There is thinking, there is thanking, and, third, there is loving. In Philippians 4:8 Paul tells his readers to think first of “whatever is true, noble, right, and pure.” These things are more traditional theological virtues that have to do with the mind and the will. But then he moves on and asks them to ponder “whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” By definition, anything that is “lovely” is something that is not merely true but also attractive.386 Here, I believe Paul is urging his readers not just to order the thoughts
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