The BEMA Podcast — Episode 467: Vice & Virtue — Introduction
September 11, 2025
Hosts: Brent Billings, Marty Solomon
Guest: Reed Dent

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off a brand new series on the seven capital vices (traditionally known as the "seven deadly sins") and their corresponding virtues. Rather than following their typical Bible text deep-dive, the BEMA team explores historical context, philosophical roots, and practical approaches to understanding vice and virtue—what they are, where they come from, and why they matter for individuals and communities, especially within the pursuit of living out God’s image.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why a Series on Vices and Virtues?

• Brent’s Initial Anxiety: Brent jokes about not having "vices" because he doesn't smoke or drink, prompting Reed to clarify misconceptions and introduce deeper, more universal struggles.
  • “Smoking and drinking are actually not listed as vices. Those are habits...” — Reed (00:39)
• Breaking from Tradition: The episode format shifts from strict textual exploration to include historical, philosophical, and Catholic traditions not directly based in biblical canon.
  • “There is no enumerated list in The Bible of the vices we’re going to be talking about. It's a tradition that's developed over time.” — Reed (01:44)
• Historical Roots: The seven vices and four cardinal virtues have their origins in Greek philosophy (Plato's Republic) and were expanded upon by Christian theologians, most notably Aquinas and Gregory the Great.

Defining Vice and Virtue

• Vice: A Tendency, Not Just a Sin
  • Vice is described as an ingrained but non-innate flaw or tendency, distinct from "sin" (which in Jewish thought is more about actions than innate states).
  • “To struggle with a vice, to be tempted... is not a sin in and of itself. Aquinas did work to separate these things.” — Reed (11:19)
  • Vices are described as “headwaters”—sources from which sinful actions spring.
• Virtue: Excellence, Not Just "Manliness"
  • The Latin ‘virtus’ originally meant “manliness,” but in Christian adaptation, it evolved to reflect “excellence”—fulfilling one’s purpose as a human (in the image of God).
  • “Virtue is the thing that serves you in, like, being excellent at that purpose.” — Reed (26:25)
  • Greek arete means excellence in fulfilling one's designed function.

List of Vices and Virtues

• Seven Capital Vices: Lust, gluttony, avarice (greed), sloth, vainglory (instead of pride), envy, wrath. Pride is described as an “aboriginal” or “foundational” vice from which others flow.
• Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence (wisdom), temperance, fortitude (courage), justice.
• Three Theological Virtues: Faith, hope, love—drawn directly from 1 Corinthians 13.
• Virtue is described both in classical and Christian terms as habits formed through practice.

Individual and Communal Dimensions

• The approach resists an overly individualized or abstract perspective, emphasizing the interplay between individuals and communities.
• Virtues and vices mix and struggle within us—not a binary “either/or” but a complex web.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Difference Between Sin and Vice:
  “Sin is far more the action primarily than a thing itself, where in our world, I think it gets flipped.” — Marty (10:40)
• On the Importance of Purpose:
  “Things have a purpose, people have a purpose, and virtue is the thing that serves you in, like, being excellent at that purpose.” — Reed (26:25)
• On Empire's "Virtues":
  “Empire has its own virtues, which I would... some attention... might reveal, like, oh, actually, I kind of let this culture or this, this empire virtue dictate my steps more than, like, the theological one.” — Reed (40:28)
• The Allure of Virtue:
  “When we see virtue in action, it is beautiful and it is... powerful. It is what drew my boys to the edge of their seat as they're watching Aragorn.” — Reed (52:01)

Historical Journey and Contextualization

• Origins of the List:

  • Evagrius of Pontus and John Cassian cataloged "eight evil thoughts".
  • St. Gregory the Great narrowed and systematized the list into seven and framed pride as the root sin.
  • Aquinas gave the topic scholarly magnitude, adding philosophical and systematic depth.

• Potential Pitfalls:

  • The discussion warns against over-systematizing or making the process strictly individualistic or abstract.
  • “It is helpful, I think, it's less like this Excel spreadsheet and more like this interconnected web.” — Reed (18:00)

Vice & Virtue in Modern Culture

• Cultural Loss of Virtue Language:

  • Current culture tends to prioritize ethics or ideological purity over classic notions of virtue.
  • The military (e.g., Army "change of command") is cited as a place where virtues like courage and duty are still explicitly celebrated.
  • The tension between empire's virtues (industry, enterprise, frugality) and kingdom virtues (justice, courage, love) is highlighted.

• “Virtue Has to be Discerned for Our Own Times”

  • The team emphasizes the need for wisdom and contextualization, refusing strict behavioral lists and opting for principle-based discernment.

Key Scriptural Connections

2 Peter 1:3–9 (45:52)

• Peter emphasizes God’s provision but calls for diligent, practical effort to add virtue (arete/excellence) to faith, leading to effective, productive living—on-mission with God.

Philippians 4:6–9 (49:12)

• Paul urges not just prayer and trust, but active contemplation and practice of virtue (arete), linking it to experiencing God's peace.

• “Put it into practice. So it's about knowing what that is like, what is the kind of person. And we can see it... but don't just sit around thinking about it. Put it into practice, and the God of peace will be with you.” — Reed (50:25)

Practical Mission of the Series

• Approach: Each episode will cover one vice and one virtue, offering:

  • Definitions and biblical connections
  • Historical/philosophical context
  • Cultural observations (church culture and broader society)
  • Practical strategies for fostering virtue and resisting vice

• Goal: To move beyond salvation-as-afterlife, recovery a robust, practical tradition of spiritual and communal formation for today's world.

  • “Our heaven-obsessed centric theology has kind of made us thin and pale as people... If faith is actually about who we're becoming, I think it's worth doing because this growth is a lifetime pursuit.” — Reed (39:44)

Resource Recommendations (53:18)

• Glittering Vices by Rebecca DeYoung (most accessible and pratically applied)
• The Cardinal and the Deadly by Carl Clifton Soderstrom
• The Seven Deadly Sins: A Thomistic Guide to Vanquishing Vice and Sin by Kevin Yost
• The Seven Deadly Sins: Jewish, Christian, and Classical Reflections by Solomon Schimmel
• Dante's Inferno (for the original literary/theological framing)
• Augustine's Confessions and Aquinas' Summa Theologica (for primary source material—“for the bold and brave”)
• Mentions of pop culture (e.g., Film: Seven by David Fincher) and jokes about video games relating to the theme.

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Description | |-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:06–01:44 | Setting up the series, focus beyond text, exploring vices & virtues | | 06:21–09:00 | Deep-dive into definitions of vice, sources in history & tradition | | 10:40–13:56 | Distinguishing vice from sin, practical implications | | 15:00–18:00 | Historical efforts to order and classify vices and virtues | | 26:25–29:02 | Virtue’s original meanings and the purpose of humanity | | 40:28–43:42 | Empire’s virtues vs. Kingdom virtues, cultural diagnosis | | 45:52–48:38 | 2 Peter 1:3–9 unpacked—Virtue and faith, excellence, purpose | | 49:12–51:35 | Philippians 4:6–9—Virtue in practice, peace as the fruit | | 52:01–52:53 | Virtue is contagious—Inspiration, modeling, community | | 53:18–56:19 | Recommended resources and readings on vice and virtue |

Tone, Language & Style

Conversations are warm, humorous, and self-aware, often poking fun at their own nerdiness or theological background. The team is candid about their discomfort, learning journeys, and practical wrestling with these ancient concepts in a modern world.

Next Up:
The series proceeds with detailed looks at each vice (e.g., lust, gluttony) and their counterpoint virtues, exploring roots, relevance, and practical spiritual formation for listeners hungry to grow as whole, kingdom-minded people.