Philippians 4:8

as a last spiritual entreaty, let their regenerate minds be true-thoughtful: let them remember Paul's word and practice

8. Finally A phrase introducing a precept, or precepts, more or less based on what has gone before. See above, on Philippians 3:1

He begs them to give to their minds, thus "safeguarded" by the peace of God, all possible pure and healthful material to work upon, of course with a view to practice. Let them reflect on, take account of, estimate aright, (see note below on "think on these things"), all that was true and good; perhaps specially in contrast to the subtle perversions of moral principle favoured by the persons described above (Philippians 3:18-19), who dreamed of making an impossible divorce between the spiritual and the moral.

true Both in the sense of truth- speakingand truth- being. Truthfulness of word, and sincerity of character, are absolutely indispensable to holiness. Nothing is more unsanctified than a double meaning, or a double purpose, however "pious" the "fraud".

honest Margin, "venerable"; R.V., honourable. The adjective is rendered "grave," 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 3:11; Titus 2:2. It points to serious purposes, and to self-respect;no small matter in Christianity. In older English "honest" bore this meaning more than at present.

just Right, as between man and man; scrupulous attention to all relative duties.

pure Perhaps in the special respect of holy chastity of thought and act as regards the body. There may be more in the word: see 2 Corinthians 7:11; and cp. 1 John 3:3. But most surely thisis in it. See Trench, Synonyms, ii. § xxxviii.

lovely Pleasing, amiable. Cp. for the English in this meaning, 2 Samuel 1:23. It is a meaning rare now, if not obsolete, but it was still common a century ago. The Christian is here reminded that his Master would have him attend to manner as well as matter in his life. Grace should make gracious. Cp. 1 Peter 3:8. The Rhemish version has "amiable" here.

of good report Better, probably, sweet-spoken; "loveliness" in the special respect of kindly and winning speech. So Lightfoot. Ellicott explains the word, however, in a different direction; "fair sounding," "high-toned"; with a special reference to elevatedtruths and principles. R.V. retains the rendering of A.V., with margin "gracious".

ifthere be any virtue "Whatever virtue there is." To complete his meaning, he bids them exercise thought on whatever is rightly called "virtue," even if not expressly described in the previous words.

The word rendered "virtue" (ar ě tê) occurs here only in St Paul, and elsewhere in N.T. only 1 Peter 2:9 (of God, and in the sense of "praise," as always in LXX.); 2 Peter 1:3 (of God, as rightly read), and 5 (twice), of an element in Christian character. It is remarkable that a favourite word of Greek ethics should be thus avoided; but the reason is not far to seek. By derivation and in usage it is connected with ideas of manhood, courage, and so self-reliance. The basis of goodness in the Gospel is self-renunciation, in order to the reception of grace, the undeserved gift of God.

Here however the Apostle concedesa place to the word, so to speak, as if to extend in every direction the view of what is right in action. In 2 Peter 1:5 it is used with the quite special meaning of vigour inthe life of grace.

any praise "Whatever praise there is," justly given by the general human conscience. Here again he is, as it were, conceding a place to an idea not quite of the highest, yet not at discord with the highest. It is not good to do right for the sake of the selfish pleasure of praise; but it is right to praise what is rightly done, and such praise has a moral beauty, and may give to its recipient a moral pleasure not spoiled by selfishness. St Paul appeals to the existence of such a desert of praise, to illustrate again what he means when he seeks to attract their thoughts towards things recognized as good, "There is such a thing as right praise; make it an index of the things on which you should think."

think on Literally, "reckon, calculate"; see above, first note on this verse.