20到腓立比四章八节末了,保罗改变他的措辞,并且说,“若有什么德行,若有什么称赞。”德行,原文意优越,即道德的能力,表现在有活力的行动上。称赞指值得称赞的事,是伴同着德行的。……德行和称赞不是附加的两方面,乃是已经提过的六方面的价值。德行是一般的说法,而不是专一的方面。在真实、庄重、公义、纯洁、可爱以及有美名里面,都有德行。称赞的原则也是这样:在基督徒生活的这六方面,都有值得称赞的事。……活基督之生活的彰显何等优越!……在这些优越的方面,每一方面都有某种德行,和值得称赞的事。这些事我们都该思念;就是说,我们该思想、沉思、考虑这些事(腓立比书生命读经,二七九至二八一、二八三页)。
20Toward the end of Philippians 4:8 Paul changes his expression and says, “If there is any virtue and if any praise.” The Greek word for virtue here means “excellence,” that is, ethical energy exhibited in vigorous action. Praise refers to things worthy of praise, as the companion of virtue. Virtue and praise are not two additional aspects but values of the six aspects already mentioned. Virtue is a general term rather than a specific aspect. There is virtue in truthfulness, dignity, purity, loveliness, rightness, and being well spoken of. The principle is the same with praise: there is something worthy of praise in all these six aspects of the Christian life. How excellent is the expression of the life that lives Christ!…In each of these excellent aspects there is some virtue and something worthy of praise. We should “take account of these things”; that is, we should think on them, ponder them, consider them. (Lifestudy of Philippians, pp. 230-233)