New Living Translation
Philippians 4:11
11Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
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
9Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 10How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Read all of Philippians 4Philippians 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 4:11Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
- 2 Corinthians 11:27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
- Philippians 3:8Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
- Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing,
- Exodus 2:21Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife.
- Matthew 6:31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
- Luke 3:14“What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”
- 1 Timothy 6:6Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
- Hebrews 10:34You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
- Hebrews 13:5Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon 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
In the dictionaries
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
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