final two qualities to sum up all the others plus anything Paul has
omitted.
*To sum up, think on anything of virtue.
The word “excellence” (NASB, NIV) means moral virtue.
Although it is common in Greek literature, this is the only time
Paul uses the word. Peter uses it as a quality of God and thus as the
first quality that we are to add to our faith (2 Pet. 1:3, 5). This
means that as a new Christian, one of the first things you must do
is to stop any behavior that is not in line with God’s moral virtues
as revealed in Scripture, such as the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and Paul’s list of the deeds of the flesh (Gal.
5:19-21). To continue doing such things will hinder your growth in
godliness. We must focus our minds on moral virtue.
*To sum up, think on anything worthy of praise.
The word “praise” is used both of what is praiseworthy in
God (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14; Phil. 1:11) and in people (Rom. 2:29; 13:3; 1
Cor. 4:5). Of course, every attribute and deed of God is praiseworthy, and so we should daily think about how great God is and
on the marvelous works He has done, both in creation and in history. Toward other people, even toward those in the world, we
should be gracious by focusing on their strong points and good
qualities. Even though we all are depraved by nature, because of
God’s common grace even unbelieving people can be kind, caring,
and loving. Ultimately those qualities, even in unbelievers, do not
bring glory to the person, but to God. So we should be appreciative and affirming toward people rather than negative and critical.
*Think on these things.
Paul means to reflect on these qualities that stem from God
and should be characteristic of us as children of God. “Give them
weight in your decisions” (Beare, cited by Bruce, p. 145). Allow
them “to shape your conduct” (Ralph P. Martin, Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries, Philippians [IVP/Eerdmans], p. 171). In
other words, think on these things with a view to doing them.
III. HOW TO OBEY WHAT PAUL IS TEACHING: WE MUST
CONTROL WHAT COMES INTO OUR MINDS.
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