Of Achilles and Kephas

When you hear the name “Achilles”, what comes to mind?

Take a minute and let your imagination run free as an image forms.

Do you think of ancient vase paintings of a warrior in black armor?

You might be reminded of your days in school, translating the Latin Iliad as you learned about the rage of Achilles.

Perhaps many of you think of Brad Pitt’s portrayal in “Troy”.

Have you ever wondered how Achilles was seen in ancient times? When the Greeks or Romans heard that name, what images popped into their head? They certainly wouldn’t have thoughts of Brad Pitt. Some of them may have read Homer’s works, and many would have heard tales and legends of the demigod.

There is an interesting Greek word that is used to describe Achilles: ἀρετή (arete).

To us modern readers, arete means nothing. However, a simple translation into a language we understand is not always enough to capture the idea of a word. It goes deeper than that. Just like when you thought of Achilles and had images flash through your mind, the word arete opened a file cabinet of thoughts, images, feelings, and memories in the ancient Greeks' minds. If I want to understand an ancient author, I must be able to see a word as the author intended it. I must be able to have similar images appear in my mind.

So, what does arete mean? Let’s look at how it was used in antiquity…

Early on in Greek mythology, Heracles was faced with a choice as a young man: The goddess Kakia offered him wealth and pleasure, while it was the goddess Arete who promised him an honorable life struggling against evil.

Paul of Tarsus wrote a letter to people living in the Greek city of Philippi, saying, “Finally brothers, as much as is true, honorable, right, pleasing, admirable, if something is arete and if something is worthy of praise, keep your mind in these things.”

Achilles’ excellence and prowess as a warrior were described as arete. Young Greek men were trained to achieve arete. This included developing their body as well as their mind and soul. They learned rhetoric, philosophy, music, and morality, hoping to become virtuous, honorable men of their city.

Kephas, whom we know as Peter, an author of some writings in the New Testament, mentions arete as well. He tells his readers that to their faith, they should add arete, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

I hope you see how this word has now come to life a bit. I have not given you an English translation, but by adding context, we have gained a bit of understanding of how ancient people used this word. We have managed to think our way into the minds of the Greeks.

When young boys heard tales of Achilles, they may have dreamed of one day perfecting their battlefield skills and building their strength as he did. They desired to become respectable, honorable men of their city.

When first-century readers of Paul's or Kephas’ letters saw arete, several file cabinets would have been thrown open as thoughts of morality and excellence whirled by. They may have imagined Heracles standing at the crossroads, facing a choice between pleasure and virtue. This would have acted as a strong reminder of the choices they wanted to make in life.

Arete was an important and powerful word for Greek philosophers, stoics, and early Christians. To understand it correctly, one must understand the people who used it and the world in which they lived.