One of my favorite forms of teaching is Socratic questioning. Ask my residents, they have probably been subjected at some point to this form of inquiring didactics - especially as I am teaching ultrasound in the emergency department.
I usually identify a topic or a theme that I want to discuss. The questioning begins very basic as a way of establishing a foundation and identifying where the learners are at in their understanding of the topic. As we progress, the questions become more and more difficult as I probe for gaps in knowledge and aim a landing on a particular point.
Yesterday morning at the breakfast table, my boys and I were engaged in one such Socratic session. I opened with the question, “Why is strength important?”
In our household, and here on the Excellent Physician forum, fitness and strength is a very important thing. I did not grow up with this conviction. But I have become convinced that exercise, and in particular strength-based exercises are vitally important for one’s overall health, longevity, and well-being. My wife and I try to model this on a routine basis for our children by making fitness an integral part of our daily routines. Recently, I introduced my older boys to the warrior kid project which promotes discipline and fitness. Additionally, my boys train Jiu-Jitsu, participate in seasonal sports and more recently have begun to do body-weight workouts (push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, etc.). As a family, we seek to do physical things.
So, coming up with answers, for my opening question was not an extremely difficult proposition for my children. In fact, pardon the proud father moment, the first response was rooted fundamentally in the idea that strength gives us the abilities better serve those around us. Other reasons, we discussed included fitness and strength as the basis for being able to do fun and necessary things in life. We have been given one body - fitness and strength are the means by which we can care for and preserve the gift that we’ve been given.
But the ultimate goal this conversation was not necessarily to extol the virtues of strength. Rather, my goal was to turn the conversation to 1 Timothy 4:8. In this verse Paul writes to his protégé, Timothy, that “Bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way.”
Often times this passage is used as an excuse to not engage in physical activity. One would say, “See, Paul is saying that godliness is more important than exercise, so therefore it is ok not workout.” It may be categorically true that on a scale of importance, godliness outweighs fitness. But I believe that Paul in this passage does not diminish the value of the former. We know that Paul holds caring for the body in high regard (1 Corinthians 6:19) and uses physical fitness as an analogy for the intensity that we ought to bring to our spiritual lives (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). So in this discussion with Timothy, Paul uses the value of fitness as a baseline to promote the extreme value of something else.
In our conversation, we talked about how important it is to pursue fitness and engage in activities that promote strength. And if that physical and temporal pursuit is so important, how much more important is it for us than to pursue godliness.
The next question that was discussed was, “What is godliness?” Understandably, my oldest defined the term by using the term. “Godliness is being godly.” And while the definition may seem a bit redundant and trite, it’s also on point. Godliness is pursuing God. It is knowing the scriptures, and doing what they say. It is allowing God through his word to permeate and influence, every aspect of our lives.
The final question that we discussed was, “Why is godliness more important?” Fortunately for us, the answer is in the immediately following phrase. While physical fitness has many tangible, and even non-tangible benefits, they are all applicable only in this life. The pursuit of God, on the other hand, has implications that last not only for this life, but also for the life that is to come. Paul concludes his thought with this, “Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
So, what does that mean for us as we seek to pursue and apply Arete to our lives? We see themes of the excellence compass here. The cardinal direction of the compass points north. The vertical orientation on the compass and on a map represents our vertical orientation to theology, worldview, and philosophy. This priority is intended to drive our vision up to God and onto things bigger than our daily lives and interactions. The influence that God has on our daily lives is of preeminent importance, not only because it has the most lasting value, but also because it permeates every other aspect of our existence across the horizon of our relationships and down into the output of our lives.
All Scripture References in English Standard Version (ESV), Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, IL, 2001
Image Source: Bing Generative AI
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