Whatsoever things are honest... Asyndeton???

When you look at the list of things to think on in Philippians 4:8, the second entry is 'honest'. What is the difference between 'true' (first on the list) and 'honest' (#2)? Of course, one could look up a commentary on this verse and find out what other people say about this word, but is that where the right definition is found? Not necessarily. Sometimes that helps, but it is a good idea to see how God has used that word before. The root word in Greek is 'sebomai' and is translated 'devout' or 'worship'. Its definition lends itself to consider a 'dignified seriousness'. The actual word found in this verse is 'semnos' and is translated here as 'honest' but in all other places it is translated 'grave' or rather 'having gravity'.

One of the first things we notice about this verse is it's pattern and the repetition of the words 'whatsoever' and 'if there be any' indicating a list. This is a figure of speech called Asyndeton (No-Ands) and each word recorded builds to the conclusion of things to think on. There is an emphasis on the end result. We are to read through this list to the culmination phrase at its end. It is not necessarily a checklist.

'Truth' and 'dignified seriousness' are tied together as are the other words in the list. What if you had the truth but were flippant about it, or disrespectful? Or what if you were very serious and reverent about something and it wasn't something that was true? Putting these words all altogether, describes a good way to think about things for a peaceful outcome. Each of these words builds a total picture together.

The same figure is in I Corinthians 13:4-8a about the love of God.

4 The love is long-suffering, it is kind, the love doth not envy, the love doth not vaunt itself, is not puffed up,5 doth not act unseemly, doth not seek its own things, is not provoked, doth not impute evil,6 rejoiceth not over the unrighteousness, and rejoiceth with the truth;7 all things it beareth, all it believeth, all it hopeth, all it endureth. 8 The love doth never fail; (Young's Literal Translation)

What good is long-suffering if it isn't kind or is envious? This is a total picture of why the love of God never fails.

It is interesting to check out  additional major concepts like 'faith' (Hint: Hebrews 11) and 'hope' (I Corinthians 15) for asyndetons! Figures of Speech by E.W Bullinger is a great resource. He suggests comparing the use of asyndetons with polysyndetons. That's my project this week :) !

Looking into some of these things can be very heady and it is good to keep that in mind. Practically, in doing this type of study, it is good to remember another great asyndeton also found in I Corinthians 13:13 -

13 and now there doth remain faith, hope, love -- these three; and the greatest of these [is] love. (YLT)