Philippians 4:11
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I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
I have learned--The I in Greek is emphatical. I leave it to others if they will, to be discontented. I, for my part, have learned, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and the dealings of Providence (Heb 5:8), to be content in every state. content--The Greek, literally expresses "independent of others, and having sufficiency in one's self." But Christianity has raised the term above the haughty self-sufficiency of the heathen Stoic to the contentment of the Christian, whose sufficiency is not in self, but in God (Co2 3:5; Ti1 6:6, Ti1 6:8; Heb 13:5; compare Jer 2:36; Jer 45:5).
Open source ↗Exhortations to several Christian duties, as stedfastness, unanimity, joy, etc. (Phi 4:1-9). The apostle's grateful acknowledgments of the Philippians' kindness to him, with expressions of his own content, and desire of their good (Phi 4:10-19). He concludes the epistle with praise, salutations, and blessing (Phi 4:20-23).
Open source ↗4:11-12 As a slave of Christ, Paul has learned to be content with every situation, whether he had plenty or little. His life was filled with the joy that comes from doing the will of God whatever the cost.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.
in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,
Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.