SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:11
No lo digo en razn de indigencia, pues he aprendido a contentarme con lo que tengo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Philippians 4:11
Verse 11. Not 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 contented mind is a continual feast! What do we get by murmuring and complaining?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. Not that I speak in respect of want , etc.] Either of want of will in them; of their slowness and backwardness in their care of him, postponing him to others, caring for him last of all; this gave him no uneasiness, he did not take it ill, knowing and owning himself to be less than the least of all saints: or of his own want before this present came; and his sense is, that he did not express himself with so much joy, because of the penury and distress he was in before the things came to him which they sent; for he was not in want; though he had nothing, he possessed all things, and was as happy, and in as comfortable a frame, and in as much content then as now: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content ; or to be sufficient, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; or that that is sufficient for me which I have, as the Syriac version renders it; for the word here used signifies to be self-sufficient, or to have a sufficiency in one's self, which in the strict sense of the phrase is only true of God, who is El-shaddai, God all-sufficient; but, in a lower sense, is true of such who are contented with their present state and condition, with such things as they have, be they more or less, and think that they have enough, as old Jacob did, ( Genesis 33:11); and such persons have a sort of an allsufficiency in them; they are thankful for every thing they have, be it little or more, and in every state, whether of adversity or prosperity; and quietly and patiently submit to the will of God, and cheerfully take and bear whatever is assigned them as their portion; and such an one was the apostle: he was not only content with food and raiment, and such things as he had, but even when he had nothing at all; when he had neither bread to eat nor clothes to wear; when he was in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, as was sometimes his case; and therefore he does not say here, that he had learnt to be content with such things as he had, but en oiv eimi , in what I am: and this he had not by nature, but by grace; it was not natural, but adventitious to him; it was not what he had acquired by his industry, but what he had learned; and that not in the school of nature and reason, while an unregenerate man; nor at the feet of Gamaliel, while he was training up under him in the law of Moses, and in the traditions of the elders; but he learned it of God, and was taught it by the revelation of Christ, and under the teachings of the Spirit of God, and that in the school of affliction, by a train of experiences, of many sorrows, afflictions, and distresses; for this lesson is learned quite contrary to all the rules and reasons among men, not by prosperity, but by adversity: many are the things that may excite and encourage to the exercise of this heavenly grace, where it is wrought; as the consideration of the unalterable will of God, according to which every man's state and condition is settled, and therefore what God has made crooked can never be made straight; and of our case when we came into the world, and what that will be when we go out of it, naked and bare of this world's things; and of our unworthiness of the least mercy at the hand of God: add to which, the consideration of God being our portion and exceeding great reward; of having an interest in Christ and all things in him; and of the profits and pleasures of a life of contentment; and of the promises which God has made to such; and of the future glory and happiness which will shortly be enjoyed: so that a believer may say, who has the smallest pittance of earthly enjoyments, this, with a covenant God, with an interest in Christ, with grace here and heaven hereafter, is enough.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 ou 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 disrelish of present things, make men discontente even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submissio and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness an prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle ha no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness a will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.
Greek Textus Receptus
ουχ 3756 οτι 3754 καθ 2596 υστερησιν 5304 λεγω 3004 5719 εγω 1473 γαρ 1063 εμαθον 3129 5627 εν 1722 οις 3739 ειμι 1510 5748 αυταρκης 842 ειναι 1511 5750
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Content (autarkhv). Lit., self-sufficient. Only here in the New Testament. A stoic word, expressing the favorite doctrine of the sect, that man should be sufficient to himself for all things; able, by the power of his own will, to resist the shock of circumstance. Paul is self-sufficient through the power of the new self: not he, but Christ in him. The kindred noun aujtarkeia sufficiency, occurs 2 Cor. ix. 8; 1 Tim. vi. 6.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:11 {In respect of want} (kaq' hustersin). Late and rare word from husterew, to be behind or too late, only here and #Mr 12:44 in N.T. {I have learned} (emathon). Simply, "I did learn" (constative second aorist active indicative of manqanw, to learn, looking at his long experience as a unit. {In whatever state I am} (en hois eimi). "In what things (circumstances) I am." {To be content} (autarkes einai). Predicate nominative with the infinitive of the old adjective autarkes (from autos and arkew, to be self-sufficient), self-sufficing. Favorite word with the Stoics, only here in N.T., though autarkeia occurs in #2Co 9:8; 1Ti 6:6. Paul is contented with his lot and he learned that lesson long ago. Socrates said as to who is wealthiest: "He that is content with least, for autarkeia is nature's wealth."
