Philippians 4:8

I was trying to think of this Bible verse for a few weeks, but it was just in the back of my mind. At some point I put the RIGHT key words into a Google search and found it.

I thought of this verse but couldn't articulate it in an argument/ discussion with some of my sophomores in the fall. They were discussing stunts from Jackass, I believe, and wondering if I'd seen South Park or something equally redeeming. I tried to explain to them, life is too precious to me, my time is too valuable, to waste it on such junk. Besides, I told them, there are more important and better things to do with the life you've been given!

Anyway when I did find this verse, I found a cool site that gives each verse in its many translations (an online parallel Bible):

Philippians 4:8

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
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.

King James Bible
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.


TRUE Amiable Anything Beautiful Brethren Brothers Cherish Deemed Dwell Excellence Excellent Finally Gracious Grave Holy Honest Honorable Honour Lovable Lovely Noble Praise Praiseworthy Pure Report Repute Respect Rest Righteous Upright Value Virtue Whatever Whatsoever Wins Worthiness Worthy

Cherish Deemed Dwell Excellence Finally Good Honest Honorable Lovely Praise Pure Report Repute Right Think Thought True. Virtue Whatever Whatsoever Wins Worthy

Cherish Deemed Dwell Excellence Finally Good Honest Honorable Lovely Praise Pure Report Repute Right Think Thought True. Virtue Whatever Whatsoever Wins Worthy

World English Bible
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, 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 any praise, think about these things.

American King James Version
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

American Standard Version
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, 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.

Bible in Basic English
For the rest, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things have honour, whatever things are upright, whatever things are holy, whatever things are beautiful, whatever things are of value, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, give thought to these things.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.

Darby Bible Translation
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are amiable, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if any praise, think on these things.

English Revised Version
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honourable, 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

Tyndale New Testament
Furthermore brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things pertain to love, whatsoever things are of honest report, if there be any virtuous thing, if there be any laudable thing, those same have ye in your mind,

Weymouth New Testament
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever wins respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovable, whatever is of good repute--if there is any virtue or anything deemed worthy of praise--cherish the thought of these things.

Webster's Bible Translation
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, 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 any praise, think on these things.

Young's Literal Translation
As to the rest, brethren, as many things as are true, as many as are grave, as many as are righteous, as many as are pure, as many as are lovely, as many as are of good report, if any worthiness, and if any praise, these things think upon;

Romans 14:18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (NASB ©1995)

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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.

Finally. See on ch. 3:1

whatsoever. Ro 12:9-21 1Co 13:4-7 Ga 5:22 Jas 3:17 2Pe 1:5-7

are true. Mt 22:16 Joh 7:18 Ro 12:9 2Co 6:8 Eph 4:25 5:9 6:14 1Pe 1:22 1Jo 3:18

honest. or, venerable. Ac 6:3 Ro 12:17 13:13 2Co 8:21 13:7 1Th 4:12 1Ti 2:2 3:4,8,11 Tit 2:2,7 *Gr: Tit 3:14 *marg: Heb 13:18 1Pe 2:12

are just. Ge 18:19 De 16:20 2Sa 23:3 Ps 82:2 Pr 11:1 16:11 20:7 Isa 26:7 Mr 6:20 Lu 2:25 23:50 Ac 10:22 Tit 1:8

are pure. 1Ti 4:12 5:2 Tit 2:14 Jas 1:27 3:17 2Pe 3:1 1Jo 3:3

are lovely. 2Sa 1:23 So 5:16 1Co 13:1-13 1Pe 4:8

are of. Ac 6:3 10:22 22:12 Col 4:5 1Th 5:22 1Ti 3:7 5:10 Heb 11:2

virtue. Ru 3:11 Pr 12:4 31:10,29 2Pe 1:3,4

praise. Pr 31:31 Ro 2:29 13:3 1Co 4:5 2Co 8:18

think. Lu 16:15 1Th 5:21 1Jo 4:1


Geneva Study Bible

{7} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things {i} 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.

(7) A general conclusion, that as they have been taught both in word and example, so they build their lives to the rule of all holiness and righteousness.

(i) Whatever things are such that they beautify and set you apart with a holy gravity.

People's New Testament

4:8 Finally, brethren. As he concludes his letter, he sums up Christian duties into a single paragraph.

Whatsoever things are true. Truth in word, in action, and in thought, must be cherished. Christ is THE TRUTH. His followers must be truth itself.

Honest. The Greek is reverend. Whatever is worthy of reverence.

Just. Strict justice in all dealings; an upright life.

Pure. Chaste lives and clean hearts and thoughts.

Lovely. Such deeds as spring from love and inspired love in others.

Of good report. A life of which no evil thing can be truthfully said.

If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise. Lest he may have omitted some excellency he adds, If there be aught else which is virtuous or praiseworthy, let these all be the things to which you give your minds.

Wesley's Notes

4:8 Finally - To sum up all. Whatsoever things are true - Here are eight particulars placed in two fourfold rows; the former containing their duty; the latter, the commendation of it. The first word in the former row answers the first in the latter; the second word, the second and so on. True - In speech. Honest - In action. Just - With regard to others. Pure - With regard to yourselves. Lovely - And what more lovely than truth? Of good report - As is honesty, even where it is not practised. If there be any virtue - And all virtues are contained in justice. If there be any praise - In those things which relate rather to ourselves than to our neighbour. Think on these things - That ye may both practise them yourselves, and recommend them to others.

King James Translators' Notes

honest: or, venerable

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. 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 Mr 10:21; Lu 7:4, 5).

of good report-referring to the absent (Php 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 (2Pe 1:5); and this in uses different from those in heathen authors. It is a term rather earthly and human, as compared with the names of the spiritual graces which Christianity imparts; hence the rarity of its occurrence in the New Testament. Piety and true morality are inseparable. Piety is love with its face towards God; morality is love with its face towards man. Despise not anything that is good in itself; only let it keep its due place.

praise-whatever is praiseworthy; not that Christians should make man's praise their aim (compare Joh 12:43); but they should live so as to deserve men's praise.

think on-have a continual regard to, so as to "do" these things (Php 4:9) whenever the occasion arises.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:2-9 Let believers be of one mind, and ready to help each other. As the apostle had found the benefit of their assistance, he knew how comfortable it would be to his fellow-labourers to have the help of others. Let us seek to give assurance that our names are written in the book of life. Joy in God is of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again called to it. It more than outweighs all causes for sorrow. Let their enemies perceive how moderate they were as to outward things, and how composedly they suffered loss and hardships. The day of judgment will soon arrive, with full redemption to believers, and destruction to ungodly men. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and agrees with a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of fear and distrust, which is sin and folly, and only perplexes and distracts the mind. As a remedy against perplexing care, constant prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for prayer, but in every thing by prayer. We must join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications; not only seek supplies of good, but own the mercies we have received. God needs not to be told our wants or desires; he knows them better than we do; but he will have us show that we value the mercy, and feel our dependence on him. The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in his favour, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction. Believers are to get and to keep a good name; a name for good things with God and good men. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; then, whether our praise is of men or not, it will be of God. The apostle is for an example. His doctrine and life agreed together. The way to have the God of peace with us, is to keep close to our duty. All our privileges and salvation arise in the free mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct. These are works of God, pertaining to God, and to him only are they to be ascribed, and to no other, neither men, words, nor deeds.

Bible Gateway: Philippians Chapter 4 Verse 8 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: TRUE admirable and any anything brethren brothers dwell excellence excellent Finally good honorable if is lovely noble of on or praise praiseworthy pure repute right such there these things think whatever worthy

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NT Letters: Philippians 4:8 Finally brothers whatever things are true (Philipp. Phil. Php.) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools