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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Philippians 4:8 - 4:8
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Finally (to loipon). See note on Phi 3:1.
Whatsoever (hosa). Thus he introduces six adjectives picturing Christian ideals, old-fashioned and familiar words not necessarily from any philosophic list of moral excellencies Stoic or otherwise. Without these no ideals can exist. They are pertinent now when so much filth is flaunted before the world in books, magazines and moving-pictures under the name of realism (the slime of the gutter and the cess-pool).
Honourable (semna). Old word from sebō, to worship, revere. So revered, venerated (1Ti 3:8).
Pure (hagna). Old word for all sorts of purity. There are clean things, thoughts, words, deeds.
Lovely (prosphilē). Old word, here only in N.T., from pros and phileō, pleasing, winsome.
Of good report (euphēma. Old word, only here in N.T., from eu and phēmē, fair-speaking, attractive.
If there be any (ei tis). Paul changes the construction from hosa (whatsoever) to a condition of the first class, as in Phi 2:1, with two substantives.
Virtue (aretē). Old word, possibly from areskō, to please, used very often in a variety of senses by the ancients for any mental excellence or moral quality or physical power. Its very vagueness perhaps explains its rarity in the N.T., only four times (Phi 4:8; 1Pe 2:9; 2Pe 1:3, 2Pe 1:5). It is common in the papyri, but probably Paul is using it in the sense found in the lxx (Isa 42:12; 43:21) of God’s splendour and might (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 95) in connection with “praise” (epainos) as here or even meaning praise.
Think on these things (tauta logizesthe). Present middle imperative for habit of thought. We are responsible for our thoughts and can hold them to high and holy ideals.