Aretas in the Bible — Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

- excellence; virtue; power; purity. An Arabian king, or chief, who was in possession of Damascus at the time that the occurrence that Paul mentions in II Corinthians 11:32, 33 took place. He was father-in-law of Herod Antipas. The title, Aretas, was applied to many Arabian kings. Meta. A certain natural love of virtue, merit, and goodness inherent in the outer man, although he does not appreciate the spiritual word in its work throughout the body consciousness (Paul and his ministry). Even the outer man, however, is inherently good. The physical is not of itself evil; the body is an obedient servant. Carnal thought incites man to unwise expression--evil deeds.