Philippians 4:11
New International Version
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

New Living Translation
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

English Standard Version
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Berean Standard Bible
I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

Berean Literal Bible
Not that I speak as to destitution, for I have learned to be content in that which I am.

King James Bible
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

New King James Version
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

New American Standard Bible
Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

NASB 1995
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

NASB 1977
Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Legacy Standard Bible
Not that I speak from want, for I learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Amplified Bible
Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.

Christian Standard Bible
I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

American Standard Version
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But I said it, not because I had need, because I have learned that whatever I have will be enough for me.

Contemporary English Version
I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I speak not as it were for want. For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith.

English Revised Version
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I'm not saying this because I'm in any need. I've learned to be content in whatever situation I'm in.

Good News Translation
And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have.

International Standard Version
I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in.

Literal Standard Version
I do not say that in respect of want, for I learned in the things in which I am—to be content;

Majority Standard Bible
I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

New American Bible
Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient.

NET Bible
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

New Revised Standard Version
Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.

New Heart English Bible
I'm not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

Webster's Bible Translation
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, with that to be content.

Weymouth New Testament
I do not refer to this through fear of privation, for (for my part)

World English Bible
Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.

Young's Literal Translation
not that in respect of want I say it, for I did learn in the things in which I am -- to be content;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Generosity of the Philippians
10Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.…

Cross References
Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" "Do not take money by force or false accusation," he said. "Be content with your wages."

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

1 Timothy 6:6
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:8
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."


Treasury of Scripture

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.

in respect.

1 Corinthians 4:11,12
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; …

2 Corinthians 6:10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

I have.

Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Genesis 28:20
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

Exodus 2:21
And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

Jump to Previous
Able Circumstances Complain Content Dependent Fear Lack Need Needs Part Privation Refer Regards Respect Satisfied Speak State Therein Therewith Want Whatever Whatsoever Wherever
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Able Circumstances Complain Content Dependent Fear Lack Need Needs Part Privation Refer Regards Respect Satisfied Speak State Therein Therewith Want Whatever Whatsoever Wherever
Philippians 4
1. From particular admonitions,
4. he proceeds to general exhortations,
10. showing how he rejoiced at their generosity toward him while in prison.
19. And so he concludes with prayer and salutations.














(11) I have learned.--The "I" is here emphatic. There is evident reference to the habit peculiar to St. Paul, and made by him his especial "glory" (1Corinthians 9:14), of refusing that maintenance from the churches which was his of right. Compare his words to the Ephesian presbyters, "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities" (Acts 20:33-34).

Content.--The word (like the corresponding substantive in 2Corinthians 9:8; 1Timothy 6:6) properly means, self-sufficing. Such self-sufficiency was the especial characteristic claimed by the Stoics for the ideal wise man of their philosophy--a characteristic full of nobleness, so far as it involved the sitting loose to all the things of the world, but inhuman in relation to human affections, and virtually atheistic if it described the attitude of the soul towards the Supreme Power. Only in the first relation does St. Paul claim it here. It is difficult not to suppose that he does so with some reference to a philosophy so essentially Roman in practical development.

Verse 11. - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. . He explains himself; it is not want that prompted his words. Literally, I learned (the verb is aorist); that is, when he became a Christian. The A.V. is verbally inaccurate in the following words, which mean literally, "In the circumstances in which I am." But the sense is the same. St. Paul is speaking of his present condition: he is content with it, though it involves all the hardships of captivity; his present contentment is a sample of his habitual frame of mind. Αὐτάρκης here rendered "content," is a common word in Greek philosophy. It means "self-sufficient," "independent." It is of frequent occurrence in Stoical treatises; but St. Paul uses it in a Christian sense; he is αυτάρκης in relation to man, but his αὐτάρκεια comes from God (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I am not saying this
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

out of
καθ’ (kath’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

need,
ὑστέρησιν (hysterēsin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5304: Poverty, want, need. A falling short, i.e., penury.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

have learned
ἔμαθον (emathon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3129: Prolongation from a primary verb, another form of which, matheo, is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn.

to be
εἶναι (einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

content
αὐτάρκης (autarkēs)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 842: Self-sufficient, contented, satisfied, independent. From autos and arkeo; self-complacent, i.e. Contented.

regardless of my circumstances.
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.


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NT Letters: Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect (Philipp. Phil. Php.)
Philippians 4:10
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