Learning contentment is a theme of the Christian life, and Philippians 4 speaks of it directly. In this chapter, Paul thanks a church for its care. Then he shares what he has learned about being content. He writes these words while in custody, yet he rejoices in the Lord. He points to Christ, who strengthens him. In this article, we look at the setting of the letter, the words of verses 10 to 13, and the meaning of a well-known verse in its context.
Learning contentment from a place of custody
The Epistle to the Philippians is a letter of Paul the Apostle, and Timothy appears with him as co-sender. It goes to the church in Philippi, a city in Macedonia, in Greece. Paul first visited Philippi with Timothy, Silas and perhaps Luke. That visit took place during his second missionary journey, roughly between 50 and 52 AD. The account in Acts says that Paul and Silas were accused of “disturbing the city.”
The letter itself points clearly to Paul writing while in custody. However, scholars are not sure which imprisonment he meant. Some suggest Ephesus around 52 to 55 AD, while others point to Caesarea Maritima around 57 to 59. The most likely place, though, is Rome, around 62 AD. Wherever he was, Paul was in custody when he wrote about learning contentment.
In the opening chapters, Paul tells the Philippians that his imprisonment is helping to spread the Christian message rather than hindering it. He also invites them to rejoice in the Lord despite their circumstances.
A thank-you note from Paul to a generous church
Chapter 4 includes a short section that scholars describe as a thank-you note. It covers Philippians 4:10–20, and it concerns gifts the church had sent to Paul. Since the 1960s, a consensus has emerged among biblical scholars that Philippians is a compilation of fragments from three separate letters, and Philip Sellew calls this note “Letter A.” Either way, the passage moves from Paul’s contentment (4:10–13) to the church’s gift (4:14–18) and finally to God’s provision (4:19–20).
Epaphroditus, an associate of Paul, arrived carrying this gift from Philippi (Philippians 4:18). The church had sent him to visit Paul and bring him gifts, and he apparently contracted a life-threatening illness during that visit. But he recovered. Paul begins by rejoicing. He says he rejoiced in the Lord greatly because the church’s care for him had flourished again. He adds that they had also been careful, but they had lacked opportunity. This thanks leads into his words about learning contentment.
Learning contentment in plenty and in want
Right after his thanks, Paul clarifies what he means. He is not speaking out of want. Instead, he describes a lesson he has learned:
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
Notice the word “learned.” In verse 12, Paul says he knows how to be abased and how to abound. He says that everywhere and in all things he is instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
The meaning of “I can do all things through Christ”
Then comes the verse that follows:
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
It is easy to take a verse out of its context and make it sound the way we want. Then, when things do not work out, we may become frustrated and angry. We need to put verses back in the context in which they were intended to be read.
In this passage, verse 13 comes right after verse 12, where Paul speaks of being full and being hungry, of abounding and suffering need. Paul says that Christ strengthens him.
Learning contentment and a theology of enough
Scripture speaks of contentment elsewhere. For example, 1 Timothy says:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
The passage goes on to say that we brought nothing into this world and can carry nothing out. It adds that, having food and raiment, we should be content with them (1 Timothy 6:7–8).
A theology of enough is the foundation of contentment. Paul thanked the Philippians for their gift, and he also said that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in. So learning contentment is a lesson Paul describes in his own words.
A closing reflection
Paul wrote from custody, yet he rejoiced in the Lord and thanked his friends for their care. He spoke of being full and hungry, of abounding and suffering need, and he said that Christ strengthens him. May we, too, learn to be content.
