thinking

⁸ 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.

In keeping with that thought, Paul suggests to his readers a ‘divine programming’ that will ensure their peace. He calls upon them to think about:

• the true—those things that correspond to the teaching of God’s Word;

• the noble—those things that have the dignity of moral excellence;

• the just—those things that conform to God’s standards;

• the pure—those things that are free from the taint of sin;

• the lovely—those virtues that make believers attractive and winsome, such as generosity, kindness, compassion and willingness to forgive;

• the things of good report—those things that give Christians a good reputation and a good name.¹

Paul spells out in detail the things we ought to think about as Christians.

Whatever is true. Dr. Walter Cavert reported a survey on worry that indicated that only 8 percent of the things people worried about were legitimate matters of concern! The other 92 percent were either imaginary, never happened, or involved matters over which the people had no control anyway. Satan is the liar (John 8:44), and he wants to corrupt our minds with his lies (2 Cor. 11:3). “Yea, hath God said?” is the way he approaches us, just as he approached Eve (Gen. 3:1ff). The Holy Spirit controls our minds through truth (John 17:17; 1 John 5:6), but the devil tries to control them through lies. Whenever we believe a lie, Satan takes over!

Whatever is honest and just. This means “worthy of respect and right.” There are many things that are not respectable, and Christians should not think about these things. This does not mean we hide our heads in the sand and avoid what is unpleasant and displeasing, but it does mean we do not focus our attention on dishonorable things and permit them to control our thoughts.

Whatever is pure, lovely, and of good report. “Pure” probably refers to moral purity, since the people then, as now, were constantly attacked by temptations to sexual impurity (Eph. 4:17–24; 5:8–12). “Lovely” means “beautiful, attractive.” “Of good report” means “worth talking about, appealing.” The believer must major on the high and noble thoughts, not the base thoughts of this corrupt world.

Whatever possesses virtue and praise. If it has virtue, it will motivate us to do better; and if it has praise, it is worth commending to others. No Christian can afford to waste “mind power” on thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts were shared.²Finally. In conclusion. Whatsoever. Whatsoever introduced six adjectives picturing old-fashioned Christian ideas. True. Resting on reality and aiming at reality. Honest. Honorable, dignified, worthy of reverence, the combination of gravity and dignity. Just. Righteous relations between man and man, and man and God. Pure. Stainless, chaste, unsullied. Lovely. Lovable, endearing, amiable, gracious, charming, pleasing, winsome. Of good report. Attractive, fair speaking. If there be any virtue. Mental, moral, and physical excellence. If there be any praise. Anything praiseworthy, deemed worthy of praise. Think on these things. Meditate on them with careful reflection, not casually and superficially, but constantly and logically. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:7). Noble thinking produces noble living; high thinking produces high living; and holy thinking produces holy living. All these noble qualities were exemplified in Christ and are produced by the Holy Spirit.³

1 Ellsworth, R. (2004). Opening up Philippians (pp. 84–85). Leominster: Day One Publications.

2 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 95–96). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

3 Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2449). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.