Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to Philippians · About this commentary
Whatever Things Are True
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. · WEB
Six qualities and a summary — and the instruction is about where attention is allowed to settle.
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report.
Six, and they are not distinctively Christian terms. Several were the common currency of Greek moral philosophy, and Paul uses them without hesitation — the letter that refuses every religious supplement is content to borrow a vocabulary of ordinary goodness.
The list moves outward. True and honorable concern reality and weight; just and pure concern conduct; lovely and of good report concern how a thing strikes others.
Then the summary: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
The verb is not phronein this time but a term for reckoning, calculating, taking account of — the same word used of righteousness credited to Abraham Romans 4:3. It describes deliberate mental bookkeeping rather than passing attention.
And the placement matters. This follows the promise that peace will garrison the mind Philippians 4:7, so the sentry is posted and then the mind is given something to do. Guarding what comes in is only half; the other half is choosing what stays.
settled What this mark means