The NASB talks of "doing all things through Him." . We can’t strip away all the surrounding verses, remove it from its original intent, and still expect to understand it. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (NIV), Let us look at how different Bible versions bring out the meaning of Philippians 4:13. "The actual point is even more glorious than the suburban legend," he adds. What Does Philippians 4:10 Mean? Colossians 1 ... 1,700 Key Words that Unlock the Meaning of the Bible. If you’ve been in any Christian circle, you have likely heard the verse Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” What you may not know, though, is the context behind this verse and how in it, Paul teaches us how we get through hard times. We are to live and work and be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might - not in the strength and power of our own, fleshly, human abilities. Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do all things through Christ. 6) Philippians 4:13 Tattoo with Cross. You will need the strength that only comes with Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Explanation and Commentary of Philippians 4:13. At that moment, Philippians 4:13 must have meant being content with losing a game. And if you are like thousands of other Christian athletes, at one point you have probably claimed Philippians 4:13 as a way to gain you what you desire most. Tennessee pastor Bryan Yawn writes that the "true meaning of 'all things' (in Philippians 4:13) might disappoint contemporary Christians," although it shouldn't. As a result, many people have experienced disappointment, for example, Stephen Curry, whose example you will find at the end of this article. I believe it may mean something along the lines of. The religious meaning of the tattoo can be reinforced with the symbol of a cross. Why Paul Wrote the Letter to the Philippians. ⚡, One Sunday night, his team lost a game to the Cleveland Cavaliers and he was devastated. Learn more in Lynn H. Cohick’s Philippians online course. Your strength will fail you, but God’s strength won’t. ✝. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Philippians is a letter about joy. To correctly interpret it, you have to read the adjacent Bible verses and see what the additional information will reveal. (Epistle to the Philippians), Paul went to preach the gospel in Philippi after a vision he had of a man calling him to go to Macedonia and help the people there (Acts 16:19). Enhance your school’s traditional and online education programs by easily integrating online courses developed from the scholars and textbooks you trust. If you read the NIV translation of verse 13, you’ll notice an important distinction from most other translations: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (emphasis added). When we go to the preceding verse we see a different perspective from other versions. They use it to show others they can fulfill any desire they please through Christ and by faith. When you understand Philippians 4:13 in context, it is a power-packed Bible verse. Paul gives the Philippians the promise of God’s peace that surpasses all understanding. Just before Paul says, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,” he recounts some of the different circumstances he’s found himself in: he’s been hungry and well-fed, he’s been in need and he’s been well off, and he’s learned to be content, no matter what his circumstances are. He could not understand how his team lost when he always declared "he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him. Comments will be approved before showing up. He was able to overcome all these things through the strength of Christ. Not on his own, but through Christ who strengthens him. He learned to be content through Christ. Pursue a deeper knowledge of God through self-paced college- and seminary-level online courses in Old and New Testament studies, theology, biblical Greek, and more. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Being anxious for nothing means not putting our confidence in things of the flesh (Philippians 3:3), rather knowing that Christ can be exalted in life and in death (Philippians 1:20). It would have been a pagan, polytheistic community, as confirmed by their reactions to Paul and his associates’ message of the gospel. This verse is so misused because many Christians interpret “all things” as “anything,” not “all the things Paul has talked about.” It’s not a blanket endorsement that God will support anything we set out to do and empower us to do whatever impossible things we can imagine. This gives a more spiritual dimension and allows you to be creative on the designs. How does he know? What Philippians 4:13 Means for Your Life. To better understand Philippians 4:13, we have to look at it in the context of the verse preceding it. To his shock, he found the real meaning of the verse when he read it in context. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Philippians 4:13 is one of the most popular verses in the Bible but also one of the most misused and misinterpreted. 9 Easy Ways to Share the Word of God with Others, 10 Ways to Become a Better Christian in this Season. Get updates from Zondervan Academic directly in your inbox. All Rights Reserved. Philippians 4:12 is key in interpreting the verse that follows it, and it says: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. is a difficult thing to do. In it, Paul says he has found the secret of being content in every situation and then goes on to say what it is. God gives us the opportunities to tell others about Him. Does this verse mean: "In every respect (adverbial accusative) I am strong " (NEB, Phillips, TEV) or "I can do every thing etc." He can persevere, share the gospel, and be content in any situation. The meaning is often misconstrued and misappropriated; if anything, Philippians 4:13’s true meaning is somewhat lost. You may unsubscribe from these email communications at any time. How does he do it? ", This Bible version says you can make it through anything because of your identity in our Lord Jesus Christ. Support For Paul's Ministry. The adjacent verses will give you the context within which to interpret it. He has learned in every circumstance the, In this Bible version, we learn that Paul has found a way to deal with everything he faces: through, Philippians 4:12 describes the "anything" as the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or empty. Let’s take a look at the original context of this famous passage and see what he really meant. (Romans 8:38). Because he’s tested it, and he’s proved it. As a result, many people have experienced disappointment, for example. One Sunday night, his team lost a game to the, He could not understand how his team lost when he always declared "he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him.". In Philippians 4:14, Paul commends the Philippians for helping him through his troubles even as he draws strength from Christ. Verse 13 then goes on to say that this is possible in the ", Now that we know who the "One" is, how do we describe ", You can make it through anything through Christ because you are a child of God. Paul’s life was eventful with many trials and therefore needed to learn to be content in all circumstances. He was not talking about doing anything he set his mind on but what he had to overcome to preach the gospel. Paul had to preach the gospel despite the challenges he faced. Paul was a man who preached the gospel in all kinds of places, some of which were hostile. God used his failure to show him what the verse meant so that his faith could have a sure foundation. He rejoiced when the gospel of Christ was proclaimed and he rejoiced that he did not labour in vain. Paul was a man who traveled a lot as he preached the gospel, and this meant he couldn't get cozy in one place. Paul is saying in Philippians 4.13 that regardless of your situation you can endure through Christ who gives you strength. He has learned in every circumstance the secret of making it through abundance and need. . Paul has been thanking the Philippians for their love for him and the material support they had been led to give to him. Philippians 4:13 is one of the most well-known New Testament verses, but it’s also notoriously misused. Philippians 4:13 is a simple Bible verse yet people misinterpret it. In Philippians 4:14, Paul commends the Philippians for helping him through his troubles even as he draws strength from Christ. Log out / don ’ t strip away all the things you desire through Christ who strengtheneth me. creative! On your wrist to remind him that he did not labour in.... 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