Hebrews 13:18  ”Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.”

Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

THINKING IS A RECOGNIZED PROGRAM SOLUTION FOR ANXIETY.  A psychologist Lawrence J. Cohen, for example, in his book on The Opposite of Worry[i] says that “peace of mind” or “serenity” is not the solution to anxiety. Rather, the opposite of worry to him is a flow of emotions that enables us to identify what we are feeling.  “To sum it up in a word, the opposite of worry is what he calls “mindfulness”.’  Mindfulness is a “stress-reduction program” of thinking, as “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we're doing.”[ii]  This modern routine practice of thinking has been compared to “far eastern religious meditation.”   It is interesting that such proponents urge a systematic approach to such meditation in order for it to be overall effective.

A CHRISTIAN’S MEDITATION.    Meditation, by the way, is what the Bible teaches godly souls to practice.  The Bible says that such a one in the Old Testament was blessed if he thought on God’s Word, referred to as the Law.  “Blessed is the man … [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:1a,2).   Meditate, in this passage, means “to ponder.”  The LXX chooses the Greek word meletaō^G3191 for meditation which Strong’s Greek Dictionary defines as “to revolve in the mind.”  Thayer’s Greek Definitions says that this word “was used of the Greeks of the meditative pondering and was the practice of their orators and rhetoricians.”

In a troubling world such as we live in, it may seem impossible that we can be free from fear and anxious living.  But a solution, according to God’s Spirit, is on what we ponder, i.e., how and what we think.  We are told to be anxious for nothing but to think on certain things (Philippians 4:8). 

PONDER TRUE THINGS.  In the first article on this subject I dealt with our thinking on WHAT IS TRUE.    We are commanded to have selective thoughts of whatever is true, i.e., think on true things.   True content is factual, genuine, and of reputable information.  I am reminded of the Dewey Decimal System for organizing book knowledge (in the library).[iii] Such knowledge in books were organized by Mr. Dewey and numbered according to: Where did we come from? Where are we now?  Why am I here?  And where are we going? Interestingly, the Bible is the foundational core for the truth on all these questions.  Think of the answers in the Bible as the True “Light” on history.  It is given to us from heaven from our all-knowing Creator and Historian.  Philippians 4:8 commands us to think on these true things.  

“THE SECOND THING”: PONDERING ON HONEST THINGS.  This article deals with the second thing listed in Philippians 4:8. The passage commands us to think on things THAT ARE HONEST.   Usually, the KJV uses honest for the Greek word “good”: kalos.   Here, it is a different word.   In addition to Philippians 4:8, the Bible only uses this word translated “honest” in three other places: 1 Timothy 3:8, 11, and Titus 2:2.  The word is referencing deacons and old men in the three passages.  And the KJV translates it there as “grave.”   Also, there is a noun form of  “grave” that is rendered “honesty” in 1 Timothy 2:2 but “gravity” in 1 Timothy 3:4 and Titus 2:7.

The Pulpit Commentary admits that this word is difficult to translate into English.  Cremer[iv] describes it as denoting what inspires reverence and awe.    One scholarly source searches for an adequate and compatible definition “in which the sense of gravity and dignity is combined."[v]  

The classification by Strong’s Dictionary is Number #4586 [semnos] and is defined in the Greek as “venerable, that is, honorable.”    This word “honest” or “grave” Thayer’s Definitions defines it as “august, venerable, reverend; honourable character and deeds.”   Vine’s Dictionary states this word “honest” as primarily denoting "reverend, august, venerable"; then, it continues with  meaning "serious, grave," whether of persons, such as deacons or of aged men or of just things. 

One Biblical commentator says this word refers to “venerable” in speech and action in opposition to levity, frothiness, or foppery. Another uses the definition “dignified.”[vi]  Such things that make men esteemed and revered.[vii]  “It points to a Christian self-respect, which is quite consistent with true humility, for it is a reverence for the temple of God.”[viii]    By the way, Vine’s adds that the meaning points to things “serious of purpose and to self-respect in conduct.”

A related primary word in #4576’s family of words according to the KJV Concordance means “to revere; to worship”!    Our word itself (#G4586) is said to historically have been “used in relation to the gods [idols], and to the things that pertained to them, as being worthy of honor or veneration.” [ix]  So, one can readily perceive why I tend to interpret both “honest” things and “true” things as being associated in a religious manner.   It comes down to the question of who we are.   Do we recognize that we are created in the image of God; do we think of things that glorify or honor the one who loves us and died for us?

This does not mean that our thinking would strictly be limited to worship for either the word “true” or the word “honest.”  Rather, our bevy of thoughts ought to be on clean subjects which religion would demand.   This to me then naturally leads us to select true and honest thoughts in harmony with the Holy Word’s teaching which is inherently true and honest.   For example, honesty (to me) is associated with truth instead of lying.  Honesty means you explain how a situation really happened.  Jesus associates the opposite of honesty with the creative thoughts of the devil (John 8:44).

 SERIOUS.  Perhaps, the word “serious” helps us to understand the original; it’s the translated word used by ABP+ for #G4586 in both its LXX version and the New Testament, i.e., “serious.”  For examples,

       Proverbs 8:6, “Listen to me! [ serious^G4586 things for I shall speak], and I will offer [from my lips straight things]!”   Note: the KJV has excellent things.

Proverbs 15:26, “[is an abomination to the LORD The devise of the unjust]; [of the pure but the sayings]  are serious.^G4586”   Note: the KJV has pleasant.

Summing up our list of possible equivalents for our honest things to think about, we have “reverend, august, venerable, honest, grave, awe, dignity, esteemed, serious, dignified.”  Perhaps, we can personally select one of the words that has more meaning to us from our individual memory of experiences.    One scholar claims that “venerable” is the best rendition.  “Respectful” is more meaningful to me.  Finally, an appropriate application is a quote: “a Christian must show respect to all the venerable and proper customs of society, when they do not violate conscience or interfere with the law of God.”[x]

                --Gaylon West
checked by Janie R. Ward and Mary L. West