Charles Spurgeon Commentary Philippians 4:11

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content." — Philippians 4:11 (ASV)

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Is not that a splendid piece of learning? Paul was a learned man, and so are you, if you have learned this lesson. You may not be able to put D.D., or LL.D., after your name, but you are a learned man if you can say, I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

"I have been initiated"—for that is the word—"among those who are content with such things as they have."

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

That was not an easy lesson to learn, especially when one of those states meant being in prison at Rome. If he was ever in the Mamertine, those of us who have been in that dungeon would confess that it would take a great deal of grace to make us content to be there; and if he was confined in the prison of the Palatine hill, in the barracks near the morass, it was, to say the least, not a desirable place to be in. A soldier chained to your hand day and night, however good a fellow he may be, does not always make the most delightful company for you, nor you for him; and it takes some time to learn to be content with such a companion; but, says Paul, I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.