Philippians 4:11

Philippians 4:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
• New International Version (NIV)I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Context of Philippians 4:11

9Remember what I have taught you. Remember the message that you heard from me. Remember what you saw when I lived among you. You also must do those same things. God is the one who gives us peace in our minds. He will be with you. 10I am very happy that you want to help me again. I praise the Lord for that. I know that you wanted to help me before. But you have not had a chance to do anything until now. When I say that, it is not because I need anything. I have learned to be happy, whatever things may happen to me. 12I know what it is like to need things. I also know what it is like to have more than enough. I have learned this secret. I know how to be happy whatever happens. I can be happy when I have enough food to eat, and also when I am hungry. I can be happy when I have plenty of things, and also when I have nothing. 13I can do all these things because Christ makes me strong.

Philippians 4:11 word by word

οὐχ ὅτι καθ᾽ ὑστέρησιν λέγω· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔμαθον ἐν οἷς εἰμι αὐτάρκης εἶναι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• in respect ofκατάkata · according toG2596
• wantὑστέρησιςhusterēsis · povertyG5304
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• have learnedμανθάνωmanthanō · to learnG3129
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• whatsoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• contentαὐτάρκηςautarkēs · self-sufficientG842

Cross-references for Philippians 4:11

• 1 Corinthians 4:11Until now, we continue to be hungry and thirsty. Our clothes have become old. Sometimes people hit us for no reason. We do not have our own homes.
• 2 Corinthians 6:10We seem to be sad, but really we are always happy. We seem to be poor, but we make many people rich. We seem to have nothing, but really we have everything.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9You know that our Lord Jesus Christ is very kind. He was rich, but he made himself poor to help you. So then, because he became poor, you could become rich.
• 2 Corinthians 11:27I have worked very hard, and I have been in pain. Many times I have not slept. I have often been hungry and thirsty. Many times I have had no food. I have often been cold and without enough clothes.
• Philippians 3:8Yes, now that I know Christ Jesus as my Lord, that is the most valuable thing. Nothing else is important at all. I have thrown everything else away, so that I can serve Christ. All those other things are like dirt to me. I think about them like that, so that I can have Christ.
• Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a promise to God. He said, ‘While I am on this journey, I want God to be with me and to take care of me. I want him to give me food to eat and clothes to wear.
• Exodus 2:21Moses agreed to stay with Reuel. Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as his wife.
• Matthew 6:31So do not worry about these things. Do not always say, “What will we eat?”, or “What will we drink?”, or “What will we wear?”
• Luke 3:14Then some soldiers asked John, ‘What about us? What should we do?’ John replied, ‘Do not rob people of their money. Do not say that a person is guilty if he has not done anything wrong. You must not take money for yourself in that way. You should be happy with the money that you receive for your work.’
• 1 Timothy 6:6What makes our life really rich? We should serve God in a way that pleases him and be happy with the things that we have.
• Hebrews 10:34You were kind to Christians who were in prison. When people took away your own things, you still chose to be happy. You knew that you had something better that would belong to you for ever.
• Hebrews 13:5In the way that you live, do not want lots of money. Be happy with the things that you have. Be happy, because God has said this: ‘I will never leave you; I will always be there with you.’

Commentaries on Philippians 4:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Not 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Not 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-19Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12As a servant of Christ, Paul has learned to be content with every situation, whether he had plenty or little. His life was filled with the joy that comes from doing the will of God whatever the cost.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. I have learned--The I in Greek is emphatical. I leave it to others if they will, to be discontented. I, for my part, have learned, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and the dealings of Providence (He 5:8), to be content in every state. content--The Greek, literally expresses "independent of others, and having sufficiency in one's self." But Christianity has raised the term above the haughty self-sufficiency of the heathen Stoic to the contentment of…Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 4:11

• Beneficence
• Church
• Contentment
• Minister, Christian
• Philippi
• Resignation
• Righteousness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Communicate
• Crown
• Epaphroditus
• Humility
• Need
• Request
• Therewith
• Macedonia
• Money
• Philippians, the Epistle to the

Commentaries on Philippians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings