excellence

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 of God: ; II Pe 1:3 of men: , ; pl. (, , ), : (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; v. Hort, , 129. Deiss., , 95 f., thinks it means manifestations of divine power, as in current Gk. speech; cf. also MM, s.v.)† Phl 4:8 II Pe 1:5 Is 42:8 12 43:21 63:7 Es 14:10 I Pe 2:9 excellencies I Pe. BS

goodness, a gracious act, virtue, uprightness.

virtue

properly, manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed)

praise, virtue

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)