Course Description

What if the gospel is not only good news about forgiveness, but the power to become the person God created you to be? In this dynamic opening session, Marvin introduces virtuement—a bold fusion of virtue and atonement—to show how Christ’s saving work releases believers from sin and empowers a new life of righteousness, character, and flourishing.

Through a fresh reading of Romans 6 and 2 Peter, this lesson traces the deep connection between the atonement, the image of God, and the ancient tradition of virtue education. It invites theological educators to recover character formation as central to discipleship, ministry preparation, and the transformation of communities.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain the meaning of virtuement and its relationship to atonement and virtue.
• Interpret Romans 6 as a vision of freedom from sin and empowerment for righteousness.
• Define virtue as a stable disposition of moral character that leads to human flourishing.
• Distinguish virtues from vices and identify how virtues can be distorted by excess or defect.
• Connect the biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration to character formation.
• Articulate why the gospel includes both forgiveness and transformation into Christlike character.
• Apply the vision of virtue education to the formation of students in theological institutions.