The apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi contains some of his most uplifting encouragements to pursue Christlike virtues. Nestled among passages urging unity, humility, and joy we find one of Scripture’s most succinct summaries of Christian ethics:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
At first read, Paul’s directive in Philippians 4 8 can seem like a bland exhortation to think positive thoughts. But when understood against the backdrop of Greco-Roman culture, we uncover a profoundly countercultural call to renew our minds according to a radical kingdom ethic. By exploring the meaning of each word Paul uses, we can begin unraveling the implications of his charge to focus our contemplation on moral excellence as modeled in the life of Christ.
Approaching this seminal text through the lens of Scripture and empowered by the Holy Spirit who inspired it, we can align our thoughts, words, and actions more closely with God’s good and perfect will. We proceed by God’s grace, eager to have our minds transformed and our inward lives ordered according to his standard of truth and virtue.
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Philippians 4:8 – Think on These Things Bible Verse
Here are the translations of Philippians 4:8 with their references:
Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
“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.”
Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, 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 praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 (AMPLIFIED)
“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 (NLT)
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 (MSG)
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
These translations offer various perspectives on the qualities to focus on as outlined in Philippians 4:8.
Philippians 4:8 Meaning
The meaning of Philippians 4:8 is as follows:
Philippians 4:8 provides a powerful exhortation to cultivate a mindset centered on virtue and excellence. This verse serves as a guide for Christians to intentionally direct their thoughts towards that which is honorable, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. It challenges believers to rise above the base and ignoble tendencies of the human mind, instead fixing their contemplations on the highest ideals of truth, nobility, righteousness, and moral rectitude.
Philippians 4:8 encourages a mental discipline that filters out the profane, the impure, and the unvirtuous, while actively nurturing an inward disposition attuned to the beautiful, the admirable, and the praiseworthy aspects of life. It recognizes that our thoughts shape our character, and by dwelling on that which is virtuous, we align our minds with the very nature of God, whose perfections are the ultimate embodiment of all that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable.
Ultimately, Philippians 4:8 exhorts believers to curate their thought lives with intentionality, allowing the transformative power of God’s truth to permeate their minds, shaping them into individuals who reflect the excellence and beauty of the divine character in their thoughts, words, and deeds.
If you are interested in delving deeper, let’s wade into a deeper study of Phil 4:8.
Exegetical Analysis of Philippians 4 8 Explained
Philippians 4:8 says:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV)
This verse comes in the closing section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He is offering final exhortations to the church in Philippi to live in unity, avoid anxiety, and dwell on virtuous things.
The initial word “Finally” (λοιπόν, loipon) signals a transition in the letter to some concluding remarks and instructions.
“Brothers and sisters” (ἀδελφοί, adelphoi) illustrates Paul addressing the entire church community in a familial manner. His instructions are for all believers.
The verb “think” (λογίζεσθε, logizesthe) is a present imperative active command. Paul is telling the Philippians they must continuously think about or focus their minds on virtuous things. The present tense refers to ongoing action.
What follows is a list of virtues they must dwell upon:
- Whatever is “true” (ἀληθῆ, alēthē) – that which is truthful, genuine, real.
- Whatever is “noble” (σεμνά, semna) – honorable, dignified, worthy of respect.
- Whatever is “right” (δίκαια, dikaia) – just, righteous, upright.
- Whatever is “pure” (ἁγνά, hagna) – morally clean and undefiled.
- Whatever is “lovely” (προσφιλῆ, prosphilē) – pleasing, agreeable, amiable.
- Whatever is “admirable” (εὔφημα, euphēma) – reputable, gracious, of good report.
If anything meets these descriptions of goodness:
- “Excellent” (ἀρετή, aretē) – virtue and high moral values.
- “Praiseworthy” (ἔπαινος, epainos) – commendable and worthy of praise.
Then the Philippians should carefully and intentionally set their thoughts and focus of mind upon such things.
In summary, the exegetical analysis of Philippians 4:8 shows that Paul is exhorting the Philippian believers to continually contemplate things that are morally excellent based on principles of truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, and virtue. As disciples of Christ, they should habitually meditate on whatever aligns with righteousness rather than what defiles the mind and soul. This maintains moral integrity and pleases God.
The emphasis is on the responsibility of Christians to dwell on and pursue godly virtues in thought and conduct. Our thought lives directly impact how we live. May this challenge and encourage us to think carefully about heavenly and praiseworthy things!
Historical and Cultural Background of Philippians 4 8
The historical and cultural contexts add more understanding to what Philippian 4:8 means:
Historical Context
The church in Philippi held a special place in Paul’s heart. It was the first church he founded on European soil during his second missionary journey (Acts 16). As a Roman colony, Philippi was highly militarized and patriotic. Yet here the gospel took root, including among some high-status women and Gentiles (Acts 16:14-15; 27-34). After Paul moved on, Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippian church with gifts to support Paul in prison (Philippians 4:18). But Epaphroditus then suffered near-death, distressing the Philippians until Paul was able to send him back recovered (Phil 2:25-30).
Greco-Roman Moral Philosophies
In v.8 Paul draws on moral concepts the Philippians would have encountered in Greco-Roman philosophies that were popular then. Noble virtues like courage, justice, self-control, and avoiding vices were emphasized by Stoics and other schools. Lists of virtues and vices to shape one’s thinking were common.
Paul is likely “baptizing” and transforming such philosophical moral exhortations by infusing them with Kingdom values centered on Christ. He puts the focus not on moral self-achievement but on dwelling on God’s truths and beautiful realities that transform us into His likeness (Rom 12:1-2). Our minds are renewed by focusing on the noble and excellent things manifest in Jesus and His Kingdom.
Imprisoned Apostle’s Mindset
We must also consider Paul’s situation as we read this. In prison, it would have been easy for Paul to despair, lose heart, or turn bitter. Yet he thinks on the good report about the Philippians’ faith (Phil 1:3-5) and overflows with joy (Phil 1:4,18; 2:2,17). By encouraging the Philippians to think on true, noble, and praiseworthy things, Paul is sharing the secret of his contentment in all circumstances (Phil 4:10-13). Despite being confined physically, his mind and spirit remain remarkably free and uplifted.
Call to Kingdom Perspective
Hence for the first believers in Philippi, this exhortation provides a vital kingdom perspective amidst pressure from the surrounding culture to conform in thought and values. It also models for them the mindset that Paul exemplifies even while shackled in a prison cell. By keeping their minds centered on God’s truths and realities, they gain moral empowerment and resilience to shine as lights for Christ in their society.
Theological and Practical Applications from the Meaning of Philippians 4:8
The exhortation continues to be relevant and contains rich theological truth and practical instruction for believers today who live in cultures that may seek to squeeze them into its mold.
Theological Foundations
Theologically, this verse is grounded in God’s attributes and in the transformation of the believer’s mind:
- It calls us to focus our thoughts on virtues that align with God’s character: truth, nobility, righteousness, purity, loveliness, excellence, and praiseworthiness. As image-bearers of a holy God, meditating on these qualities nurtures our inner person to reflect Christ.
- It implies that believers have a new nature in Christ with new appetites and affections set on spiritual things rather than sinful desires of the flesh (Romans 6-8). By the Spirit’s power, our minds are being renewed so thoughts can be brought captive to honor Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).
Practical Applications
On a practical level, Philippians 4:8 encourages the following applications:
As a Mindset Evaluation Tool
- Self-Assessment: Evaluate whether current thought-patterns align with Paul’s list of virtues. Where is correction or growth needed? Consider areas like entertainment preferences, thought-habits, priorities, motivations, and speech.
- Heart Posture: This verse promotes positive rather than legalistic correction. Evaluate in a spirit of grace rather than condemnation. Approach with humility, asking God to calibrate heart motives to righteousness.
As a Daily Mind-Discipline
- Mind-Feeding: Counteract corrosive thought patterns by purposefully feeding the mind truths and stories displaying moral nobility, justice, purity, etc. Scripture meditation is vital, along with uplifting books/media.
- Mind-Training: Actively refocus whenever you catch the mind drifting to unwholesome places. Take thoughts captive rather than passively absorbing. Ask God to redirect to edifying content that kindles light, not heat.
- Mind-Confessing: If polluted thoughts have already raised their ugly head, agree with God about the inappropriateness. Make no provision for them. Ask Him to flush with living water from Christ’s word.
As a Community Value
On a community level, Philippians 4:8 provides a measuring rod for moral discourse and conduct among believers. Speech, instruction, disciplines, and correction should align with these virtues. This filters out much foolish chatter perverting modern dialogue. Any input lacking truth, nobility, justice, purity, loveliness, excellence, and praiseworthiness ought be dismissed in Christ.
So what does Philippians 4:8 mean?
In summary, Philippians 4:8 at its core teaches believers to nurture inner life through feeding on righteous virtues that reflect God Himself. This requires Spirit-empowered mind-renewing as we learn to starve fleshly impulses and nourish the new creation birthed in Christ. By obeying this verse, our mental faculties are healed, relationships enriched, communion with Jesus sweetened and the King exalted in our lives. May Philippians 4:8 mold our thinking and doing unto godliness!
Moving Beyond this Article on Philippians 4:8
Knowing Philippians 4:8 is just the start. Continue exploring other empowering explanations of Bible Verses to keep strengthening your spirit. Divine Disclosures offers wisdom for cultivating virtue and excellence of thought. Share this article with others struggling to dwell on the noble, right, and admirable.
As you walk this difficult yet hope-filled road of faith, take heart in God’s power to renew your mind. There is no limit to the transformation possible for minds fully dependent on Him. Seek the true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy wherever it may be found. Then the God of peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
