Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Read Chapter 4
Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Our God is truly “the God of peace.” We are constantly called to peace by God who himself is peace. His calling is not in timidity or weakness or in some show of strength. God is at peace with himself to such a degree that he even allows sins to be committed against him when he could certainly, by the terror of his manifested power and ineffable greatness, force even the unwilling into subjection. But peace of this kind is that of the world, not that of God, whose very nature is peace.
Then he points to the blessing, as he has before: Do this and “the God of peace will be with you.” This is what the Philippians needed most, that there should be no discord, that all should think as one. Thus there will be peace in their church. The God of peace, who is the Father, with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, will impart peace to every soul that is intimate with God.
“These things,” he says, “do.” And above he says “think about” these things. He adds do to show that these things are not only good to think about but to bring into action.
He sees that it is impossible to give precise instructions about everything—their going out, their coming in, their words, their inner condition and their company. All of these a Christian must think about in context. He says concisely and as it were in a nutshell, “Just do what you have heard and seen me do.” .
What means, whatsoever things are lovely? Lovely to the faithful, lovely to God. Whatsoever things are true. Virtue is really true, vice is falsehood. For the pleasure of it is a falsehood, and its glory is falsehood, and all things of the world are falsehood. Whatsoever things are pure. This is opposed to the words who mind earthly things. Whatsoever things are honorable. This is opposed to the words whose god is their belly. Whatsoever things are just, i.e. says he, whatsoever things are of good report. If there be any virtue, if there be any praise. Here he wills them to take thought of those things too which regard men. Think on these things, says he. Do you see, that he desires to banish every evil thought from our souls; for evil actions spring from thoughts. The things which you both learned and received. This is teaching, in all his exhortations to propose himself for a model: as he says in another place, even as you have us for an ensample. Philippians 3:17 And again here, Wha...
