1. Context
(J. Vernon McGee)
I. PHILOSOPHY for Christian living, Chapter 1
II. PATTERN for Christian living, Chapter 2
III. PRIZE for Christian living, Chapter 3
IV. POWER for Christian living, Chapter 4
A. Joy — the source of power, vv. 1-4
B. Prayer — the secret of power, vv. 5-7
C. Contemplation of Christ — the sanctuary of power, vv. 8, 9
D. In Christ — the satisfaction of power, vv. 10-23
2. Content
Paul was joyful for the Philippians church's concern for him but he was not saying this because he was in need v.10-11, but (1) they share with him in his trouble v.14, and (2) they could be able to have credits abounded in their account v.17.
In other to show he was not saying this for his need, Paul told them his contentment.
3. R.W.
(A) to be content, times of need/abundance/in any and every circumstance, contentment, whether I go satisfied/hungry, have plenty/nothing
BDAG-content, self-sufficient
(BKC) Changing circumstances did not affect the inner contentment he enjoyed. The word content (autarkēs) means “self-sufficient...But Paul used it to refer to a divinely bestowed sufficiency, whatever the circumstances.
13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.
(B) learned, experience, learned the secret
I have learned to be content in any circumstance v.11
I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. v.12
In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment v.12
(EBC) It is significant that Paul had to “learn” this virtue. Contentment is not natural to most of mankind
(PNTC) The Greek word was a technical term in the Hellenistic mystery religions for being initiated into the mysteries by going through sacred rituals. It was also used metaphorically for gaining insider knowledge. This term draws a line between those on the outside who do not know and those on the inside who know. By using this term, Paul claims that he has gained insight by being on the inside.
13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.
4. Summary and reflection: Contentment is not something we can claimed for ourselves. It takes times to prove. When the circumstances change, in every change, the inner sufficiency unchanged then we can say we are contented.
Of course, I cannot do it when bad things happened to me. I cannot be contend. It is not natural to me. Paul needed to learned it, probably, more than once. At last, he could say he learned the secret of contentment. Perhaps, when he was in needed he found the power to be content through Jesus then over time, he could claim that he was content v.13.
When I am now in a needed situation, it is a chance for me to "learn" to find the power to be content through Jesus. Do not waste times like this.
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