Context
Encouragement for Living the Christian Life (1:1–30)
Examples for Living the Christian Life (2:1–30)
Exhortationsn(correction of wrong views) for Living the Christian Life (3:1–21)
Enablement for Living the Christian Life (4:1–23)
v. 1 stand firm in the Lord in this way
v.4 Rejoice in the Lord always
Content of v.6-8
(Do not be anxious...present your requests to God v.6)
And the peace of God...will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What are the 2 conditions in order to have the help from God?
What is the result?
What kind of image does the guarding by the peace of God?
Where will the peace of God guard?
Not only God’s peace guarding the hearts and minds of believers, Paul also gave us command to do something with our minds. What is the command in the end of verse 8? focus on all that is excellent or praiseworthy (end of v.8)."if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things"
Excellent or praiseworthy are the summaries of what is said above. What are the 6 details of how shall we think about?
1 True (alēthē) things are of course the opposite of dishonest and unreliable things (cf. Eph. 4:15, 25).
1. If we are challenge to think about whatever is true what does this require us to do? 2 things:
a. the search for truth in the most comprehensive sense. (the positive)
b. discernment to see the difference between what is true and what is false (the negative)
2. Why is thinking so important in Christian live (other than it will affect our anxious or not)? thinking before doing v.9
3. What might affect our thinking? media, books, friends.
4. When do we apply "think about excellent and praiseworthy (true, noble, right...)?" Before we start a conversation, buy ticket to see a movie, check out a book, day-dreaming about a topic, etc.
5. Ask yourself this question, "Is this true?" or "Is this dishonest, unreliable?"
6. What are some examples of media, books, friends' conversation that may not be true?
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2 Noble refers to what is dignified and worthy of respect (this word semna is used in the NT only here and in 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2).
Calling for a focus on all that is noble also implies a deliberate turning away from all that is ignoble, dishonorable, and vulgar
In this context the virtue connotes whatever is awe-inspiring, lofty, and majestic: “things that lift the mind from the cheap and tawdry to that which is noble and good and of moral worth.”
3 Right refers to conformity to God’s standards.
4 Pure (hagna) refers to what is wholesome, not mixed with moral impurity.
5 Lovely (prosphilē, occurring only here in the NT) speaks of what promotes peace rather than conflict.
6 Admirable (euphēma, also used only here) relates to what is positive and constructive rather than negative and destructive.
These six objects of thought are then described as excellent (aretē) and praiseworthy (epainos).
Reference:
Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 664). Victor Books.
Hansen, G. W. (2009). The Letter to the Philippians (p. 297). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
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