Cardinal Virtues
Anyone who thoughtfully reads the New Testament cannot help but notice that it contains several lists of virtues (Mt. 5:3-12; Gal 5:22-23; 2 Pet, 1:5-7; etc.). Over the years, as I have studied the New Testament, I have noticed that there are virtues which are repeatedly mentioned in and outside of the lists. Obviously, the three great Christian virtues are faith, hope and love (1 Cor. 13:13). Beyond those, what are the great virtues?
Long ago, I concluded that high on God’s list of desirable virtues are: being sensible (“soberly” in Titus 2:12 means “sensible”), having self control (Gal. 5:22), and endurance (“perseverance” in Rom. 5:4 means “endurance”). To that list could be added, justice, gratitude, meekness, and gentleness.
Recently, I read again something C. S. Lewis wrote. In his book Mere Christianity, Lewis has a chapter on the cardinal virtues. According to Lewis, there are seven virtues, three theological and four “cardinal.” The theological virtues are those “which, as a rule, only Christians know about.” They are faith, hope, and love.
The four cardinal virtues are those which all civilized people recognize. The word “cardinal” comes from a Latin word meaning,“the hinge of a door.” In other words, these four are “pivotal.” The cardinal virtues are prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude.
Prudence is “practiced common sense,” taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it. Quoting Jesus statement that we are to be “wise as serpent and harmless as doves,” Lewis says that God wants us to have “a child’s heart and a grown-up head.” Our motto ought to be, “be good” and “don’t forget this involves being as clever as you can.” This “cardinal” virtue is the Biblical concept of sensible.
Temperance does not refer to alcohol; it refers to all pleasures. It is not just abstaining, but “going the right length and no further.” Lewis suggests that a man who makes golf or his motorcycle the center of his life, or the woman who devotes all her thoughts to clothes or bridge or her dog is being as intemperate as someone who gets drunk every evening. This is the Biblical concept of self-control.
Justice is “fairness.” It includes “honesty, give and take, truthfulness, keeping promises, and all that side of life.” Justice, of course, is a Biblical concept.
Fortitude includes “both kinds of courage—the kind that faces danger as well as the kind that sticks it under pain.” “Guts” is perhaps the nearest modern English equivalent. Lewis adds, “You cannot practice any of the other virtues very long without bringing this one into play.” This idea of “fortitude” includes the Biblical concept of endurance.
We need to add the “theological” virtues (faith, love, and hope), the “cardinal” virtues (prudence [sensible], temperance [self-control], justice, and fortitude [endurance]) as well as gratitude, meekness, gentleness, etc. to our lives. Wow! We have a lot of adding to do.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 10/31/2004
Long ago, I concluded that high on God’s list of desirable virtues are: being sensible (“soberly” in Titus 2:12 means “sensible”), having self control (Gal. 5:22), and endurance (“perseverance” in Rom. 5:4 means “endurance”). To that list could be added, justice, gratitude, meekness, and gentleness.
Recently, I read again something C. S. Lewis wrote. In his book Mere Christianity, Lewis has a chapter on the cardinal virtues. According to Lewis, there are seven virtues, three theological and four “cardinal.” The theological virtues are those “which, as a rule, only Christians know about.” They are faith, hope, and love.
The four cardinal virtues are those which all civilized people recognize. The word “cardinal” comes from a Latin word meaning,“the hinge of a door.” In other words, these four are “pivotal.” The cardinal virtues are prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude.
Prudence is “practiced common sense,” taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it. Quoting Jesus statement that we are to be “wise as serpent and harmless as doves,” Lewis says that God wants us to have “a child’s heart and a grown-up head.” Our motto ought to be, “be good” and “don’t forget this involves being as clever as you can.” This “cardinal” virtue is the Biblical concept of sensible.
Temperance does not refer to alcohol; it refers to all pleasures. It is not just abstaining, but “going the right length and no further.” Lewis suggests that a man who makes golf or his motorcycle the center of his life, or the woman who devotes all her thoughts to clothes or bridge or her dog is being as intemperate as someone who gets drunk every evening. This is the Biblical concept of self-control.
Justice is “fairness.” It includes “honesty, give and take, truthfulness, keeping promises, and all that side of life.” Justice, of course, is a Biblical concept.
Fortitude includes “both kinds of courage—the kind that faces danger as well as the kind that sticks it under pain.” “Guts” is perhaps the nearest modern English equivalent. Lewis adds, “You cannot practice any of the other virtues very long without bringing this one into play.” This idea of “fortitude” includes the Biblical concept of endurance.
We need to add the “theological” virtues (faith, love, and hope), the “cardinal” virtues (prudence [sensible], temperance [self-control], justice, and fortitude [endurance]) as well as gratitude, meekness, gentleness, etc. to our lives. Wow! We have a lot of adding to do.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 10/31/2004