PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9
THINK ON: CONTEMPLATE, RUMINATE, MEDITATE
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is trueG227, whatever is nobleG4586, whatever is rightG1342, whatever is pureG53, whatever is lovelyG4375, whatever is admirableG2163—if anything is excellentG703 or praiseworthyG1868—thinkG3049 about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (AMP) Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
Philippians 4:8 (VOICE) Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.
SUSIE: Paul is beginning the conclusion of his letter by reminding the Philippian believers where their focus needs to be. This is not an all-inclusive list of virtues but a representative group.
SUSAN: Paul’s teaching here in Philippians 4:8 is a total contradiction of societal mores today. Today’s mantra is “look out for number one” and “get them before they get you.” Paul would say prefer others above yourselves as he did in chapter two.
SUSIE: Focusing on these positive attributes is contrary to the way of the world. We looked up the definitions of these words in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible to get a more complete picture. Whatever is true . . .
G277 ἀληθής alēthḗs, al-ay-thace’; from G1 (as a negative particle) and G2990; true (as not concealing):—true, truly, truth.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSIE: People do not value truth as they once did. We need laboriously long contracts to feel secure in our dealings.
SUSAN: People do not want truth in business; they want expediency, the quickest means to an end. This word can also mean “Truth.” Jesus himself is the Truth, the Truth that sets us free. We begin by focusing our minds on Jesus and the example He set for us.
John 14:6 (NASB) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 8:32 (NASB) . . . and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
SUSIE: Whatever is noble . . .
G4586 σεμνός semnós, sem-nos’; from G4576; venerable, i.e. honorable:—grave, honest.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSAN: Venerable is a word that has fallen out of use, so we went to the 1828 version of Webster’s dictionary for a definition:
VEN’ERABLE, adjective [Latin venerabilis, from veneror, to honor, to worship.]
1. Worthy of veneration or reverence; deserving of honor and respect; as a venerable magistrate; a venerable parent.
2. Rendered sacred by religious associations, or being consecrated to God and to his worship; to be regarded with awe and treated with reverence; as the venerable walls of a temple or church.
The places where saints have suffered for the testimony of Christ – rendered venerable by their death.
American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828
SUSAN: Look for honest, honorable actions. Look up to the people who are truly deserving of honor because of their righteous lives. Think of ways to live honorably among others.
SUSIE: Whatever is right . . .
G1342 δίκαιος díkaios, dik’-ah-yos; from G1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):—just, meet, right(-eous).
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSAN: Desire justice and deal righteously with others. Admire those who are just in their dealings rather than those who are “shrewd businesspersons” according to this world’s standards. Follow, to the best of your ability, the standard of God’s word.
SUSIE: As we think on, contemplate, what it means to be just, we need to realize that only the Holy Spirit within us can enable us to consistently act justly.
Micah 6:8 (NIV) He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
SUSIE: Whatever is pure . . .
G53 ἁγνός hagnós, hag-nos’; from the same as G40; properly, clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect:—chaste, clean, pure.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSIE: Purity is not as highly regarded as it once was. Society seems to idolize impure people, thoughts, and actions. Just turn on the TV. Yet we are to fill our minds with pure thoughts.
SUSAN: Any time people pursue the principle of purity, they are made fun of and chastised. Rather than being exalted for their standards, they are abased and called prudish. The innocent are called naïve as if that is a negative quality. Lifestyles with no boundaries are idolized.
SUSIE: Instead of valuing purity, taking a stand on a certain line, we tend to get as close to crossing as we can without stepping over. In so doing, we often teeter on the brink until we leap across. I remember my sister telling her 2-yr-old son not to go into the other room. He stood with one foot in each room daring anyone to say something until he announced, “I go other room now!” and jumped in. Do we not do that sometimes with what the word says about impure thoughts leading to impure actions?
James 1:14-15 (VOICE) When a person is carried away with desire, lured by lust, and when desire becomes the focus and takes control, it gives birth to sin. When sin becomes fully grown, it produces death.
SUSIE: Whatever is lovely . . .
G4375 προσφιλής prosphilḗs, pros-fee-lace’; from a presumed compound of G4314 and G5368; friendly towards, i.e. acceptable:—lovely.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSIE: . . .pleasing, amiable, kind, gracious. We should fill our minds with ideas for acts of kindness, ways to show friendship (familyship), and how to extend the grace of God to each other.
SUSAN: We should search out and focus on the best, Christlike qualities, in each of our brothers and sisters in the Lord rather than being quick to find fault.
SUSIE: As Paul admonishes elsewhere that we encourage each other, not that we completely overlook problems but we take the opportunity to help each other overcome them.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMPC) Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
SUSAN: Whatever is admirable (of good report) . . .
G2163 εὔφημος eúphēmos, yoo’-fay-mos; from G2095 and G5345; well spoken of, i.e. reputable:—of good report.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
of good report. That which is highly regarded or thought well of. It refers to what is generally considered reputable in the world, such as kindness, courtesy, and respect for others.
NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition
SUSIE: Once again we are to fix our minds on the positive actions around us rather than dwelling on all that it wrong. One way to do this is to surround ourselves with others who are living admirable, reputable lives. Yes, we are to associate with non-believers in order to lead them to a saving knowledge of Jesus. However, our closest companions should be those who help us to draw nearer to Jesus, who serve as godly examples, rather than those who would encourage us to cross the line.
SUSAN: Whatever is excellent (virtue) . . .
G703 ἀρέτη arétē, ar-et’-ay; from the same as G730; properly, manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed):—praise, virtue.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSAN: Both valor and virtue stem from choosing to do what is right, no matter the cost.
SUSIE: This excellence is determining in advance to follow God’s will and ways rather than succumbing to the world’s influence. “Moral character” begins in the mind and the heart, a life submitted to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
SUSAN: Whatever is praiseworthy . . .
G1868 ἔπαινος épainos, ep’-ahee-nos; from G1909 and the base of G134; laudation; concretely, a commendable thing:—praise.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSIE: A good example of “praiseworthy” would be the woman described in Proverbs 31:10-31. Take a moment to read over her commendations which are summed up with:
Proverbs 31:31 (KJV) Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
SUSIE: Praiseworthy deeds should receive our attention rather than dwelling on all the evil of this world.
SUSAN: In other words, don’t get bogged down in the nightly news, but pray about it intentionally and keep your focus on the Captain of the Hosts who is “large and in charge.”
SUSIE: God is the One who is truly in control of everything. Think on these positive attributes in order to emulate them in your own life.
SUSAN: What focus on is what will develop. As the computer nerds would tell us, “Garbage in: Garbage out.” The opposite of that is true, as well, “Excellence in: Excellence out.”
SUSIE: This an aspect of “working out your salvation” as Paul instructed earlier in Philippians .
Philippians 4:9 (NIV) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
SUSAN: Paul is exhorting, encouraging the Philippians should do what he has taught them and lived in front of them. His desire is that his spiritual children practice Philippians 4:8 in order to remain in perfect peace with God.
SUSIE: As they make all of these things evident in their daily lives with the help of the Holy Spirit within them, they will be at peace, not only with the Lord but with each other.
Micah 6:8 (ESV) “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:
- Guard your thought life and think on the things in Philippians 4:8. This would be an excellent verse to commit to memory! Perhaps read and pray through it every day this week.
- As you read each of the things we are to “think on,” write down people or events God brings to mind that illustrate them.
- Make a list of ways you can put these attributes into action. Then do them!