Philippians 4:8
Finally (to loipon). See on Philippians 3:1.
Whatsoever (osa). 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 sebw, to worship, revere. So revered, venerated (I Timothy 3:8).
Pure (agna). Old word for all sorts of purity. There are clean things, thoughts, words, deeds.
Lovely (prosfilh). Old word, here only in N.T., from prov and filew, pleasing, winsome.
Of good report (eufhma. Old word, only here in N.T., from eu and fhmh, fair-speaking, attractive.
If there be any (ei tiv). Paul changes the construction from osa (whatsoever) to a condition of the first class, as in Philippians 2:1, with two substantives.
Virtue (areth). Old word, possibly from areskw, 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 (Philippians 4:8; I Peter 2:9; II Peter 1:3, II Peter 1:5). It is common in the papyri, but probably Paul is using it in the sense found in the LXX (Isaiah 42:12; Isaiah 43:21) of God's splendour and might (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 95) in connection with "praise" (epainov) as here or even meaning praise.
Think on these things (tauta logizesqe). Present middle imperative for habit of thought. We are responsible for our thoughts and can hold them to high and holy ideals.
