> (te<\/sup>hill\u00e2h<\/em>)<\/td>\n\u05d5\u05bc\u05ea\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b4\u0596\u05d9<\/a><\/td>\npraise<\/a><\/td>\npraise<\/a><\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2<\/a><\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isaiah 42:12<\/td>\n\u05d5\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05ea\u05d5 (te<\/sup>hill\u00e2h<\/em>)<\/td>\n\u05d5\u05bc\u05ea\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b8\u05ea\u0596\u05d5\u05b9<\/a><\/td>\npraise<\/a><\/td>\npraise his deeds<\/a><\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2<\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zechariah 6:13<\/td>\n\u05d4\u05d5\u05d3<\/a> (h\u00f4d<\/em>)<\/td>\n\u05d4\u0594\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3<\/a><\/td>\nthe glory<\/a><\/td>\nsplendor<\/a><\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd<\/a><\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isaiah 43:21<\/td>\n\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05ea\u05d9 (te<\/sup>hill\u00e2h<\/em>)<\/td>\n\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b4\u0596\u05d9<\/a><\/td>\npraise<\/a><\/td>\npraise<\/a><\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2<\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f71\u03c2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isaiah 63:7<\/td>\n\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05ea (te<\/sup>hill\u00e2h<\/em>)<\/td>\n\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05a3\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea<\/a><\/td>\npraises<\/a><\/td>\npraiseworthy deeds<\/a><\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2<\/td>\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

It is worth considering whether Peter meant praise<\/em> rather than excellence<\/em> or the virtue<\/em> of Greek philosophy.\u00a0 Mr. Freudenthal, however, wrote: \u201cOnly in one passage does the word seem used in the philosophical sense, viz. : in 2 Pet. i. 5…\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2<\/sup><\/a> Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:5 (NKJV)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4<\/sup><\/a> Simonides, Fragment 579 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric III) (Greek lyric C6th to 5th B.C.)\u00a0 ARETE PERSONIFICATION OF VIRTUE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5<\/sup><\/a> 1 Peter 1:1 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

6<\/sup><\/a> John 18:1-10 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:5a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8<\/sup><\/a> The NET parallel Greek<\/a> text and NA28<\/sup><\/a> had the article \u03c4\u1ff7<\/a> preceding worldly<\/em>. The Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a> and Byzantine Majority<\/a> Text did not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

9<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:4b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

10<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:4a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

11<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:3 (NET) The NET parallel Greek<\/a> text and NA28<\/sup><\/a> had |\u1f30\u03b4\u1f77\u1fb3<\/a> \u03b4\u1f79\u03be\u1fc3<\/a>| \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76<\/a> |\u1f00\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u1fc7<\/a>| here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a> and Byzantine Majority Text<\/a> had \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1<\/a> \u03b4\u03bf\u03be\u03b7\u03c2<\/a> \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9<\/a> \u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2<\/a> (KJV: to glory and virtue<\/em>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

12<\/sup><\/a> Romans 1:16 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

13<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:4a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

14<\/sup><\/a> Romans 4:20, 21 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

15<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:4b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

16<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:4b (ASV)\u00a0 A note 21<\/a> in the NET acknowledges that the Greek is, \u201cthe corruption in the world (in\/because of) lust.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

17<\/sup><\/a> Romans 8:3 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

18<\/sup><\/a> Romans 6:3 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

19<\/sup><\/a> Romans 6:6 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

20<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:4b (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

21<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:1, 2 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

22<\/sup><\/a> 2 Peter 1:3 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

23<\/sup><\/a> 1 Peter 2:9 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

24<\/sup><\/a> Translated tell<\/em> in Gregory the Theologian Bilingual Anthology: Principles of Theology<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

25<\/sup><\/a> Romans 3:21, 22 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

26<\/sup><\/a> Philippians 3:6b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

27<\/sup><\/a> Matthew 5:20 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

28<\/sup><\/a> James 2:18b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

29<\/sup><\/a> 1 John 2:16 (NKJV)<\/a> Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

30<\/sup><\/a> Matthew 5:6 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Jude and the writer of Hebrews managed to expound on the Gospel without recourse to Aret\u00e9\u00a0(\u1f00\u03c1\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7),1 Greek virtue.\u00a0 Paul used it once in a way that seems to question its existence or value: Finally, brethren, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[939,938,935,934,932,933,940,199,1159,931,936,192,937,752,778],"class_list":["post-1517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-section-two","tag-1-peter-29","tag-2-peter-11-2","tag-2-peter-13","tag-2-peter-14","tag-2-peter-15","tag-2-peter-15-7","tag-james-218","tag-matthew-520","tag-movies-300","tag-philippians-48","tag-romans-116","tag-romans-321-22","tag-romans-420-21","tag-romans-63","tag-romans-66"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1517"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26707,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1517\/revisions\/26707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}