Philippians 4:8 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (m… · noun — vocative plural masculine
things
ὅσαhosa
G3745
as (much · correlative pronoun — nominative plural neuter
are
ἐστίestí
G2076
he (she or it) is
true
ἀληθῆ,alēthē
G227
true (as not concealing) · adjective — nominative plural neuter
things
ὅσαhosa
G3745
as (much · correlative pronoun — nominative plural neuter
honest
σεμνά,
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without pa…
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Romans 12:9-21 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
2 Corinthians 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
2 Peter 1:3-7 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath cal…
Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Philippians 4:1-9
The apostle begins the chapter with exhortations to divers Christian duties.
I. To stedfastness in our Christian profession, Phi 4:1. It is inferred from the close of the foregoing chapter: Therefore stand fast, etc. Seeing our conversation is in heaven, and we look for the Saviour to come thence and fetch us thither, therefore let us stand fast. Note, The believing hope and prospect of eternal life should engage us to be steady, even, and constant, in our Christian course. Observe here,
1. The compellations are very endearing: My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown; and again, My dearly beloved. Thus he expresses the pleasure he took in them, the kindness he had for th…
Summary of all his exhortations as to relative duties, whether as children or parents, husbands or wives, friends, neighbors, men in the intercourse of the world, &c.
true--sincere, in words.
honest--Old English for "seemly," namely, in action; literally, grave, dignified.
just--towards others.
pure--"chaste," in relation to ourselves.
lovely--lovable (compare Mar 10:21; Luk 7:4-5).
of good report--referring to the absent (Phi 1:27); as "lovely" refers to what is lovable face to face.
if there be any virtue--"whatever virtue there is" [ALFORD]. "Virtue," the standing word in heathen ethics, is found once only in Paul's Epistles, and once in Peter's (Pe2 1:5); and this in uses d…
Finally, brethren - The object of the apostle is to recommend holiness and righteousness to them in every point of view; and to show that the Gospel of Christ requires all its professors to have the mind that was in Christ, and to walk as he himself also walked. That they were not to attend to one branch of righteousness or virtue only, but to every thing by which they might bring honor to God, good to their fellow creatures, and credit to themselves.
Whatsoever things are true - Ὁσα - αληθη· All that is agreeable to unchangeable and eternal truth. Whether that which is to be learned from the nature and state of created things, or that which comes immediately from God by revelation.
Whatsoe…
The Church Fathers
In saying "if there be any excellence, any praise," he takes good note of the nature of things. For all things happen by the grace of God, who governs and rules through the Spirit that he sends into us. We count on nothing of our own, but on grace alone. This is why he speaks conditionally: "if any excellence," for the virtues being nurtured in us are not from us but from God's grace. So not even the praise is ours. Therefore he also says "if there is anything worthy of praise."
But they have a purification, with a view to committing this immorality; their baptism means passing from self-control to fornication. They maintain that one should gratify the lusts and passions, teaching that one must turn from sobriety to be incontinent. They set their hope on their private parts. Thus they shut themselves out of God's kingdom and deprive themselves of enrolment as disciples, and under the name of knowledge, falsely so called, they have taken the road to outer darkness. "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is holy, whatever is righteous, whatever is pure, whatever is attractive, whatever is well spoken of, whatever is virtuous, and whatever is praiseworthy, think on these things. And whatever you have learnt and received and heard and seen in me, this do. And the God of peace shall be with you."
"Whatever is true"—What are these true things? They are set out in the gospel: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and all that goes with that good news. When your thoughts are true, it follows that they will be honorable. What is true is not corrupted, which means that it is honorable. What is not corrupted is true. Then what is true and honorable will also be just, for it is made just or justified. And what is made just is pure since it receives sanctification from God. All that is just, honorable, true and pure is lovable and also gracious. For who does not love these saintly virtues? Who does not speak and think well of them?… Of this list some items pertain to true virtue in itself, while the later ones pertain to the fruit of virtue. To virtue it belongs to love truth, honor, justice and purity. To the fruit of virtue belongs that which is lovely and gracious.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Commandments · PRECEPTS OF PAUL. EXPLICITLY STATED OR IMPLIED IN DIDACTIC EPISTLES — PRECEPTS OF PAUL. EXPLICITLY STATED OR IMPLIED IN DIDACTIC EPISTLES
Conduct, Christian · Following after that which is good — Following after that which is good
Justice · Saints should: Study the principles of — Saints should: Study the principles of
Purity · 5:8; — 5:8;
Truth · Meditate upon — Meditate upon
Virtue · Excellence — Excellence
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
semna
G4586
venerable · adjective — nominative plural neuter
things
ὅσαhosa
G3745
as (much · correlative pronoun — nominative plural neuter
just
δίκαια,dikaia
G1342
equitable (in character or act) · adjective — nominative plural neuter
things
ὅσαhosa
G3745
as (much · correlative pronoun — nominative plural neuter
pure
ἁγνά,hagna
G53
properly · adjective — nominative plural neuter
things
ὅσαhosa
G3745
as (much · correlative pronoun — nominative plural neuter
lovely
προσφιλῆ,prosphilē
G4375
friendly towards · adjective — nominative plural neuter
things
ὅσαhosa
G3745
as (much · correlative pronoun — nominative plural neuter
report
εὔφημα,euphēma
G2163
well spoken of · adjective — nominative plural neuter
if
εἴei
G1487
if · conditional particle
any
τιςtis
G5100
some or any person or object · indefinite pronoun — nominative singular feminine
virtue
ἀρετὴaretē
G703
properly · noun — nominative singular feminine
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
if
εἴei
G1487
if · conditional particle
any
τιςtis
G5100
some or any person or object · indefinite pronoun — nominative singular masculine
praise
ἔπαινος,epainos
G1868
laudation · noun — nominative singular masculine
on
λογίζεσθε·logizesthe
G3049
to take an inventory · verb — present middle or passive deponent imperative, 2nd person plural
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,.... To close all with respect to the duties of Christianity incumbent on the professors of it, the apostle exhorts to a regard to everything that is true; that is agreeable to the Scriptures of truth, to the Gospel the word of truth, or to the law and light of nature; and whatever was really so, even among the very Heathens, in opposition to falsehood, lying, and hypocrisy
whatsoever things are honest; in the sight of men; or grave, or "venerable" in speech, in action or attire, in opposition to levity, frothiness, or foppery:
whatsoever things are just; between man and man, or with respect both to God and men; giving to God what belongs to hi…
Philippians 4:4-9
4. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
4. Gaudete in Domino semper, iterum dico, gaudete.
5. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
5. Moderatio vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus. Dominus prope est.
6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
6. De nulla re sitis solliciti: sed in omnibus, oratione et precatione, cum gratiarum actione, petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
7. Et pax Dei, quae exsuperat omnem intelligentiam…
Paul urges the Philippians to focus on God’s good gifts so that, even during suffering and persecution, their lives will be exemplary and their minds and hearts will be filled with peace (4:7, 9).
