Philippians 4:12

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ABASED - in low circumstances (2 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 6:9). EVERY WHERE, [ en (G1722) panti (G3956)] - 'in every thing.' INSTRUCTED, [ memueemai (G3453)] - 'initiated in a secret teaching, a mystery unknown to the world....

12_I know both how to be abased _There follows here a distinction, with the view of intimating that he has a mind adapted to bear any kind of condition. (248) Prosperity is wont to puff up the mind beyond measure, and adversity, on the other hand, to depress. From both faults he declares himself to be free. _I know, _says he,_to be abased _— that is, _to endure abasement with patience. _ Περισσεύειν is made use of twice, but in the former instance it is employed as meaning, to _excel; _in the _second _instance as meaning, to _abound, _so as to correspond with the things to which they are exposed. If a man knows to make use of present abundance in a sober and temperate manner, with thanksgiving, prepared to part with everything whenever it may be the good pleasure of the Lord, giving also a share to his brother, according to the measure of his abi

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 12. _I KNOW - HOW TO BE ABASED_] I have passed through all these states; I know how to conduct myself in each, and how to extract good from all. And he had passed through these things, especially the hardships, so that he had learned the lesson _perfectly_, as the word μεμυημαι implies; he was thoroughly instructed; fully _initiated_ into all the mysteries of poverty and want, and of the supporting hand of God in the whole. See here the state to which God permitted his chief apostle to be reduced! And see how powerfully the grace of Christ supported him under the whole! How few of those who are called Christian ministers or Christian men have learned this important lesson! When want or affliction comes, their complaints are loud and frequent; and they are soon at the end of their patience....

I KNOW BOTH HOW TO BE ABASED - To be in circumstances of want. AND I KNOW HOW TO ABOUND - To have an abundance. lie had been in circumstances where he had an ample supply for all his needs, and knew what it was to have enough. It requires as much grace to keep the heart right in prosperity, as it does in adversity, and perhaps more. Adversity, of itself, does something to keep the mind in a right state; prosperity does nothing. EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL THINGS - In all my travels and imprisonments, and in reference to everything that occurs, I learn important lessons on these points. I AM INSTRUCTED - The word used here - μεμύημαι memuēmai - is one that is commonly used in relation to mysteries, and denoted being instructed in the secret doctrines that were taught

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...

I KNOW BOTH HOW TO BE ABASED,.... Or "humbled"; to be treated with indignity and contempt, to be trampled upon by man, to suffer hardships and distress, to be in a very mean and low condition, to work with his own hands, and minister to his own and the necessities of others in that way; yea, to be in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, and have no certain dwelling place; and he knew how to behave under all this; not to be depressed and cast down, or to fret, repine, and murmur: AND I KNOW HOW TO ABOUND; or "to excel"; to be in the esteem of men, and to have an affluence of the things of this world, and how to behave in the midst of plenty; so as not to be lifted up, to be proud and haughty, and injurious to fellow creatures; so as not to abuse the good things of life; and so as to use them to the honour of God, the interest of religion, and the good of fellow creatures, and fellow...

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

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

PHP_4:10-18. THANKS FOR THE GIFTS. The Philippians had sent assistance to Paul several times. They had begun when he was at Thessalonica, sending there twice. Now Epaphroditus has been bringing a more recent contribution. Paul delights in this because it is a fruit of Christian grace in the good people who send it. He regards it as a fragrant sacrifice to God. As for himself, he has no anxiety about such matters because he has learnt how to have abundance and how to suffer want. He is independent in regard to both _extremes, being_ able to endure everything that happens through the one who strengthens him, meaning either God or Christ (Christ is not in the best MSS)....