Philippians 4:8
Whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely and commendable — think about these things.
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.
What Philippians 4:8 means
Immediately after promising a peace that guards the heart and mind, Paul gives the corresponding responsibility: choose what occupies your thinking. God guards the mind; we decide what we hand it to dwell on.
The list is a filter you can actually apply — is this true? is it lovely? — and the verb ‘think about’ means dwell on, not merely notice. Memorising the list gives you something concrete to redirect a spiralling mind toward, rather than simply trying not to think about something.
Related topics
Questions about Philippians 4:8
What does Philippians 4:8 mean?
It instructs believers to deliberately fill their thinking with what is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy.
How does Philippians 4:8 help with anxious thoughts?
It gives a positive replacement rather than a prohibition. Instead of trying to stop an anxious thought, you deliberately turn attention to something that passes the list.