He can persevere, share the gospel, and be content in any situation. ; 9 Easy Ways to Share the Word of God with Others, 10 Ways to Become a Better Christian in this Season. is a difficult thing to do. A. Philippians 4:13 Treasury of Scripture Knowing. We normally take it to mean something like, 'I can do anything I set my mind to if I simply believe.' Your strength will fail you, but God’s strength won’t. As a result, many people have experienced disappointment, for example, Stephen Curry, whose example you will find at the end of this article. ✝. It didn’t mean doing anything at all because of Jesus. He says, “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. (2d ed. This is not true because God only fulfills the desires in our hearts that align with His Word. Categories New Testament Online Courses. He will in turn take over and draw them closer to Him. Paul says he knows how to get along with humble means or live in prosperity. In Philippians 4:14, Paul commends the Philippians for helping him through his troubles even as he draws strength from Christ. Retail: $39.99. Learn more in Lynn H. Cohick’s Philippians online course. What Does Philippians 4:10 Mean? Before we dive into the meaning of this verse, let's look at who wrote it. How does he do it? This gives a more spiritual dimension and allows you to be creative on the designs. At that moment, Philippians 4:13 must have meant being content with losing a game. Before you set out to do what you want, and use Philippians 4:13 as the reference, understand what it means. In verses 10-12 Paul is saying that he is content with whatever circumstances God causes to come to his way. Philippians 4:13: John 15:5; Philippians 4:13 in all English translations. So let’s look into this and find out the true meaning of Philippians 4:13. As a result, many people have experienced disappointment, for example. The religious meaning of the tattoo can be reinforced with the symbol of a cross. ZA Blog. Paul was a man who preached the gospel in all kinds of places, some of which were hostile. It’s an encouragement that God can give you the strength to be content, no matter what. He sat down in his locker room in disbelief. . Here are verses 10-13 of chapter 4: “10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at … Philippians 4:13 . ✊. Philippians 4:13 says so. What does the passage mean? Does this verse mean: "In every respect (adverbial accusative) I am strong " (NEB, Phillips, TEV) or "I can do every thing etc." Copyright © 2020 HarperCollins Publishers. Get updates from Zondervan Academic directly in your inbox. Support For Paul's Ministry. . This isn’t a biblical exhortation you can stamp on whatever goals you have professionally, personally, or physically. 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). Our Price: $27.99. Comments will be approved before showing up. Philippians 4:13, CSB: "I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Please check errors and resubmit. In this Bible version, we learn that Paul has found a way to deal with everything he faces: through Him (Christ) who strengthens him. Philippians 4:13, NLT: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Colossians 1 ... 1,700 Key Words that Unlock the Meaning of the Bible. In it, Paul says he has found the secret of being content in every situation and then goes on to say what it is. Where other Bible versions say Him and not Christ, we know Paul is talking about Christ giving him strength. Why Paul Wrote the Letter to the Philippians. Like Philippians 4:13, Philippians 4:19 is a popular verse that’s often misused.After thanking the Philippians for generously supporting him, the Apostle Paul writes, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”. 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. Discover. He isn’t a rich person telling a poor person to be happy with what they have (or vise versa), and he’s not sitting there on a full stomach telling hungry people to get over it. In context, "I can do all things" is the ministry that God has sent Paul to do. He’s saying that no matter what your circumstances are, you can learn to be content. We are to be strengthened in the 'inner man,' through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. That's how we know the precise meaning of Philippians 4:13 is: I can be content in any circumstance because Christ gives me strength. Often times, this favorite Scripture is used as a catch-all for anything we need or want to accomplish. Paul’s life was eventful with many trials and therefore needed to learn to be content in all circumstances. Philippians 4:13 is a simple Bible verse yet people misinterpret it. He was not talking about doing anything he set his mind on but what he had to overcome to preach the gospel. You can make it through anything through Christ because you are a child of God. The adjacent verses will give you the context within which to interpret it. He learned to be content through Christ. .". God gives us the opportunities to tell others about Him. 6) Philippians 4:13 Tattoo with Cross. , “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4;13- KJV, The KJV Bible version says "all things" and "through Christ." Always read the Scriptures in context to avoid disappointment when you don’t get the results you expect. Philippians 4:13. The NASB talks of "doing all things through Him." Philippians 3. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214 USA) providing information about products and services of HCCP and its affiliates. . . To his shock, he found the real meaning of the verse when he read it in context. When you understand Philippians 4:13 in context, it is a power-packed Bible verse. Not on his own, but through Christ who strengthens him. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”, He is saying that his contentment in any situation is a result of Christ, who gives him the strength he needs, the strength to be content. Do we really apply this verse the way Paul intended when he wrote it? 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. The meaning of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him who gives me strength”. 1 decade ago. God used his failure to show him what the verse meant so that his faith could have a sure foundation. But Philippians 4:13 actually promises to deliver far more than we allow ourselves to hope. Paul had to preach the gospel despite the challenges he faced. Is he telling us to believe in ourselves? I don’t mean that you had forgotten me, but up till now you had no opportunity of expressing your concern. ... “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it. You don’t have to struggle to become better, God will help you by His grace. He had experienced a wide range of circumstances and had to hold on to his faith in the Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:24-26). Using Stephen’s example above, we see that Philippians 4:13 focuses more on “being” or “bearing” as opposed to “doing anything you choose.”. To correctly interpret it, you have to read the adjacent Bible verses and see what the additional information will reveal. Philippians 4:10–20 describes how Christians can overcome worry and worldly desires, regardless of their circumstances. 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. The verse is often shortened to, "I can do all things . I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. . In the KJV Bible, Paul tells us in Philippians 4:12 that he knows how to live in lack and plenty, and can survive when full or hungry. You can’t pursue ungodly desires (2 Timothy 2:22) and expect God to strengthen you to fulfill them. ⚡, One Sunday night, his team lost a game to the Cleveland Cavaliers and he was devastated. They use it to show others they can fulfill any desire they please through Christ and by faith. He knows how to bear with the circumstances in his life. (Romans 8:38). . . 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. ✨ Discover this unique Philippians 4:13 Bracelet from our store! Paul then transitions to a focus on rejoicing in the Lord (Philippians 4:4). As a result, many people have experienced disappointment, for example, Stephen Curry, whose example you will find at the end of this article. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. John 1:12 tells us who we are in Christ, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”. God accomplishes His work on earth through the Holy Spirit and also renews our hearts through the same Spirit. After the game, he went to his locker and pulled out his Bible and went through Philippians 4:13 again to see whether he had gotten it correct all these years. If we truly want to know what a Bible verse or passage means, we have to read it in context. This required the strength of Christ because moving disrupted his life. Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. You will need the strength that only comes with Christ. In a nutshell, Paul is trying to tell us in. It is important to rely on God’s strength even where others are ready to help you during difficult times. Paul is saying in Philippians 4.13 that regardless of your situation you can endure through Christ who gives you strength. The MSG Bible version puts it in plain language and talks of making it through anything regardless of whatever one has or wherever one is. Share Twitter Facebook. ( Log Out / Don’t worry — knowing Jesus is supreme. When you take this verse out of context, you will think it means doing anything you want. Sources Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida (1989), Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains , 2 vols. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NASB. Why is Stephen Curry Famous and How He Did It? He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and endangered by many things. The meaning is often misconstrued and misappropriated; if anything, Philippians 4:13’s true meaning is somewhat lost. Why did Paul have to learn to do all things through Christ? 2) What is the Meaning of Philippians 4:13? The NIV version of the Bible brings out an important aspect that shows the true meaning of Philippians 4:13. 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. How does he know? When we go to the preceding verse we see a different perspective from other versions. What Philippians 4:13 Means for Your Life. He was able to overcome all these things through the strength of Christ. He rejoiced when the gospel of Christ was proclaimed and he rejoiced that he did not labour in vain. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Enhance your school’s traditional and online education programs by easily integrating online courses developed from the scholars and textbooks you trust. Our motivation, however, isn’t rooted in the prize of personal achievement, but in the abundance of what Christ has already achieved on our behalf. God used his failure to show him what the verse meant so that his faith could have a sure foundation. 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. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." 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. "The actual point is even more glorious than the suburban legend," he adds. 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. It is virtually restating Php 4:11 "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances" but finally revealing the secret to that contentment: Christ gave Paul the ability to be content. Philippians 4:10, ESV: "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity." Let us look at how different Bible versions bring out, The NIV version of the Bible brings out an important aspect that shows the, Paul’s life was eventful with many trials and therefore needed to, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”, The KJV Bible version says "all things" and "through Christ." 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). Many people have misused Philippians 4:13 and taken it to mean that you can do all the things you desire through Christ. ✝, Discover the Philippians 4:13 Cross Necklace. Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do all things through Christ. After telling his audience that he’s experienced both poverty and affluence, the Apostle Paul writes these well-known words: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”. You can’t pursue ungodly desires (2 Timothy 2:22) and expect God to strengthen you to fulfill them. The good news is that he discovered he had misinterpreted the Bible verse and took it out of context. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (4:12-13) He sent the Holy Spirit to help us obey His Word and live by it daily. If we are to apply Philippians 4:13 in our lives today, we will focus on the role of Christ's strength to help us be content in any situation. If you like basketball, discover in this article: At that moment, Philippians 4:13 must have meant being content with losing a game.