Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Paul hastens to make clear that though he undoubtedly had a need, it was not relief of this need that primarily concerned him. He had “learned to be content” with what God provided, irrespective of circumstances. It is significant that Paul had to “learn” this virtue; contentment is not natural to most of us.

In Stoic philosophy, “content” (GK 895) described a person who accepted impassively whatever came. Circumstances that could not be changed were regarded as God’s will, and fretting was useless. This philosophy fostered a self- sufficiency in which all the resources for coping with life were located within a person. In contrast, Paul locates his sufficiency in Christ, who provides strength for believers (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10).

Paul truly understood what it was to be in want and “to have plenty.” What he means by the latter we cannot tell; perhaps it was his earlier days as a rising figure in Judaism (Galatians 1:14) or any of the times when he was not suffering privation (e.g., Acts 9:19, 28; 16:15, 33–34; 18:3; 21:8). He had learned how to trust God in every particular situation and in all situations as a whole.