If someone were to ask me what my favorite verse in all of Scripture might be, I would not hesitate even a second to say it is Philippians 4:8:

^“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.”

You might ask why this verse over all other awesome truth given to us in the full counsel of God? Well, there is a deeply personal story related to my conversion experience during Operation DESERT STORM that first inspired my favoritism. But in the thirty years since, I have also grown considerably in my understanding of the elegant, life-changing truth offered by Paul in these thirty-six inspired words. Allow me to give you a small snapshot of my three-decade-deep growing appreciation.

First, notice how Paul is providing an imperative to believers. He is addressing his church family in Philippi— “my brothers”—and he is giving them a command regarding how to think. And this thinking command is not just a one-time exhortation. It is, in fact, a template for how to think all the time—as in every waking moment—which makes it revolutionary and wholly transformational. One cannot obey this command with any integrity at all unless one is submitting under it, as the saying goes, “twenty-four-seven.” As I consider my own ongoing thinking in our current Covid-19 and political crises, I am convicted in my own lack of obedience. I might say the temptation to think of things not on Paul’s list in Philippians 4:8 is perhaps the highest I have found in my lifetime, which is saying something. So, what was going on in Paul’s day that inspired such a command? What were the cultural and political circumstances within which this timeless epistle was penned?

The context of Paul’s letter to the church he planted in Philippi was to report his personal circumstances, but more importantly, he wanted to encourage his beloved partners in the gospel as they sought to navigate a hostile culture. As such, Paul exhorted the Philippian church members to ever stronger personal and corporate relationships in the advancing of the Gospel. He appealed they seek unity with one another even as they held firm to the Gospel against myriad opponents of the faith.

Paul’s Report of His Personal Circumstances

Paul’s encouragement and exhortation to his beloved Philippians was written from prison in Rome (1:12–14). However, despite captivity, his reporting proved replete with encouragement. Paul expressed his affections attesting to a special bond of love for this church (1:2–8; 4:10–19). The Philippian church family had faithfully supported Paul’s ministry, and their willingness to suffer with him for Christ was a source of encouragement for Paul. Paul returned encouragement in kind with positive views on their mission together in the Gospel despite opposition (1:12–18a): “what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (1:12). Paul then beautifully expressed his confidence that Christ would be exalted in either his life or death (1:18b–26): “with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death” (1:20). With these great reassurances laid down, Paul turned to specific exhortations for the Philippians to walk worthy of the Gospel (1:27–4:3) while facing the pressures of the unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The Call to Unity

Paul began with strong appeals to Spirit-inspired unity, hoping to hear that the church would endeavor to be “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). Paul continued pressing deeper and more personally into the call to humble Christian unity asking the Philippians to complete his joy by “being in full accord and of one mind,” doing nothing “from rivalry or conceit, but in humility” counting “others more significant than yourselves” (2:2, 3). Paul then offered Jesus Christ as the perfect example of humble submission in taking “the form of a servant,” humbling himself in obedience “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (2:7–9).

Building on Christ’s example, Paul exhorted the church to seek harmony in advancing the Gospel: “doing all things without grumbling or questioning” (2:12). He then offered examples of good behaviors emanating from right hearts by pointing to his personal testimony (2:17, 18), and to the witnesses of sacrificial servants like Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19–30). Building upon these exhortations and examples, Paul focused next on calling the Philippians to steadfastness (3:1–4:3).

The Call to Steadfastness

Paul began with a sober warning about external opposition: “look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers” (3:1–3). He then warned the Philippians to fight internal temptations by narrating his superlative past—”I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh” (3:4)—as worthless in comparison to the call from the utterly worthy risen Christ. With warnings given, Paul appealed to the Philippians to focus on him to see and hear the high calling of Gospel ministry (3:15–4:3). As a proven leader and influencer, Paul encouraged them to have the same goals as him (3:15, 16). He exhorted them to imitate his Godly example: “join in imitating me” (3:17–21). Finally, he asked them to “stand firm” “in the Lord” (4:1) as he had personally demonstrated in affliction.

The personal appeal in place, Paul turned to “hands-on” pastoral care entreating Euodia and Syntyche to make peace in their conflict (4:2, 3). Here Paul acknowledged the vagaries of Gospel work in a manner that demonstrated loving accountability. Moving from this specific admonition, Paul sought to inspire the church in all circumstances (4:4–9). He urged peace, not anxiety (4:4–7), and then he gave them the stunning list of values we started with paragraphs ago—truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, things commendable, excellence, and praiseworthiness (4:8)—to think about as they sought to navigate life together.

So, does any of this sound familiar to walking as a believer on this rather cold November 2020 day? I sure think it does! Believers couragegeous enough to speak out and fight for truth are increasingly unpopular in America while pastors are perhaps headed to incarceration in the not too distant future. False teachers and their subversive teachings are everywhere within the modern church and are creating catastophic division that is counter to Christ’s design. Conflict among believers within the church—even when emanating from well-meaning hearts—is as prevalent now as it ever was, and such conflict always serves as a threatening distraction to the work of advancing the gosepel to the lost. So, I would say that Paul’s letter, and in particular verse 4:8, is as relevant today as they were when Paul first pressed fresh ink down on parchment two thousand years ago!

But here is the most important revelation about Paul’s stunning list: notice how each virtue—truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, things commendable, excellence, and praiseworthiness—demands an absolute standard under which it can be understood and applied. Implied in the demanded standard is a choice of the mind as to whether to believe in that standard. The Bible unequivocally gives its standard for each virtue. The enemies of Scripture are energetically undermining and redefining these and other biblical standards. One might argue that for most of our nation’s history Americans generally agreed on matters associated with Paul’s list. Today, not so much. We have entered a new American era where biblical standards are more openly scorned than ever, which makes for a hard choice for every professing Christian. Do I stand firm and invite real persecution, or do I go with the flow and pretend its just not my problem?

I suppose we shall see into people’s hearts as things progress into 2021. I urge every believer to examine your faith and run to the truth found in inerrant Scripture! Thank you Paul for reminding me to do this every day, all day!