Virtue & Truth

What comes first, virtue or truth?

The point is often made that you can't read or interpret the Bible rightly until you've acquired certain virtues. A bad person reading the Bible will draw the wrong conclusions. A Christ-like person reading Bible will draw correct conclusions. In this view, truth is dependent upon virtue and spiritual formation.

A bit of biblical support for this position is found in Romans 12:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Be transformed, so that you may discern the will of God.

Discernment of truth flows from virtue. According to Romans 12, without a "renewal of your mind," in non-conformity to the world, a person is unable to judge what is good, acceptable and perfect.

Be transformed that you may discern.

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