Page 61 - Biblical Ethics Course

7. If any excellence- “Excellent” (aretē) means morally excellent
8. If any praiseworthy- “praiseworthy” means worthy of praising God.
Think about such things.

Paul’s list of eight virtues bears a striking resemblance to lists of virtues in Greek literature. It is almost as if he
had taken a current list from a textbook of ethical instructions and made it his own. The term excellence (aretē),
a term not found elsewhere in Paul’s letters, means “excellence of character, exceptional civic virtue.” The term
is a favorite subject in Stoic thought relating to morality. By the use of this term, usually translated virtue in
Greek literature, Paul seems to signal that he is developing a list of virtues roughly parallel to virtue lists in Greek

literature.Ultimately, life in Christ brings to fulfillment the highest moral aspirations in the surrounding culture.

Paul is calling for followers of Christ to be attentive, reflective, meditative thinkers. Developing a Christian mind
and character requires a lifetime of discerning and disciplined thought about all the things that are excellent and
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praiseworthy.

Colossians

Written to a church Paul did not plant, Colossians reminds the church of the sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus
Christ and urges them on faithfulness to Him. The main theme of Colossians is that Christ is Lord over all, and
nothing else is needed to supplement the salvation found in Him. False teachers suggested that more than Christ
was needed—special knowledge and particular practices. Paul teaches against this philosophy because it
promises much but ultimately does not deliver (Colossians. 2:20–23). In the end, only Christ delivers, and He
should be the focus (Colossians. 3:1–4). Christians have been made alive with Christ (Colossians.2:13), and their
lives are already hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Colossians 3:1–17 (NASB95)
1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the
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right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died
and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed
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with Him in glory.

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and
greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the
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sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
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8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do
not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who
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is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which
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there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and
freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against
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anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

32 G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI;
Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 295–299.

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