I have just completed an article on OT slavery in Israel. I compared it to the American military. I wanted to add that I do not judge such arrangements in a negative way. Indeed, conscription during World War II helped America, Europe and the Orient to survive tyranny, etc. It furnished me the opportunity to travel and walk in the footsteps of Jesus and the apostle Paul. People have asked me how long was the walk that Jesus had to walk carrying His cross. What is the Dead Sea like and do things actually float on its water? What does the Mount of Olives look like and did you see where Jesus ascended to Heaven? Tell us about the ruins of Greece and Italy. Tell us about Pompeii a city frozen in the time when and where Paul landed as a prisoner just a few miles away? I saw these places free but I didn't have to suffer in Paul's ancient small ships. I experienced these things in just a few months. So conscription servitude was a safe paid means of education for me.

On the other hand, it is hard to imagine the hardships and threats Paul faced. 2 Corinthians 12:10, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake." Yet, such a one as Paul can write to us to not worry about anything. His "secret" is thanking God and thinking of God's things. Think of true things; think of the honorable; think of just things; think pure thoughts; think upon lovely things.

THE SIXTH ITEM OF THINKING TO PREVENT ANXIETY. Philippians 4;8. “Good report.” As in the English, the Greek is a combination of two words, Anglicized euphemism[i] (actually, a “complex” word[ii] with eu, “good” as a prefix of phemism or fame, “report”).

EUPHEMISM IS AN LEGITIMATE ANGLICIZED ENGLISH WORD. Its use should give us a hint as to the original meaning as used by the Holy Spirit via Paul. Euphemism is “to speak well of something. It refers to something that “deservedly enjoys a good reputation.” [iii] This meaning is compatible with Biblical love as described in 1 Corinthians 13, “love believes the best about another person, it refuses to believe an evil report about a brother or sister until there is certain evidence to establish it.”  Paul will now change the sentence structure, beginning the next two phrases with the word “if” to sum up all the others plus anything Paul has omitted.[iv]

THE PREFIX GOOD.  We perhaps think only of the two Greek words agathos and kalos for the KJV Bible translating “good.”  The first word, agathos “good” , is noticeably akin to agape “love” and has to do with love's bestowing beneficial good. The good emanating from Biblical “love” is described in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.[v] This explains why the old KJV uses “charity” whereas later commentaries use “love.” Agathos is described then as being beneficial good. An example of beneficial good in action in the book of Acts is Tabitha “Dorcas” who was reputed for her good works (agathos ^G18 works). Then there's the “good” kalos that is any activity that's inherently beautiful. For example, “Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, [kalos^G2570 works] and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”   These are everyday deeds that are in harmony with obeying and glorifying God.

“EU” , Greek also for GOOD. The good in a good report “eu” is a primary Greek word, that itself means “good” ; i.e., “1) to be well off, fare well, prosper; 2) acting well” (Thayer's Greek Definitions). This Greek word “eu” is used commonly as a prefix “good” and is adopted in several English words: eulogy (a speech praising someone), evangelism (Matthew 11:5-announce gospel), eucharist (1 Corinthians 14:16), eudokı́a “good pleasure” (Ephesians 1:9), euphemism, etc.

FAME. Now the base word for “good report” is the word “report,” phemi ^G5345, basically is fame, “a saying.” It is making known someone's thoughts. Strong defines it as “a rumor” or “fame.”  It is used as a single word only twice in the NT manuscripts. Matthew 9:26, “And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.”   Luke 4:14, “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”   If we were wanting to consider any noted fame or reputation, certainly that of Jesus' power to heal and save is one that could be in our consoling thoughts.

“REPORT” IS KIN TO “SAID” IN THE ORIGINAL. This word “saying or report” is derived from the Greek φημί^G5346 (phemi). The King James Concordance Results show that the KJV Strong's phemi^G5346 occurs 58 times in 57 verses in the Textus Receptus Greek text which the KJV uses and translates as “said”. Strong's Dictionary says it is similar to the base of  light (phos^G5457),  shining or making manifest; i.e., revealing or making known one's thoughts, Hence, it is speak or say; also, affirm, say. This reminds us of the first type of thoughts in this list, “true.” Recall that thoughts of truth have to do with the shining of light in darkness. So, again, the key thoughts urged by Paul and the Holy Spirit have common synonyms.

COMMENTARIES, ETC. Vincent's Word Studies points out that this “good report” should not be considered as something that is “well-spoken of” since the Greek noun report usually is in an active sense. That is, it “sounds well” from us to others. The good report would be sent forth from us, as “fair speaking and winning, gracious.” Such an interpretation, I would think, would make it a “generated” product from us rather than just “thinking.”  Albert Barnes emphasizes it to be thoughts that the public would generally agree to be useful and profitable to men; such as thinking of promoting charitable institutions of any kind. But Robertson uses the descriptive word “attractive.” Such thoughts should be attractive to us as well as to an audience with whom we might share. The Popular New Testament's describe these thoughts as those that are “well-spoken of among men, and so bringing a good name.” John Gill suggest that these are thoughts that would secure us and Jesus a good and reputable name (Ecclesiastes 7:1).

OTHER DICTIONARIES. Thayer's Definition for “good report” is 1) sounding well and 2) uttering words of good omen, speaking auspiciously,[vi] “in a way that  suggests  a  positive  and a successful   future .” Additionally, Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries defines “good report” as something well-spoken of, that is reputable.

        SUMMARY. Let's summarize by considering other versions besides the KJV. Other translations render it as “things of value” (BBE), “good fame” (DRB), renommée, "fame" (French DB), “respected” (ERV), “good repute” (Weymouth), and “commendable” (ESV, GW, ISV, LEB, Murdock, NET and TLV). Let's thank God for our blessings and think well upon reputable reports.

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, Just because He lives!”- hymn by songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither