excellence

prop., whatever procures pre-eminent estimation for a person or thing, in Hom. any kind of conspicuous advantage. Later confined by philos. writers to intrinsic eminence—, ; moral goodness virtue of God: ; II Pe 1:3 of men: , ; pl. (, , ), : (the usage appears to be a survival of an early comprehensive sense in which the original idea is blended with the impression which it makes on others, i.e. praise, renown; v. Hort, , 129. Deiss., , 95 f., thinks it means manifestations of divine power, as in current Gk. speech; cf. also MM, s.v.)† Phl 4:8 II Pe 1:5 Is 42:8 12 43:21 63:7 Es 14:10 I Pe 2:9 excellencies I Pe. BS

properly, manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed)

praise, virtue