The Pursuit of Character: Recovering the Virtues

by Matthew Arbo

What does it mean to live a good life?
· Know what makes for a good life
· Pursue character and meaning
· Recover the virtues that have guided Christians before us

In today's fragmented world, we are encouraged to define for ourselves what is good. But this inevitably fails to satisfy. In The Pursuit of Character, Matthew Arbo argues that we can learn how to live a good life by recovering the virtues that have guided Christians before us. Arbo reintroduces readers to the seven cardinal and theological virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice, faith, hope, and love. Readers will know what each virtue means (and doesn't mean) and how to go about acquiring it. Pursuing virtue is good in itself, and by becoming virtuous we enrich our lives and those around us.

Anyone seeking direction in their journey toward a meaningful and fulfilling life will find The Pursuit of Character to be the ideal starting point.

Genres: Philosophy

139 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Matthew Arbo (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is assistant professor of theological studies and director of the Center for Faith and Public Life at Oklahoma Baptist University. He and his family are members of Frontline Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Reviews

[Noah Senthil]

This is a solid and readable introduction to Christian virtue ethics from a Protestant perspective. Matthew Arbo takes the cardinal and theological virtues—one at a time—situating them in classical philosophical/theological construction, defending them in the midst of our current cultural moment, and applying them to the Christian life. A welcome sight!

[Full review forthcoming in TGC]

[J.]

This book feels like a much needed antidote to this modern shallow 'self-help', 'life hacks' culture. Instead of offering another set of shallow life hacks or leaning into the cultural obsession with hyper-individualism that tells us we can curate our own identities, Arbo invites us back to something much older and deeper.

He structures the book around a recovery of seven core virtues: the four cardinal virtues (prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice) and the three theological ones (faith, hope, and love) What makes his approach work so well is how effortlessly he weaves ancient classical philosophers like Aristotle and the Stoics together with Christian theology from heavyweights like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

But he isn't just giving a dry history lesson. He argues that virtues aren't outdated relics, but "excellences of soul" that we desperately need to live a flourishing, meaningful life. One of the best aspects of the book is that Arbo strips away the idea that virtue is only about grand, heroic, or unattainable acts, Instead, he focuses on "ordinary virtue"—the quiet, daily habits that slowly shape our character.

Whether it's practicing intermittent fasting to build temperance or simply choosing not to interrupt someone in conversation to practice justice. He gives you practical, grounded starting points. He reminds us that we aren't just driven by pure rationality; our desires and appetites are incredibly powerful, and without intentional habits to tame them, we end up enslaved by them

This book is a beautiful reminder that the pursuit of character isn't a lonely, self-help project, but a communal journey rooted in God's grace that fundamentally repairs our social bonds.

if you're tired by the shallow end of modern advice and want a thoughtful, historically rooted guide to actually becoming a whole person, you should definitely pick this up.

[Stephanie]

This books is an excellent summary of virtue; its purpose, it's content, and the necessity of it in our modern world. This is one I will be adding to my children's reading list in their high school years. It's fairly simple to read and accessable, though there were a few passages that challenge the mind, however that is not a draw back for me. It is important for all of us to wrestle a bit with what we believe and why, as well as with new ideas and concepts. There were a few things I disagreed with in his description of hope, but definitely not enough to be disinclined to recommend it.

I also enjoyed all the quotes from men like Augustine, Bonhoeffer, and Aquinas; it's always good to learn from and be encouraged by those who have walked our faith before us. This is a worthy addition to any Christian library.

[Christian Shelves]

I love how richly this book marries together orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Delving into the cardinal virtues of wisdom, temperance, fortitude, and justice and then caping them off with the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love, Matthew Arbo does a spectacular job in emphasizing the need for a right ordering of life. Imbued with prayers to open each chapter, readers are invited to consider how the God of order provides the ability to live a life that is in keeping with His character. This is a timeless volume that all Christians can benefit from, drawing inspiration from philosophical truths, classical teachings, and most importantly, the Bible.

In examining the origin of the cardinal and theological virtues and providing the case to Christians that this is the proper course of life, this book moves readers beyond sheer willpower to a grander calling and purpose. It pleads for believers to take the time and effort to exercise discipline when it comes to character formation. The Pursuit of Character will not only have you pondering what it means to exhibit the fruit of self-control and to exercise self-denial as part of the Christian walk, it will motivate you to pass this content on to the next generation. If you are looking for a thoughtful treatise on ordered and godly pursuits while expounding the value of a virtuous life, this is a book that should be on your bookshelf and in your hands.

Review link: https://christianshelves.blogspot.com...

Many thanks to Baker Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Faith]

In this book, Mr. Arbo explores virtue and goodness through the 7 virtues prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, faith, hope and love.

A slim book that dives deep into the topic of virtue. He shows how they have long been revered as honored character traits in the mind of classical thought through thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates, but are brought together into wholeness in Christianity. As well as talking about how to cultivate these virtues in ourselves.

A thoughtful read, that goes deep. It made me sit and think more about things that I had never given much specific thought to in the past. A well put together read, that is worth taking the time to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Matthew Loftus]

A concise and helpful introduction to the virtues. Would be great for a high school or college Sunday School class or similar.