Philippians 4:11

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I HAVE LEARNED. The I is emphatic. I leave it to others, if they will, to be discontented. I, for my part, have learned, by the Holy Spirit's teaching, and the dealings of Providence (Hebrews 5:8). CONTENT, [ autarkees (G842)] - 'independent of others, having sufficiency in one's self.' Christianity has raised the term above the haughty self-sufficiency of pagan stoicism to the contentment of the Christian, whose sufficiency is not in self, but in God (2 Corinthians 3:5;...

11_Not that I speak with respect to want _Here we have _a second _correction, by which he guards against its being suspected that his spirit was pusillanimous and broken down by adversities. For it was of importance that his constancy and moderation should be known by the Philippians, to whom he was a pattern of life. Accordingly he declares, that he had been gratified by their liberality in such a way that he could at the same time endure want with patience. _Want _refers here to disposition, for that man can never be poor in mind, who is satisfied with the lot which has been assigned to him by God. _In what state I am, _says he, that is, _“Whatever _my condition may be, I am satisfied with it.” Why? because saints know that they thus please God. Hence they do not measure sufficiency by abundance, but by the will of God, which they judge of by what takes place, for they are persuaded th...

10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldl...

Verse 11. _NOT THAT I SPEAK IN RESPECT OF WANT_] I am quite unconcerned in this respect; leaving the whole of my support, while bound for the testimony of Jesus, to the providence of God. _FOR I HAVE LEARNED_] I am so satisfied with the wise providence and goodness of God, that I know whatever he determines is the best; and therefore I am perfectly contented that he should govern the world in that way which seems best to his godly wisdom. How true is the proverb, _A contented mind is a continual feast_! What do we get by murmuring and complaining?...

NOT THAT I SPEAK IN RESPECT OF WANT - Though Paul was doubtless often in circumstances of necessity, yet he did not make these remarks on that account. In his journeys, in his imprisonments, he could not but be at times in want; but be had learned to bear all this; and that which most impressed itself on his mind was the interest which the church ought to show in the cause of religion, and the evidence which it would thus furnish of attachment to the cause. As to his own personal trials, he had learned to bear them, so that they did not give him great uneasiness. FOR I HAVE LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT - That is, to have a contented mind. Paul says that he had “learned” this. Probably by nature he had a mind as prone to impatience as others, but he had been in circumstances fitted to produce a different state of feeling. He had had ample experience...

EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 4:1 THEREFORE, MY BRETHREN DEARLY BELOVED AND LONGED FOR, MY JOY AND CROWN. The apostle here, as in 1 Corinthians 15:58, urges the hope of a glorious resurrection as an incentive to steadfastness in the Christian life. He seems scarcely able to find words adequate to express his love for the Philippians; he heaps together epithets of affection, dwelling tenderly on the word "beloved." He tells them of his longing desire to see them, repeating the word used in Philippians 1:8. He calls them his "joy and crown"—his joy now, his crown hereafter. He uses the same words of the other great Macedonian Church in...

NOT THAT I SPEAK IN RESPECT OF WANT,.... Either of want of will in them; of their slowness and backwardness in their care of him, postponing him to others, caring for him last of all; this gave him no uneasiness, he did not take it ill, knowing and owning himself to be less than the least of all saints: or of his own want before this present came; and his sense is, that he did not express himself with so much joy, because of the penury and distress he was in before the things came to him which they sent; for he was not in want; though he had nothing, he possessed all things, and was as happy, and in as comfortable a frame, and in as much content then as now: FOR I HAVE LEARNED IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, [THEREWITH] TO BE CONTENT; or "to be sufficient", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; or that that is sufficient for me which I have, as the Syriac version renders it; for the word h...

Philippians 4:1. _Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the lord, my dearly beloved._ Paul had a very warm affection for the church at Philippi. You remember how that church was established,-first with the baptized household of Lydia, and afterwards with the baptized household of the jailer. These saints at Philippi were in a special sense Paul's spiritual children, they were very generous and kind to him and his heart was very warm with love to them, so he called them, «my brethren dearly beloved,» and then again, «my dearly beloved.» Philippians 4:2. _I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord._ These two women had fallen out with one another, they evidently differe

THEREWITH Omit "therewith....

IV. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER'S STRENGTH, SUFFICIENT FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Stand fast and rejoice (Philippians 4:1)_ 2. Dependence on God and true heart occupation (Philippians 4:5) 3. I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:10) 4. The fellowship of the Philippians (Philippians 4:14) 5. The greeting (Philippians 4:21) Philippians 4:1 And now the