20当我们给人看出我们是在基督里，活祂这位神人，祂就要在我们人性的美德里得著彰显。保罗在腓立比四章八节的话指明这点：『末了的话，弟兄们，凡是真实的，凡是庄重的。凡是公义的，凡是纯洁的，凡是可爱的，凡是有美名的；若有甚么德行，若有甚么称赞，这些事你们都要思念，』这里所列举的都是人性的美德。这里的真实是道德上的，不是事情上的。『庄重的』就是可敬的，值得尊敬的，也是高贵的，端庄的。（提前三8，11，多二2。）这辞含尊严意，能激发并引起人的敬意。『公义的』是指在神和人面前是对的（不是指正直的）。『纯洁的』是指在意愿和行动上是单纯的，毫无搀杂。『可爱的』在这里意思是令人爱的，合人意的，令人喜爱的。『有美名的』含示有好名声的，吸引人的，动人的，亲切的。这节的『德行』是指优越，即道德的能力，表现在有活力的行动上。『称赞』是指值得称赞的事，是伴同著德行的。
20When we are found in Christ living Him as the God- man, He will be expressed in our human virtues. Paul’sword in Philippians 4:8 indicates this: “For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is righteous, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is well-spoken of, if there is any virtue and if any praise, take account of these things.” All the items listed here are human virtues. Here to be true is to be true ethically, not in matter of fact. To be honorable is to be venerable, worthy of reverence; it is also to be noble and grave (1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2). The word implies the idea of dignity, which inspires and invites reverence. To be righteous is to be right (not just) before God and man. To be pure is to be single in intention and action, without any mixture. The word “lovely” here means to be lovable, agreeable, endearing. The words “well-spoken of” are the translation of the Greek word that means sounding well. As used here, the word implies being of good repute, renowned, attractive, winning, gracious. In this verse “virtue” is excellence, that is, ethical energy exhibited in vigorous action. The word “praise” indicates things worthy of praise, as the companion of virtue.