Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8

“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.” NKJV

What is true, or as Pilate asked, “What is truth?” JESUS said that if we “know the truth the truth will set us free.” So what does JESUS say the truth is? He told the disciples that His Father is the one True GOD and that He Himself is Truth, He said that Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 8:32, 14:6, 16:13, 17:3, 18:37-38). What else does the Bible tell us about truth? That GOD is True and everyman a liar, that His Words are Truth, that Truth is our shield, John tells us that GOD is True and when we are in Him who is True (Psalm 91:4, 119:142; Romans 3:4; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 21:5)

What is noble? Honest in the KJV, honorable things as in 2 Corinthians 8:21 or good things as in Romans 12:17. GOD’s works are honorable, wondrous, glorious and to be remembered and spoken of (Psalm 111:2-4, 145:4-7). We are not to be noble as a noun but to be noble as a verb, it is our heart and action not our position (Acts 17:11 – fair minded; 1 Corinthians 1:26 – well born)!

What is just? GOD is just (Acts 3:14-16; 1 John 1:9-10). Habakkuk tells us that “the just live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17), Deuteronomy 16:18-20 defines just as to not pervert justice or show partiality or take bribes (Proverbs 12:17, 17:23). Study Noah, the Bible says he was a just man in Genesis 6:9. So little is said about Joseph, Mary’s husband except that he was a just man, study his live (Matthew 1:19) Being just is a lifestyle of the heart we are justified to a lifestyle not a position (Mark 2:17; Luke 15:7) study Romans 3 and 4.

What is pure? We all automatically think something like; without blemish or any foreign substance, which is right. The Bible says that GOD’s commandments are pure enlightening the eyes; JESUS said that that our eyes are the lamb of our body, what we bring in through our eyes effects our heart from which comes good or evil (Psalm 12:6-7, 19:8; Matthew 6:22-23, 15:10-20; Luke 11:34-36, Hebrews 4:12-13) We do not like to think about the process of becoming pure as in Psalm 7:9; Proverbs 17:3; 1 Corinthians 3:11-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 1 Peter 1:3-9.

What is lovely? We think of lovely as pretty, beautiful, pleasant to look upon, my NKJV Bible cross references this with 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, I recommend the whole chapter on Love. Love is lovely, the heart attitude and behavior of Love is lovely and we are called to Love, (Exodus 20:1-7; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5-6; Matthew 5:43-48; John 13:34-35, 14:15-24, 15:9-14).

What is a good report? If you’re in school its 3.5 to 4.0, if you’re an employee is 3.5 to 4.0, if you’re in the military its 3.5 to 4.0, if you’re in the Kingdom of GOD its “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into your Master’s rest.”, its Revelation 12:11 and 20:11-15.

What is virtue? Peter says virtue is to be added to our faith and we should add knowledge to our virtue, 2 Peter 1:5. So what is virtue that it is added to faith and requires knowledge? Virtue is moral strength or excellence according to Bible Dictionary by Publications International, Ltd, 1999. Proverbs 31:10 teaches us that a virtuous wife is worth more than rubies; my NKJV cross reference teaches that it refers literally to a wife of valor in the sense of all forms of excellence; of course that definition can be applied to any person in any situation. That is what the Ten Commandments teach as the standard for every person to live by; study Exodus 20:1-17 Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 5:1-22.

What is praiseworthy? GOD the Father; JESUS, GOD the Son; and HOLY SPIRIT, the SPIRIT of GOD! Study Exodus 20:1-7; Deuteronomy 5:1-11, 6, 8; the Psalms; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Ephesians 1:3, 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:11-16; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 1:4-8

Do a study of the key words of this passage true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue and praiseworthy. Get a Bible dictionary and a concordance and look up other scriptures, use your Bible’s cross-reference and if it does not have one make your own. Memorization of scripture is important but if you only know the words and not the message they will not help you in your time of need.