Bill's Bible Blog

G18b 26 for 2026 Focus on the Good #2 – Nobleness

May theme = Focus on the Good
#1. Philippians 4:8b – Think about noble things.

The Hebrew word for ‘noble‘ used 3 times.

2. ‘Noble‘ (‘honorable’ NASB) in Philippians 4:8  is the Greek word semnós, an adjective derived from the verb sébomai, “to revere, be in awe of, to worship.” It is used in Greek writings variously to mean:

Being august  =  dignified and deeply respected because of achievement over time.
Having gravitas (means ‘weighty’) = earning a deep respect from others due to long-standing positive words and actions.
Being grave, sober = taking things seriously.
Being considered noble = describes rulers who discharge the duties of their position with great seriousness and dignity.
Considered worthy of being praised / honored in an appropriate way.
🍎 See if you can pick out the rest of the 10 traits of a noble person from this blog. 👀

From the various uses of the Greek word, some of the same English words emerge:

• Dignified (without being pompous),
• Respected (without being demanding),
• Serious (without being somber).

There are 3 other occurrences of this Greek adjective in the New Testament.

In 1 Timothy 3:8-11, Paul tells Timothy that when considering men to serve as deacons, both the men and their wives should be worthy of respect (noble), among other important qualities.
Paul writes some similar advice to his other protégé, Titus, to teach the older men, who will serve as mentors for the younger men (same for the older women), how to be worthy of respect (noble). That would imply that we can and should learn this essential characteric needed for Christian leadership.
The Greek word semnós conveys a quality of moral consistency, conduct and character that invites respect, because it reflects the holiness, gravitas, and worthiness of God Himself–in other words, the image of God.
😑 Semnós never suggests somber aloofness, but urges believers to live involved with others in a manner that earns respect without demanding it.
😇 Semnós especially calls those in ministry to live a life whose moral seriousness attracts genuine respect, and reflects the worthiness of the God that they serve.

If you feel like you need to grow in being worthy of respect, then follow Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:8…

🍎 APPLICATIONS:

🤔 Think about the things associated with the Greek word translated “noble“. Would you say all areas of your life exemplify these qualities?

🤔 Can you think of maybe one thing you can change in what you do or say that might lead people to respect you and your God more? 

Growing in these qualities is why Paul is commanding Christians to think about them 🤔 in Philippians 4:8. It’s a worthy goal to strive for! 🏃‍♀️

Oh, and the 10 ‘noble‘ characteristics:

1. Worthy of being revered/honored.
2. Demonstrates wisdom.
3. Earns the respect of others.
4. Takes responsibilities seriously.
5. Discharges duties with appropriate aplomb. (Websters: confident composure, self assured; synonym = poise.)
6. Acts in a dignified way.
7. Consistent moral conduct.
8. Altruistic = Involved with meeting the needs of others; not just concerned about themselves.
9. Words and actions reflect God’s nature.
10. Words carry weight with others.

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Bill Crews

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