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There is a further reference to this title of the Lord in Phil. 4:
"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 thing. Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard
and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you" (Phil. 4: 8, 9).
The clause "if there be any virtue" is misleading. The passage should be translated
"whatever virtue there is" (See Rom. 13: 9 and I Cor. 3: 14: "Whatsoever other
commandment there be", and "Whosoever's work shall remain"). Also, the word
"think" in this passage is logizomai, which is rendered "count" in Phil. 3: 13 and
"reckon", "count", and "impute" in Rom. 4: 3-6. Do not let evil and unlovely things
occupy your attention, the Apostle seems to say, but rather let that which is virtuous
count with you--and if such a general injunction is difficult to grasp, remember my own
conduct as an example. Wherever it was possible, the Apostle bestowed praise (See, for
example, his introduction to I Corinthians). Wherever he could, he exercised that power
of love "that believeth all things". He was not quick to mark offence, he did not possess
an eagle eye for faults, and he inculcated the grace that "esteemeth others better than
self". Fellowship with the God of peace will result from such an attitude of mind, and is
precious beyond words.
It should be kept in mind that this passage in Phil. 4: is the working out of the
exhortation and example of Phil. 2: 4-11, where the "mind that was in Christ Jesus" is
the opposite of that mind which was in the Serpent in Gen. 3: The One Who thought it
not a thing to be grasped at to be on equality with God, but humbled himself, is
contrasted with the one who aspired to be like God, who tempted man with the same
temptation, and now seeks to exalt himself to his final undoing.
Another phase of enmity that is countered by the presence of the God of peace is
found in Rom. 15: 33: "Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." To appreciate
the teaching of this section we must read from verse 8, and to assist the reader in the
understanding of its essential features we give below an abbreviated structure:
Romans 15: 8 - 33.
The Acceptableness of the Gentiles.
A | 8, 9. Christ, a minister of the circumcision.
Gentiles might glorify God.
B | 13, 14. THE GOD OF HOPE.
A | 15-32. Paul, a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.
Offering of the Gentiles.
(a) acceptable to God (16).
(b) acceptable to Jewish believers (31).
B | 33. THE GOD OF PEACE.
Through the grace of God, the Gentiles were now "acceptable to God, being sanctified
by the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 15: 16), but the Apostle is in great doubt as to the attitude of