As Paul continues his list of what types of thoughts we should think, he adds the word “pure” as the fourth on the list.

This word brings up lots of images, many of which convey, at least in part, the idea he’s trying to get across.

As I started thinking about this word, I started listing all the mental images I think of when I think of “pure.”

• My wife’s wedding ring is pure gold.
• I keep a filtered pitcher in the refrigerator for pure water.
• My friend is a pure genius.
• The snowfall was pure white.
• My dog is a pure blood.
• True Love Waits helps one stay pure until marriage.

These are all good examples of what the word means, but they all only contain an aspect of the idea of pure.

So I turned to the dictionary. Here are a few of the definitions listed on mirriam-webster.com:

• Unmixed with any other matter; free from dust, dirt, or taint; spotless; stainless; free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes; containing nothing that does not properly belong; free from moral fault or guilt.

Again, this helps, but it still falls short.

Looking at the original Greek, the word hagnos brings to mind proper motives, being free from sin or fault, and being centered on God.

Bingo.

That last definition clicked in my mind. If I am to think pure thoughts, those thoughts need to be centered on God. If my thoughts are not centered on God, then they aren’t thoughts that should be running through my mind.

Does this mean that I cannot think anything except theologically defined things all day long? Of course not. What it means is that all my thoughts should have the undercurrent of God running through them. No matter what I’m thinking. My house payment. The kids’ soccer practice. Making a cup of coffee. Reading the Bible. Everything I think should be based upon the foundation of God.

Paul gave some instruction in this matter when he told the Corinthians to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

One of the most interesting aspects of the word “pure” used in this passage though is that it comes from the same Greek root as the word most often translated as “holy.”

Our thoughts are to be pure. And that means they are to be holy.

That’s worth thinking about.

How are your thoughts on the pure/holy scale? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.