See my separate page on the Decalogue / Ten Commandments.Passages mentioning Virtues and Vices in the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament: Thus, I encourage you to study the following passages in your own Bibles, reading and considering the literary contexts even more broadly than are provided here. It is important not to take any such texts out of context, but to read and understand them within the historical and literary contexts of the biblical books in which they are found. One of the most familiar short virtue lists is what Paul himself calls the ' fruits of the Spirit,' which include ' love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control' (Gal 5:22-23 the Vulgate translation also includes goodness, modesty, and chastity, for a total of twelve). In contrast, many New Testament writings contain short lists or more extended discussions of vices and/or virtues, habitual actions and ethical attitudes to be avoided and/or practiced, respectively. The Hebrew Bible contains very few extended lists of virtues and/or vices, aside from the Ten Commandments and related passages, probably since the ethical discussion of virtues and vices did not become popular until the Hellenistic period (3rd century BCE and later). Moreover, the Septuagint and Vulgate version of Isaiah 11:1-3 lists seven items that are traditionally called the ' gifts of the Spirit': wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord' (see CCC, Article 1831). These virtues are discussed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Articles 1805-1845, while the 'capital sins' are listed in Article 1866. Paul in 1 Cor 13) and the four 'Cardinal Virtues' ( prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance as developed by various Church fathers and theologians).

The main virtues discussed in Christian moral theology are often listed differently, not in direct contrast to the seven 'deadly sins,' but rather as a combination of the three 'Theological Virtues' ( faith, hope, and love as discussed by St.

The 'capital sins' (or at least the idea of listing seven major vices) are based in part on a passage from the Book of Proverbs of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament: 'There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:Īnd hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans,įeet that hurry to run to evil, a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family' (Prov 6:16-19). Virtue and Vice Lists in the Bible Virtue and Vice Lists in the BibleĬhristian morality is not only based foundationally on the Ten Commandments (see Exod 20 & Deut 5), but also focuses traditionally on what are called the seven 'Capital Sins' or 'Deadly Sins,' often pairing and contrasting these with seven 'Principal Virtues': Capital/Deadly Sins:

Vice list and virtue list in galatians