Ethos
The English term ethics is derived from the Ancient Greek word ēthikós (ἠθικός), meaning "relating to one's character", which itself comes from the root word êthos (ἦθος) meaning "character, moral nature". This word was transferred into Latin as ethica.
Cognate éthos[1] (from éthō[2], "to be accustomed") can mean an unwritten custom; behavior based on tradition (a habit) fixed by the religious social life of a nation. In the Greek ethos the individual was highly valued but some individuals were held up as heroes, placing greater value upon their opinions and positions.
The ethics within the mind of mankind have been expressed through numerous perspectives. From Plato to Kant, or Nietzsche to Buddha, or even Confucius to Averroes[3], and Moses to Jesus there has been the questions of what is truth.
Ethos can mean custom, habit, character, or disposition. One’s ethics can be derived from religion, traditional beliefs. To the Greeks and the Romans Ethos was the fundamental character or spirit of a culture consisting of the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society. The ethos of a persons defines the dominant assumptions of a people or period, the ideals that characterize a community, nation, or even defined in their ideology.
The word was occationally used to refer to the power of music to generate an emothional responce that guided or influenced the behavior or even the morals of individuals or groups. The Greek term Pathos'[4] is far more an appeal to emotion and is often more effective than either ethos'[1] or logos[5] in the realm of emotion.
The words pathos, ethos, and logos are used in rhetoric as the concept of the three artistic proofs or modes of persuasion. understanding these terms which appear in the Bible may be useful in understanding scripture.
Luke 1:9 According to the custom <1485> of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luke 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom <1485> of the feast.
Luke 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont <1485>, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
John 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner <1485> of the Jews is to bury.
Acts 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs <1485> which Moses delivered us.
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner <1485> of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Acts 16:21 And teach customs <1485>, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Acts 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise [their] children, neither to walk after the customs <1485>.
Acts 25:16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner <1485> of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
Acts 26:3 Especially [because I know] thee to be expert in all customs <1485> and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
Acts 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs <1485> of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner <1485> of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1485 ἔθος ethos [eth’-os] from 1486 etho; n n; TDNT-2:372,202; [{See TDNT 212 }] AV-custom 7, manner 4, be wont 1; 12
- 1) custom
- 2) usage prescribed by law, institute, prescription, rite
- ↑ 1486 ~ἔθω~ etho \@eth’-o\@ a root word; ; v AV-be wont 2, -as his custom was + 2596 + 3588 1, as his manner was + 2596 + 3588 1; 4
- 1) to be accustomed, used, wont
- 2) that which is wont
- 3) usage, custom
- ↑ The unity of the intellect is a philosophical theory proposed by the medieval Andalusian philosopher Averroes (1126–1198), which asserted that all humans share the same intellect. Averroes expounded his theory in his long commentary of On the Soul to explain how universal knowledge is possible within the Aristotelian theory of mind.
- ↑ 3806 πάθος pathos [path’-os] from the alternate of 3958; n n; TDNT-5:926,798; [{See TDNT 606 }] AV-inordinate affection 1, affection 1, lust 1; 3
- 1) whatever befalls one, whether it be sad or joyous
- 1a) spec. a calamity, mishap, evil, affliction
- 2) a feeling which the mind suffers
- 2a) an affliction of the mind, emotion, passion
- 2b) passionate deed
- 2c) used by the Greeks in either a good or bad sense
- 2d) in the NT in a bad sense, depraved passion, vile passions
- For Synonyms see entry 5845 & 5906
- See logos
- 1) whatever befalls one, whether it be sad or joyous
- ↑ 3056 ~λόγος~ logos \@log’-os\@ from 3004; n m AV-word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7, thing 5, not tr 2, misc 32; 330
- 1) of speech
- 1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
- 2) its use as respect to the MIND alone
- 3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.
- 4487 ρημα rhema can mean word or saying.
- 1) of speech